From Guest Blogger Jeanette: How Do You Exactly Define an Energy Efficient Home?

How can your home be energy efficient?

For your home to be considered energy efficient, it should use less energy but does not sacrifice its comfortability and healthiness. With all that is available today and the advancement of technology, you can surely find a way to make you home as efficient in saving energy as well as be in sound and astounding design, similar to the world’s best eco-architecture. Plus it can be affordable and dependable too.

How can you achieve an energy efficient home?

Simple home improvements here and there can be done. But these improvements should reduce your home’s energy consumption. Things that you really need to look at are cooling and heating. These usually are the top contenders for a higher electric bill. You have to look out for weatherization inside your home. You should invest in better insulation and or easy home improvements to prevent the heat or cold escaping. For example additions like awnings and roller shutters can decrease energy use because they can keep the coldness and heat from escaping. An awning is a sheet of canvas that you can stretch in a frame that can be used to keep the sun or rain off a window and can help in cooling the home and decreasing energy use. Another way of making your home into an energy efficient one is switching your appliances, lighting and electronics into energy efficient ones that are calibrated and rated as energy savers once they are manufactured. You can read their labels to be sure. One more thing is using what is abundantly there and free. Nature is very reliable and will help you in being efficient, you can utilize this option by using solar cells for electricity and water, you can also use small scale wind turbines to power your electronic devices these options can drastically reduce energy consumption in your home.

What are the kinds of energy efficient houses we can choose from?

THE PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN
A passive house is a well-insulated and virtually air-tight structure. It also reduces heating needs up to 90% and this is possible by maximizing solar gain. Although this kind of energy efficient housing was not that popular in Northern US, it is very popular in Europe but it is not limited to the area. The passive house design minimizes the use of windows and maximized non-south facing windows by utilizing these facets you will surely reduce your energy consumption triple fold. That is why most of single to multi-family residential structures, buildings and stores all around Europe have been designed and remodeled to the likeness and standards of the passive home. The main idea for the passive house is for your home to be as energy efficient as possible.

THE ACTIVE HOUSE DESIGN
This kind of energy efficient house incorporates the same concepts as like the Passive house when it comes to air-tightness, solar exposure and insulation. The difference is that instead of having minimal windows The Active house promotes natural lighting and ventilation by the use of windows and even skylights. Automation is the key when it comes to active houses you have an option to use automated systems that can let in fresh air when needed, automated blinds and awnings for shading. Due to the addition of windows or skylights this type of housing is not that well-insulated like the passive house this is one reason why with an active house you will need renewable energy systems just like solar water heaters and pumps. The active house does not just focus on energy efficiency but also life issues like the quality of air in the home, the natural lighting and the most important is having free fresh air flowing throughout it.

THE HYBRID HOUSE DESIGN
The hybrid house design is a combination of the passive and the active house plus a few more extra perks. The hybrid home will still focus on insulation, air-tightness and the use of nature as renewable energy sources. But the good thing about hybrid houses is that you can play with a lot more space designs. This type of home is very versatile you can have different styles and designs you can utilize architectural, conventional, minimalistic and even conventional designs. You can even add feng shui to the mix and still have the energy efficient wonders that modern houses can provide. This house design is eco-friendly, sustainable and even futuristic.