Energy efficient homes are homes where the thermal losses (or gains in the case of air conditioning) of comfort conditioning have been minimized. Energy Efficient Homes can be identified only if a properly qualified specialist carries out an energy audit or a BER analysis.

Whether you want to retrofit the existing energy consuming equipment or implement upgrades a long term investment approach will benefit you over years to come.

How to make your home energy efficient

There are several aspects in your home that you will have to look into if you were to make your home energy efficient.

• Add insulation to your home -For this you will have to find where insulation has to be improved. An analysis has to follow (preferably using suitable software) to determine the cost effective additional thickness required at various weak spots.

A comparison of various insulations and also the estimated payback period on the investment is a must. Adequately insulating heating Ducts (especially when running through unheated areas) along with their leak sealing, insulating water tanks, plumbing and electric water heaters is also a part of the job.

• Upgrade your Heating System -The equipment must compulsorily carry a green energy rating in the upper part of the scale. Know when your boilers and controls are due for a replacement. If your boiler is over 15 years old or in poor condition needing frequent repairs and your fuel bills are too high the time may be ripe for a replacement. Find out what is the best suited fuel for your heating system. Points to consider in this regard are;
  • The cost and the availability (keeping in mind what is cheap today may not be cheap tomorrow).
  • The type of equipment used to convert fuel to heat energy and its distribution over the building.
  • The cost of purchase, installation and maintenance (perhaps for another 15 years or so).
  • The efficiency of the Boilers and the distribution system
  • Any environmental impact of the fuel itself or its products of combustion.
  • See whether use of Geothermal Energy, Heat pumps, solar thermal and other sustainable heat sources is more advantageous for your home.

• Install More efficient Controls – Today’s programmable thermostats and Timers afford you a big advantage to conserve energy. A degree difference in your room setting will save you considerable energy without even your feeling the difference. The terminal equipment etc. if fitted with more precise TRVs will empower you with better control over your energy usage.

• Windows and Doors improvement- Consider installing interior and exterior Storm Windows because it might save 25% to 50% of heat lost through the windows. It will further improve if Low-e type double glazed windows are fitted. Design, Selection and Installation of windows play a big part in your efforts to save energy. Consulting a specialist therefore is a must.

• Use Alternative Energy appliances- Use of solar thermal panels (for heating and hot water), Use of geothermal energy, use of waste heat (eg. in CHPs) may be very cost effective in certain situations and where these resources are available a plenty. It is advisable to seek expert advise to find out how practical these for your specific requirement.

• Landscaping for energy efficiency- Depending on the geographic location of your house landscaping strategies may be effectively employed to conserve home energy. Some of these may be ;

• • Maximize the Sun’s direct heating effect in the winter
  • Maximize the shade in the hot summer
  • Deflecting the cold winter breeze away from the building
  • Direct summer warm breeze towards the building
  • Use wind breaks of trees and shrubs to reduce wind chill in the winter

• Use energy efficient Lighting- Use of CFL, LED (SSL) and Solar Powered Lights are highly encouraged these days. The use of Day lighting is another measure that can be considered.

For further information you can contact ENTECH who will advise you or guide you to their best qualified associate for your requirement.

Whether heating or cooling your home, you will be using energy and this costs money. If you are able to make your home more energy efficient, you can save some money and as a bonus you can help preserve the environment. Here are some ideas about how to make your home more energy efficient.

The first step that you have to make is to use a lighted incense stick or a tissue to find out any drafts. You can move them slowly next to windows or doors and this will move the smoke or the tissue. Check the caulking around the windows.

There must be no gaps between them and the walls of the house. If there is a leak, remove the old ad install the new caulking. One good way to save energy is to check the caulk every year.

Check also the weather stripping on the doors. They prevent drafts from getting in or cool air from getting out.

If you have no weather-stripping them, it is easy to add them and lots of it is adhesive-back and it easily sticks to the doorframe or the bottom of the door.

