How To Create An Energy Efficient Home

Creating an energy efficient home has many benefits. Your house will be warmer in winter and cooler during summer, without the need to run your air conditioning or heating 24 hours a day. This means energy efficient homes consume less power, and you’ll see a reduction in your electricity and gas bills over time. Energy efficient homes are also beneficial for the environment, because they use natural elements such as sunlight and cooling breezes, rather than non-renewable sources of energy. Here’s how you can create an energy efficient home.

Seal around doors and windows to prevent draughts

If you can feel or hear moving air near your windows, or you can see light around your front door when it’s closed, it means your home is not sealed properly. Sealing off air leaks can significantly reduce your home heating costs during winter, as well as preventing hot air from entering your house during summer. Use a caulking gun to fill in any cracks around your windows and doors, and place a door snake inside your front door to prevent draughts coming under the door.

Insulate your house

Insulating your home will help it stay warm in winter, and cool in summer. An uninsulated roof will lose up to 30% of heat through the ceiling, so adding insulation means you won’t need to use as much energy to heat your home. Consider double-glazing windows to prevent heat loss through the glass, and add insulation under timber floorboards to prevent heat loss through the floor.

Minimise interior sources of heat during summer

During summer, minimise any activities that will generate heat inside your home. Try to avoid using your oven, clothes dryer, dishwasher, and any other appliances that generate heat. Do your cooking outside on the BBQ rather than inside at the stove, and turn on the exhaust fan while you’re running hot water in the bathroom. If you have incandescent light bulbs, swap them out for cooler, more energy efficient light bulbs that emit less heat.

Maintain your air conditioner

If you have air conditioning, you should change the air filters every 4-6 weeks during heavy use. Dirty filters reduce air quality and impede airflow, meaning your air conditioner won’t be able to efficiently cool your home. Keep spare air filters in the house and change them regularly.

Invest in outdoor blinds or shutters

On hot days, up to 30% of unwanted heat can come from your windows. To lower the temperature inside your home, you need to stop this heat from entering through windows in the first place. Installing blinds and keeping them closed during the hottest parts of the day is the best way to do this. During winter, open blinds during the day so that the sunlight can warm your home, but close the blinds at night to trap the heat inside.

Installing good quality blinds, shutters and awnings is a brilliant way to create an energy efficient home. Bozzy is one of WA’s most talked about blinds and awnings companies, supplying outdoor blinds, alfresco blinds, sails and awnings all over Perth. Bozzy blinds are stylish and versatile, and they’re all custom-designed to suit your home. Best of all, Bozzy products all come with a 5-year warranty. To find out more about Bozzy’s products, call 1300 800 234 or visit www.bozzy.com.au

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