Guide to an Energy-Friendly House

Environmental friendliness is on the rise, and many Australian homeowners are aiming to make their homes as efficient as possible. An energy-friendly house will help reduce the owner’s carbon footprint, while also providing them with quite a bit of savings from the power bill. Achieving this might seem complex, but it’s a lot simpler in practice. Here are a few ways you can get your home to become more efficient.

Start early

If you haven’t yet started working on your energy-efficient haven, you might want to get on the task pretty quickly. Modifying a home to be energy efficient is a lot harder than designing it to be such from the start. This is why it’s so crucial that you get an early start when it comes to increasing the home’s efficiency.

The insulation of your home plays a big part in saving energy. Even the most efficient heating system will only take you so far if the house is constantly leaking heat. Most homes will have adequate insulation, but there are some key areas that need to be revisited. The roof and basement are often vulnerable to heat leakage if they aren’t insulated well. Consult experts and builders to see if these areas require better insulation.

Allow for better illumination

Most Australian homeowners use a blend of incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs for their rooms. These lighting options provide adequate illumination, but they might not be the most efficient solutions available. Environmentally friendly options, such as LEDs, might be more suited for the job. The amount of power that is saved through their use might not seem like much per light bulb, but it adds up. Over the span of a couple of years, the power bill savings will become extremely noticeable.

Even lighting efficiency can be improved with the initial design of the home. If your rooms have better access to natural lighting, you won’t have to use artificial lights all that often. Windows should be positioned to give your rooms adequate lighting throughout the day. More windows will always increase the efficiency of the lighting in your home.

Use efficient heating

No amount of insulation is going to make winter any warmer. Heating is an absolute necessity in most parts of Australia, which means homeowners are left with few choices. Among these few choices, there are some that are more efficient than others.

Gas heating is often considered the more eco-friendly and efficient option, compared to alternatives. Burning wood and fuel often creates harmful byproducts, which pollute the air, while gas is relatively safe.

Before the harsh weather begins, you should take measures to keep your heating system up-to-date and efficient. It would be best to seek out a professional gas heating repair in Canberra before the season starts, as it can make repairs and improvements a lot easier. If the system can’t be repaired, a replacement can be installed before the colder weather arrives.

Produce your own power

Energy costs are constantly on the rise, and many Australian homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their consumption. The problem is that there’s always going to be a certain amount of power used, even with peak efficiency. That is unless you can find an alternative way to power your home.

The good news is that this is a feasible solution. Many homeowners are turning to solar cells to power their home, instead of simply utilizing power from the grid. Generating your own electricity is the single best way to reduce your power bills, as it doesn’t rely on external sources.

Installing solar panels was once a very costly investment, but it’s become pretty affordable for a large number of Australians. With solar panels, you can count on massive savings on a yearly basis. Best of all, solar panels require very little maintenance or cleaning, making them an efficient and autonomous source of power worth considering.

Conclusion

Creating an energy-efficient home isn’t as difficult as you might think. There are both minor and major changes that are worth taking into consideration. With a little planning and research, you should be able to dramatically reduce your power and gas bills without issue. Apply some of these ideas to your home and you’ll see some very quick results.