You also have to check around the electrical outlets. These areas are often insulated, but you can buy thin foam insulation especially designed for fitting under the outlet panel that blocks the drafts.

Here are some steps to conserve energy. First you have to install a programmable thermostat to control the temperature. It will adjust the temperature to match the schedule and to make sure that you are not heating or cooling an empty room.

You can use compact fluorescent light instead of regular incandescent bulbs. They provide a given amount of light and use much less energy and do not produce as much heat as regular bulbs.

Turn down the temperature in your water heater. They are usually so high set so that somebody may get burned. You have to adjust the temperature to 120 degrees. You can add insulation to your water heater and hot water pipes.

Insulating blankets are designed to wrap around a water heater and insulating foam tubes that go around the hot water pipes and are already available. You can replace your furnace filters on a regular basis.

If the furnace filters are blocked they can make your HVAC system work harder and longer with the use of more energy. If the filter is clean the system will work more efficiently. You have to adjust ceiling fans in order to blow warm air from up high in the room during the winter.

You have to conserve the energy efficient rating (EER) of the appliances that you replace. Modern appliances are much more energy efficient than the few years old appliances. You have to adjust your habits.

You can use heat generated appliances in the cooler evening hours. This will be good for heating your home in the winter and will be easier for the air conditioner during the summer. You have to turn on the washing machine and the dishwasher for full loads only.

Washing the partial load will waste both energy and hot water. It is preferable to take showers and not baths. Showers usually use less water. It is good to install water-saving showerheads that will conserve hot water.

The last step is to open blinds and drapes so the sun to be able to come in during the winter and close them to keep the sun out during the summer.

Most of the ideas will cost you less than 20 dollars and some of them will not cost you anything. If you put them together you have a major impact on the amount of the energy that you use.

The things that you are going to need are insulation for hot water pipes and electrical outlets, replacement furnace filters, programmable thermostat, compact fluorescent lights.

How Can Brick Stone Make Your Home Energy Efficient

A home that’s energy-efficient is in fact healthier & cost effective. Energy efficiency adjustments in your house can eliminate or at least lessen the poor quality of air that’s brought in by various weather conditions.

One way to create your home energy efficient is to be cautious to the building materials and to the home design.

In Australia, bricks have long been recognized as commonly chosen building materials. Truthfully, closely 90% of the built homes in the said place are constructed using bricks.

Due to the fact that of the campaign to decline energy consumption in its entire forms, there are building regulations these days that require the newly built homes to be more energy efficient.

Well there are a few things you have to know in order that come up with an informed choice.

Think about the amount of energy that’s in most cases consumed in your house. Perhaps, you’ll be startled to find out that a large part of the home energy is used up in cooling and heating.

Cooking and lighting, also when put as a group, comprise just a few percent. Hence, anything which can assistance lessen the cooling and heating bills of your home will be a good investment, right? But what we must ask ourselves is, do you think it’s realistic to cut down cooling & heating energy consumption while keeping up a practical thermic comfort into your house? It’s in this situation that passive remodel comes inside play.

Passive design handles the energy coming from the sun to improve the house’s cooling and heating in a natural way. There are as a matter of fact 4 major principles in passive remodel. These are orientation, insulation and thermal mass.

· Orientation. The huge cup portion in the north part allows the low winter sun in. & to block the high summer sun, simple shading like eaves is applied.

· Ventilation. When the crest of summer time has already passed, air is permitted to obtain in & go out of the home so that make it cool in a natural manner. To optimize cross ventilation, the either side of the building or the home have generous openings with closely negligible interior obstructions.

· Insulation. The insulation in the wall and ceiling was used as the obstacle to heat transportation. Insulation efficiency may be calculated by means of its R-value but it does not present the whole issue. Various walls may have the same R-value but mayn’t work the same.

· Thermal Mass. Wall materials that are dense and heavy, like bricks, suck up heat and hamper its conveyance through the walls. Through these, temperature changes shift to moderate and the heat sucking up throughout summer is meaningfully hampered. Equated with brick walls, the lightweight materials have extremely low thermal mass. And because of this thermic mass, brick walls become more capable of moderating house temperature even though they have similar R-values.

