What is an energy efficient home?
An energy efficient home is designed to use fewer resources and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
Environmentally, this reduces greenhouse gas emissions and demands for non-renewable resources. For the home owner, an energy efficient home or extension offers significant money savings by reducing your energy and water bills. It is also an investment in your quality of living, creating a healthier environment for you and your family.
Let’s take a closer look at the top five benefits of an energy efficient home:
Benefit One: Lower Operating Costs
An energy efficient home will cost less to operate than most existing homes. The lower costs are the result of high quality and thoughtful construction of windows, air infiltration, lighting, and water efficiency.
Glazing
Glazing has a major impact on the energy efficiency of the building envelope. Poorly designed windows, skylights and glazed surfaces can make your home too hot or too cold. If designed correctly, they’ll help maintain year-round comfort, reducing or eliminating the need for artificial heating and cooling.
Hot Water Systems
Water heating accounts for around 25% of household energy consumption. Your choice of water heater can dramatically reduce your energy costs and your household’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE).
Lighting Options
One of the factors that should be considered at the design phase of the home or extension is achieving the best possible solar orientation so that the most habitable rooms have good natural daylight.
Benefit Two: More Comfortable
An energy efficient home will result in a warmer house in winter, a cooler house in summer.
Windows can be orientated to let sunshine in when the temperature is cold and exclude it when it is its hot. Window and door openings can be positioned to allow natural cooling by cross ventilation. Ceiling fans can assist with air circulation. And thermal mass can be used to store the sun’s heat and provide night-time warmth in cold conditions.
Benefit Three: Reduced Risk of Pests
Ever had to deal with ants, termites, or other household pests? If so, you know how unpleasant and expensive they can be to eradicate. With an energy efficient home or extension, each structure – particularly in vulnerable areas – can be carefully sealed, blocking all the common entry points used by insects and other critters.
Benefit Four: Improved Resale
Are you planning to sell your home in the future? Building an efficient home is more attractive to potential buyers, offering a crucial selling point that can improve your selling prospects.
When a home is built with efficiency in mind, the buyer doesn’t need to worry about making updates or purchasing new appliances – they can simply move in and start enjoying the benefits. A very attractive feature for families and busy professionals who don’t have time for renovations.
In the end, your efficient building is more likely to sell faster and bring in a higher profit.
Benefit Five: Impact on Our Environment
Did you know that your home is one of the biggest contributors to your personal environmental impact?
An efficient building automatically consumes less electricity and water than its inefficient counterparts. This extends to an overall reduction in greenhouse gases, reduced use of fossil fuels, and a smaller burden on the water supply. Plus, you’ll be contributing to better air quality in the local area.
Since you have complete control over the choices in a new home build, it’s possible to take big steps toward reducing your family’s ecological footprint.
“Building the GreenSmart Way”*
One of the most significant qualifications that the Woodford Homes team has achieved in recent years is that of “GreenSmart Professional”.
Greensmart is an industry-driven program – established by the HIA – to “promote practical, affordable and durable environmental solutions for residential design and construction”*.
The key objective of this initiative is “to promote technologies, design and practices that will improve the quality of Australia’s residential built environment”*.
This translates into a wide range of benefits for you, as a home owner, as well as your community.
Our GreenSmart accreditation also demonstrates our commitment to always exploring design and building solutions that support a safe, cost effective and sustainable outcome for every project.
An Energy Efficient Home Makes Sense
It’s better for you and your family, it saves you money and is kinder to the environment.
Energy efficiency is also an important part of current building regulations. All new homes have to comply with BASIX Energy Targets.
The expert team at Woodford Homes has a thorough understanding of all regulations and can guide you through your range of energy efficient options.
Contact us now to learn more about the benefits of energy efficiency, and how they can be integrated into your next home or extension design.
