The energy efficient home:

The design and location of your home will affect the size of your family’s energy accounts and your general comfort. Therefore if your family is planning to build a new home, think about one of the big running costs – heating and cooling.

By carefully choosing the building block, house design and garden layout, your home could use a lot less energy for heating and cooling. You have probably experienced homes that you would describe as cool in summer or warm in winter. These instances are not just a matter of luck. A home is naturally cool in summer or warm in winter because of its favourable design features. Similarly, homes that are described as “hot boxes” in summer or “ice boxes” in winter have unfavourable design features and they cost a lot of money to heat or cool.

It is important to consider “energy efficiency” before a family buys a block of land and chooses a house design. A crucial decision is the direction that the house faces. North-facing windows and walls receive maximum winter sun and warmth.

Another significant way to reduce energy is to install insulation in ceilings and walls. Ceiling insulation is remarkably effective and it can reduce your family’s winter heating bill by up to 30 per cent.

For more information about energy efficient home design and home insulation, go to:
http://www.synergyenergy.com.au

www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/energy_smart_homes.asp

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