Now come to consider thermal mass & consider brick stone. The first 2 techniques in the passive design, which are orientation and ventilation, need to be set up into the home. And your home material preference has a major effect on the quantity of thermic mass in a home or a building.

One of the simplest and most economical ways to put up thermic mass is through bricks. Those bricks that are extracted from clay contain very high thermic mass. They are available to make your house well ventilated, comfortable and more energy efficient.

There’s a research proving the idea that Brick stone homes are energy efficient. The said research has revealed that a large part of the heat is bounced back to the outside surroundings via the brick’s exterior panel.

Another conclusion that came out is that in summer season, the temperature into a home that is constructed from bricks remained favorable and comfortable despite the changing temperature outside.

The US Department of Energy stated that thermal mass stores up heat by means of converting its temperature.

It can be achieved by storing heat coming from a warm room or by means or transforming direct solar radiation into heat & since brick stone has more thermal mass than other building lightweight materials, it’s a very useful element that may be used up in forming your house more energy efficient.

To sum up, brick is a very simple and inexpensive technique in putting up thermal mass in your next home.

Therefore a brick stone home is more energy efficient than those that are produced from other materials.

With all costs on the rise, adding up to the already huge problem with the New York housing crunch and worldwide economic woes; more and more people are searching of ways to cutback on costs.  In our homes, one of the largest shares where our hard-earned budget goes to is the energy bill, thus making the efficient use of energy a great way to reduce monthly expenses.    With that said, let us look into superb ideas to achieve energy efficient homes which are practical whether you are in Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan or Queens.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #1:
Proper and Enough Insulation and Sealing

Other than maximized indoor comfort and increased home value, proper and enough insulation and sealing also makes your HVAC systems work less hard thus resulting to less operation costs and lower energy bills.  Unknown to many homeowners, a well-insulated home extends beyond just the exterior walls and the attic.  You should also ensure insulation in these areas: floors, ceilings especially those below unheated areas, basement walls, kneewalls, overhangs, and between interior walls.  

Air leaks are silent predators that waste much energy even if you own a set of state-of-the-art energy efficient systems.  Sealing should be approached in such as way that the whole house is benefited starting from the systems alone with its series of ducts and pipings to the walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, electrical outlets, and lighting and plumbing fixtures.   

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #2:
Lighting

Saving energy with lighting can be done in many ways.  

•    Replace existing lighting fixtures with efficient models that give off as much brilliance but uses up less electricity like compact fluorescent bulbs, reflector lamps and tungsten halogen.    
•    Make use of lighting controls such as dimmers and other devices that reduce the time that lights are on unnecessarily.
•    Make full use of natural lighting.  

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #3:
Solar Panels

When thinking of energy-efficiency, nothing beats making full use of natural resources as not only are they powerful, they are free as well.  One of the most popular innovations in natural resource-use is solar panels.  Solar panels can come as solar thermal collectors with which the energy from the sun is used to heat water or liquid fuels, or solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity.  

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #4:
Appliances

A good percentage of energy consumption in homes results from operating appliances.  When shopping for appliances, it would be wise to pick those with the Energy Star label.  Though the initial cost would be much higher, think about the long-term benefits.  When computing the ‘real’ cost, you should also take operating costs and annual energy consumption into consideration.  Looking into such factor proves that energy-efficient appliances are wise investments.

Energy Efficient Homes Idea #5:
Proper Maintenance of Appliances and Home Systems

Without regular cleaning and proper maintenance, appliances and HVAC systems would be working laboriously.  This added strain would not only lead to damages but more consumption of energy as well.  So, check your manuals for recommended ways of cleaning and proper equipment maintenance.

