As the pollution of our planet increases every day, more and more organisations are fighting to stop the pollution and �go green�. Building �green� is all about energy efficiency, its proper using and proper spending. Having a house which saves you a lot of energy every day pays of on the long run, and it is also a very interesting thing to get energy from renewable sources. There is a big difference between regular houses and the �green� ones, especially when it comes to energy sources. Listed below are the steps you should take in order to turn your house into an energy saver.
The Planning Phase
Your current building has room for improvement, whether you see it or not. It can be modified with certain retrofits which will come as an energy saving solution. To start off, conduct an energy audit in the presence of your contractor. Once this is done, the contractor will give you a better insight into what can be done to improve your house�s energy spending. Once you have everything market out and visualized, check your budget and act accordingly by improving the critical points first.
Set Your Goals towards Energy Savings
You cannot aim towards improving your house if you do not have set goals. Once you clearly define the things you want to achieve and the things you want to improve on and in your house, you can start investing money into your house. Keep in mind that everything you do increases yourproperty value, and even if you decide to sell the house, you profit might double or even triple. For starters, dream big and act small, transform part by part and your house will be upgraded into an energy-saving platform.
Find the Core of the Energy-leaking Problems
Usually, heat escapes the house in 2 usual ways: by conduction or convection. When it comes to conduction, the heat will flow through material right outside. Insulating the walls might help solve this problem. Also, consider a floor which is less heat-conductive. As for the convection, the best way of preserving heat is by upgrading your windows. Single glazed windows are inefficient energy savers, since they cool the air much faster than their better version, the double glazed windows.
Install Double Glazing to Save Even More Energy
Believe it or not, but having a proper double glazing can reduce your energy spending to a minimum, save you a lot of money and protect you from a cruel cold in the harsh winter days. All you have to do is replace your old windows with double-glazed ones and be a proud contributor to the energy saving society. The key is to control the amount of energy you create and the amount of energy you �throw away� through the gaps, cracks, small holes, crevices and old glass. Once you take care of the windows, your energy saving will increase by 28 percent.
Other Things to Consider
Once you are done sealing and insulating your house, all which is left is to think about the ventilation system. The air quality is very important, and all this insulation will definitely affect it to certain extent. Make sure your insulation is properly installed, for false insulations can cause pockets of wet environment which can later invoke mould problems. In the end, it all comes down to choosing your insulation material, for some are greener than others. For instance, fiberglass takes a lot of energy to be produced, while cellulose is made from recycled newspapers. Consider these facts and thing how �green� do you want to go. In addition to this, you should look into eco-friendlyways to cool down your home.
Now that you have all the information you need, it is time to start thinking about your house and all the energy saving retrofits which are soon to be placed in it. Know your goals and stick to them, determine your budget and your green house will unfold in front of you. One thing is for sure � energy retrofitting is an investment, not an expense.
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