An energy-efficient home is a healthy home, it’s better for the family, environment and helps reduces energy costs along the way. In modern homes, there has been a key focus on energy-efficient lighting, insulation and windows, however, one key aspect often overlooked is the choice of flooring. Your flooring plays a key role in the energy consumption, thermal mass and air quality of your home. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at popular flooring options and how they assist in creating an energy-efficient and healthy home.
Tiles and stone
Tiles and stone flooring can offer a range of benefits to your home, while also saving on your energy bills. Tiles and stone flooring absorb heat during the day and slowly releases it in the evening, keeping your home cooler in the summer months. While stone or tiles may appear colder in the winter months, their thermal mass slows the rate of heat and cool temperatures throughout the home, therefore reducing energy costs.
Carpet
Carpet is one of the most popular flooring options for modern homes. However, it’s not always the healthiest. Anyone who has had carpet in their home knows that it can become filled with dirt and bacteria over time. In recent years, companies have released a range of healthier carpeting options such as Brease and Wool that assist in reducing asthma and allergies commonly associated with carpets. Brease carpet has been proven to reduce the growth of bacteria and has odour destroying properties that help improve the air quality of your home.
While carpet can help reduce energy costs throughout the winter months, it can also be the cause of increasing the costs within the summer. As it’s soft and warm underfoot, it actually traps heat all year round. When designing your home to suit its environment, this is an aspect to consider as locations such as the Blue Mountains with high temperatures can lead to your home becoming warmer in the summer months.
Timber Flooring
Timber flooring is an excellent choice for creating a healthy and energy-efficient home. Timber flooring significantly improves air quality in your home as its simple and durable surface makes it easy to clean. Since timber flooring is made from natural materials, this makes them durable and long-lasting, making them the ideal choice for homes as it doesn’t need to be replaced every decade.
Furthermore, natural timber flooring is also environmentally friendly as it produces less energy during production compared to traditional flooring options. Thanks to its natural warm tones, timber flooring aids in creating a relaxing and comfortable environment in your home.
Here at Woodford Homes, we have held Greensmart Professional accreditation for over 15 years and have a particular focus on designing and building homes that are energy efficient and suited for their environment. That’s why, our team of experts are here to guide you through a range of flooring options that are both energy efficient and healthy for your home.