Rule # 1: Let There Be Light. We all need electricity but did you know that by using energy efficient LED lights and compact fluorescent bulbs in all of your home fixtures you could cut your energy use exponentially? For instance, one study found that merely by using LED lighting rather than traditional incandescent bulbs you could save 90% of home lighting energy consumption. In many cases, not only do fluorescent, LED and other energy efficient lighting options use less energy, they also last longer and are more durable. Yes, they may cost a little more up front, but you’ll see the value when they pay for themselves after a year or so of use and you can scratch light bulbs off your weekly list at the market or hardware store.

Rule # 2: Look at Your Appliances. As you review your electric load (or how much electricity you use to run your home) you should cast a glance at all of your appliances. Any that are very old and out of date, especially washers, dryers and refrigerators could all be costing you far more money than you think and taxing the environment to boot. When you look for appliances, try to find ones that are specifically designed to use less power and be more efficient. Not only will you probably be able to get some spiffy rebates, you’ll also be offsetting the cost of your new energy efficient appliance with the savings you’ll immediately see on your utility bills. Check out Energy Star’s website to find the most efficient models available for the appliance you’re looking to upgrade. Their website is www.EnergyStar.gov.

Rule # 3: Consider Your Climate. This relates not only to where you live and what your environment is like but also to how you regulate the temperatures in your home. First, is your home well insulated? If not, you are allowing in and letting out a lot of energy, heat and cold .Improving your insulation is one of the best and easiest ways to make your home more efficient. How are your windows? What can you do to retain heat in the winter and repel it in the summer? Also, if you have an attic, are you keeping it properly ventilated during the summer months? If it gets too hot up at the top of your house, your whole cooling system will have to work that much harder so you should consider installing a solar powered attic fan that will keep your attic well ventilated and moderate the overall temperature. A dry and ventilated attic is a happy one. Finally, how are you cooling your home in the summer? If you live in an arid climate and you are still using traditional air conditioning, you do have other options. Environmentally friendly evaporative coolers (or “swamp coolers”) are often just as effective and require a third of the power or less.

Rule # 4: Think Green. Whenever you make decisions about your major home systems in the future, think about installing systems that are more efficient and that could potentially be powered by an alternative energy source. If you have to sink a chunk of change into a new hot water heater, boiler or home heating system don’t just walk down the path of least resistance. It is possible that for a similar investment you could install a tank-less hot water heater or for a bit more money, install an energy efficient solar heating system in your home. It may seem far fetched, but when you see the monthly savings and you factor in the potential tax rebates and the money you would have spent either way, you’ll see how smart it can be. The key when looking at installing a solar power system or wind turbine system is that this is a long term investment, but you’ll actually see a return on it within as little as 2 to 6 years. By investing up front and ultimately off-setting your fossil fuel consumption your energy efficient hot water heater will actually pay for itself, unlike traditional fossil fuel dependent ones.

Rule # 5: If You Think You Are Ready, Review Rules 1-4. Even if you think you are ready today, right now to install solar panels or a wind turbine to power your home you need to make your home as energy efficient as possible FIRST. Why? Because, in general, for every $1 you spend on making your home more energy efficient you reduce the cost of your alternative energy system down by $3 to $5. Once you have reduced down your energy usage, you can accurately determine how much energy you will need to produce with renewable energy. Having this accurate information will tell you how many solar air heating collectors you need, solar water heating collectors your need, solar electric panels you need, or if you need a solar wind hybrid power system; if you can operate independently or if you need a grid-tie in system; and perhaps most importantly, how much you are going to spend to convert to renewable power.

So, start simple, invest wisely and think green and eventually you will be the self-powered, money saving, energy efficient one on the block.

As the public sector becomes much more concerned about the cost and sustainability of energy in general, energy efficient lighting has a major point of focus in our industry. Since much of this technology is still very new and continually evolving (as in the case with LED and Induction), explaining the technical dynamics of new luminaires to your clients may not be the best way to sell them on the idea of an upgrade. Since engineers are constantly coming up with new ways to conserve power and extend lamp life, and since new ways of producing light itself are still emerging, it is best to talk about the general benefits that an upgrade will bring to organizations regardless of the actual fixtures and lamps ultimately chosen for the new system. The following summary represents the top five benefits that clients can expect from energy efficient lighting.

