Chapter # 5 ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME DESIGN

ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME DESIGN

 An energy efficient home is designed to provide shade and allow cooling breezes
to enter in summer, while taking advantage of the sun’s warmth in winter.
 In climate areas where air conditioning and heating are necessary, energy efficient
house design can greatly reduce cooling and heating costs.
Some of the important aspect which should be considered while designing the energy
efficient construction of a house or an apartment.

Orientation:
 The orientation of the walls and windows affects the amount of heat entering a
home.
 North facing windows are easy to shade in summer. They still allow solar heating
in winter. East and west facing windows are difficult to shade with eaves in
summer.

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 The general rule for all climatic regions is to orient the house so the main wall and
window areas face north. This minimizes solar heating in summer and provides
scope for solar heating in winter.

Internal Planning:
 Locate living and outdoor areas to the north or east. In summer these areas will be
cool and generally receive cool afternoon breezes. In winter, they will be warm
and sunny.
 Create zones by grouping rooms of similar use together. For example, rooms that
use hot water should be located together to allow for more efficient use of your
hot water system.
 Areas which are heated or cooled should be able to be closed off from the rest of
the house.

Window Size And Placement:

 Carefully consider the size, type and placement of windows. This will be
influenced by climate, views building codes and shading by trees, terrain and/or
other buildings.
 A wise selection and placement of windows will ensure effective ventilation and
help you to keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter.

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 Windows such as louvers and casements that open fully or redirect breezes into
the home are beneficial in humid climates.

Window Protection:
 The most effective way to reduce the amount of heat entering windows in summer
is to stop direct sunlight from striking the windows. This can be done by using
external shading.
 The sun takes different paths during summer and winter. Shading north and south
facing windows in summer can be easily achieved by using the correct width
eaves/verandahs for the climatic region in which you are building.

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Figure 3 above provides a general guide for the correct width of eaves.

 Areas north of the Tropic of Capricorn also require horizontal shading of southern
windows to provide adequate protection from the summer sun.
 Pergolas, verandahs, trees, vines and external blinds all provide shading. Check
that they don’t obstruct cooling breezes
 In winter reduce heat loss by using close fitting curtains, blinds and pelmets to
trap the heat between them and the glass.
 In cold winter areas consider double glazing for all windows.

Insulation:
 Installing insulation can be the most effective way to improve your home’s
comfort level throughout the year.
 When a home is air conditioned or heated, insulation reduces the amount of
energy needed to maintain comfort.

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 Insulation reduces the required size of cooling or heating units thus reducing their
initial purchase cost. It can also save money on operating costs.
 Insulation may not be effective in houses with large areas of unshaded windows,
particularly if the house is not well ventilated.
 Ceiling insulation should generally have a minimum “R” rating of 2.5 and walls
should have R 1.0 to 1.5.

Building Materials:
 Construction materials such as concrete and brick can absorb and hold large
amounts of heat. This heat is then released when the air becomes cooler. These
materials are most effective when insulated from the outside.
 In temperate climates, tiled concrete floors and internal masonry (cavity brick,
concrete block, reverse brick veneer) walls assist in moderating temperatures
inside the home.
 Carpeting a concrete floor will greatly reduce its effectiveness in storing and
releasing heat.
 In hot, humid climates, heavy construction materials provide little additional
benefit and can be a disadvantage if not completely protected from the sun.

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 Lighter weight construction such as brick veneer or timber/fiber-board-clad

construction may be a better option.

Ventilation And Infiltration:

 Internal layout of rooms, doorways and windows should be considered when
planning for good cross ventilation. This allows unhindered flow of natural
breezes to provide a cooling effect in hot, humid climates.
 Open plan style and vented high ceilings with ceiling fans are ideal for tropical
climates.
 Reducing unwanted draughts by sealing air leaks reduces winter heating
requirements and prevents hot, dry and dusty air from entering during summer.
 Any gaps around doors and windows can be sealed with weather stripping.
Likewise, caulk any gaps in the house construction such as along skirtings,
cornices and other internal lining joints.

Lighting:
 Devoting some time to the layout and type of light fittings when designing your
home will improve light quality and lower your energy costs.
 Ensure light levels are appropriate for each area. Diffused lighting is good for
general lighting purposes as it provides a better distribution of light with less
shadowing and glare.
 Fluorescent lamps give five times the light output and last up to eight times longer
than incandescent lamps.
 Choose light colours in preference to darker colours for ceilings and walls as
more light will be reflected around the room.
 Provide separate switches for each lamp to give flexibility in lighting effects.
 The use of ‘sensors’, time switches, dimmers and two-way switching are effective
methods of reducing lighting energy costs.

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Landscaping:
 The recommended way to provide shade is to plant deciduous trees in an arc
encompassing the home on the east, southeast, south, southwest and west sides as
shown in Figure. Plant shade trees based on their mature height so they will be
properly spaced and provide desired shade. Location also depends on the shape of

the tree crown, the position of the sun, the height of the roof or walls, desirable
views from windows, aesthetic appeal of the overall landscape, and presence
overhead wires and underground pipes.

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 Tree arrangements that provide shade in summer may be detrimental in the winter
if they block solar heating. Leafless deciduous trees may reduce the amount of
sunlight reaching the home by more than one-third. However, the winter sun is
typically less than 45 degrees above the horizon, so shading will be largely from
tree trunks. For this reason, plant only those trees needed for summer shade along
the southern edge of the home.
 To the greatest extent possible, limit the amount of east and west glass since it is
harder to shade than south glass. Consider the use of landscaping to shade east
and west exposures.

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