energy efficient homes.
· Living areas and rooms you spend lots of time in should be north-facing to catch sun and light for the longest part of the day.
· Bedrooms should be positioned on the southern side so they are cooler and more pleasant to sleep in at night.
· Eaves over north-facing windows can keep unwanted sun out in summer and let the sun’s warmth in during winter.
· Bedrooms should be positioned on the southern side so they are cooler and more pleasant to sleep in at night.
· Eaves over north-facing windows can keep unwanted sun out in summer and let the sun’s warmth in during winter.
- Although open plan designs are popular, they can be difficult and expensive to heat and cool, and can be quite noisy. So make living areas more enclosed to keep heating and cooling costs down.
- Creating ‘zones’ by grouping rooms with similar uses together – such as living rooms, bedrooms and wet areas – can allow for more efficient heating and cooling.
- Trees and shrubs can be used to block out the harsh morning and afternoon sun on the eastern and western sides of your home during summer.
- Too much glass can make your home very hot in summer and cold during winter.
- Limit the number of windows on the east and west sides of your home.
- Having light coloured walls and ceiling can help by reflecting heat and keeping your house cool in summer.
- LED lights can save as much energy as fluorescent and can last three times longer or more. While they are more expensive, technology is growing so they should be more affordable soon.
- Windows protection: to stop direct sunlight in summer through your windows is to have external shading.
- Has to have air ways so that air can flow through and keep the circulation going.