Energy efficient lighting uses less electricity.

This is probably the first benefit that comes to everyone’s mind when they consider upgrading to energy efficient lighting. Rising fuel costs have had an effect on the cost of power in general, and reducing expenditures even by a marginal amount helps buffer any organization against the problematics of an unstable economy. Now is the best time to take stock of all indoor and outdoor luminaires and make a qualitative assessment of their long term value. If more energy efficient lights can be substituted in their place, then savings on power bills will pay for the fixtures in a few short years.

Energy efficient lighting minimizes replacement costs.

Light fixtures eventually wear out because of thermal stress on the components. The less electricity a fixture uses, the less heat it will generate during use. This works to prolong the life of the bulb and minimize replacement costs. When you encounter clients that know they need to upgrade to energy efficient lights, but fear the budgetary hit the expenditure may cause, remind them that this is not something they will need to do again for a considerable amount of time. The money saved on continual maintenance and/or replacement is yet another revenue stream that brings ROI on the equipment investment.

Energy efficient light fixtures are more environmentally friendly.

It has been estimated that buildings with inefficient lighting systems contribute 40% of the world’s greenhouse gases. A great deal of this pollution is the result of outdated incandescent technology that has already been banned in some places like California. Replacing all incandescent luminaires with energy efficient equivalents significantly contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Imagine the positive impact that a nationwide retrofit would have on the global environment. Companies should consider the many advantages that a more sustainable and environmentally friendly public image will bring to their branding and marketing efforts.

Energy efficient lighting is essential to LEED certification.

Companies are starting to take LEED certification very seriously. Power conservation is becoming a top priority for new building construction, and is much easier to accomplish when designing the building with LEED certification in mind. Companies in existing buildings, however, may be facing more of a challenge. Older architectural styles, wiring systems, and incandescent lighting were intended for today’s power management demands. Remodeling such a facility can represent an enormous expense. Energy efficient lights may not provide all the necessary points for a LEED certificate in such places, but they will greatly improve the organizations budget and possibly help pay for further remodeling down the line.

Energy efficient lighting helps avoid conflict with lighting regulatory codes.

Lighting regulations vary from city to city throughout the United States. Currently, most codes are focused on dark sky conditions and light pollution reduction. The safety hazards caused by excessive glare are also something that lighting codes often address. In some parts of the country, energy efficient lighting is required under regulatory codes as part of a more comprehensive community push toward sustainability. In other places such as California, state legislation has now stepped in to make power conservation and environmental sustainability a top priority.

While there is currently no nationwide standard for regulating energy efficient lighting, we have reason to believe one may be created in the near future with increasing public demand for a comprehensive, national energy policy.

When that day comes, your client will already be equipped with the best possible technology for conservation of resources and funding.

We offer consultative lighting design services to clients and photometric analysis of any facility you wish to have scientifically analyzed prior to drafting your proposal.

Literally, an energy efficient home is constructed with the kind of appliances that have energy saving features. Currently people prefer to construct home including the energy saving structures right from the beginning. We provide a large variety of energy efficient homes in association with Eco House.

New home owners and builders are now opting for the innovative energy efficient homes as this kind of homes are less costly to heat. It is the best environment to give your family a safe and comfortable place to live in. As the energy prices are on hike saving energy has become the dire need of individual consumer of energy. The highly engineered energy efficient homes designed by our company find out the solution to all energy related queries with housing. We specially take care of every minute aspect of construction like installation, air leakage, CO2 emission, etc.

A perfect energy efficient home not only saves the cost of energy but also generates an eco-friendly place where your family can breath healthy. It is a better option to construct such healthy home instead of using energy saving equipments at home. Apart from that these specially designed energy efficient homes have got other benefits. They usually use 20-30% less energy and almost reduce the heat loss by up to 50%. You can reduce your expenditure on construction. The energy saving homes can also reduce callback and warranty problems as well. A perfectly constructed home with energy saving plans implemented with it is the source of warm environment for generations. We can construct energy efficient homes for you with perfect blend of electrification, roofing, flooring, wall structure.

If you are thinking of building a new home, construction of an energy efficient home will be a wise choice. It is better to realize the value of saving energy before it is too late. Our energy saving home will make your life easy in economical and ecological surroundings.

We hear so much about energy efficiency nowadays. Energy efficiency is about saving our environment and saving our money. How we got about practicing energy efficiency isnt always as clear, though. Here, there, are the most frequently asked questions about energy efficiency, and their answers.

The question most often asked is if buying products such as appliances that are specifically designed for energy efficiency cost more than others? The answer is yes and no.

While their initial purchase price is usually higher their energy efficiency reduces the bill to use them, which, over time, generally saves money. Energy efficient products often perform better than their less efficient competition, which means they may also last longer.

Another popular question is where to find products that are designed for energy efficiency and how to recognize them. Recognition is easy. In the U.S. especially those appliances and other products that have been assessed by government professionals and determined to be energy efficient earn what is called an Energy Star, and that Energy Star is displayed on their packaging and on the product itself.

To find products that have proven themselves worthy of the energy-efficiency Energy Star is not difficult at all. In fact most retailers will carry them and most major manufacturers design them. You can also call a hotline that is toll free to find where they can be purchased near you or visit the U.S. governments Energy Star Web site.

Many people ask about energy-efficiency products ability to keep their home comfortable. In other words, will an energy-efficient air conditioner keep them as cool as those not rated for energy efficiency, and will the Energy Star branded heating system actually keep them warm?

The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, in many cases, they improve the comfort level for you and your family by maintaining a constant temperature.

People often ask if, since energy-efficiency helps others, if there is assistance with the extra up-front expense of installing energy efficient appliances and products. The answer is that yes, there certainly is.

Private financial firms offer loans for Energy Star products that have favorable interest rates and longer terms than those for standard cooling and heating equipment. Again, the Energy Star hotline or site will help find these loan providers. You may find as well that your local utility company just might offer you a rebate when you decide to purchase equipment that offers energy efficiency.

Another common question about energy efficiency is about finding the right contractor to install the equipment. There are several things you can do, which hold true for any contractor you seek.

The first is to ask for references and recommendations of those you trust – friends, family, business acquaintances, and coworkers. Search the business directory of your local newspaper or you local Yellow Pages carrier. Eliminate those that arent licensed, bonded and insured.

Once youve narrowed down your search to a few choices ask for, and check, references. Check with your Better Business Bureau or the consumer protection agency for your state or county to make sure consumers have not lodged complaints against any of the contractors on your short list. As you inquire of each, ask about their experience and expertise in energy efficiency, and then compare price, service, reputation and warranty.

Energy Efficient Homes have certain advantages as compared to other usual homes. These edifices reduce huge construction costs and wastes. They also reduce callback and warranty problems. Energy efficient homes normally spend approx 20 to 30 percent of total energy expenditure and reduce heat loss by fifty percent in contrast to housings that are not energy efficient. A self sufficient home earns a higher real estate value for itself and also reduces the amount of carbon emissions. A well maintained Energy Efficient Home retains heat adhering to a warmer atmosphere for generations to come.

We provide a wide range of Eco Homes in Ireland and around which abide by the rules of energy efficient home policies. The most common standards include insulation, tuning the thermostat down, solar orientation etc. There is a popular saying in science, “Energy conserved is energy generated”. Solar Panels and other renewable sources of energy are among other sources of conserving energy in Energy Efficient Homes. Limiting the air leakage is a leading factor in conserving heat and hence reducing energy wastage. This in turn helps in controlling air quality and humidity.

The construction of Energy Efficient homes requires the right combination of few factors such as the electrification system, the foundation, wall structure, roofing along with the ventilation. Altogether they present the most ecological, economical, energy efficient and healthy dwellings. A correctly planned housing project involves low costs and well orientation.