March-2024 Cooperative Living-CEC - 24

HOME & GARDEN
From the Ground Up
How to build an energy-effi cient home
Story courtesy of Family Features
W
hether it's your primary
objective or a secondary
benefi t, creating an energyeffi
cient living space is a smart choice for
homeowners. Sustainable architecture
and materials can help ensure you rely
less on limited resources while reducing
the cost of operating your home.
Th ese green ideas range from
relatively simple to major undertakings,
but they all have one thing in common:
energy-effi cient living, which in turn
results in lower energy bills.
Be mindful of electricity use.
Monitoring your use habits is a simple
starting point when you want to move
toward more energy-effi cient living.
Using less electricity during peak hours
reduces the strain on your energy
provider, which can help curb your
monthly bill. Check with your utility
provider to confi rm what times of day
they off er lower rates. Other tips include
using natural light to your advantage and
turning off lights and other electronics
when they're not in use.
Install energy-effi cient windows.
Even standard double-pane windows
One of the most energy-effi cient things
you can do is build a house that is the
correct size for your needs.
lose a great deal of energy in the average
home. In the winter, they allow cold to
seep in, while in the warmer months
blazing sunlight can quickly elevate a
room's temperature. However, energyeffi
cient windows act as an eff ective
barrier to both cold and heat. Th ey
can even protect your belongings from
fading and damage caused by ultraviolet
light. Newly installed windows also
tend to have tighter, unblemished seals,
addressing another common culprit of
energy loss. If new windows are not in
your budget, check your window and
door perimeters and consider resealing
them to prevent air leakage.
Opt for effi cient appliances.
Appliances may make modern life
substantially easier, but they account for
a signifi cant share of a home's energy
use. However, you can reduce how much
they need by choosing an effi cient model
that uses 10-50% less power than lessenergy-conscious
options. Not only do
they help reduce greenhouse emissions
and promote sustainable living, but
some energy-effi cient appliances also
have lower maintenance requirements.
Boost insulation levels. Adequate
insulation keeps heat in your home
when it's cold outdoors and prevents
too much heat from seeping in when
temperatures soar. However, over
time loose-fi ll insulation (such as
cellulose, fi berglass or mineral wool)
can break down. It's also common for
homeowners to discover their homes
were constructed with insulation that
only met minimum standards at the
time they were built, so there's room
for improvement. Consider adding
insulation to commonly defi cient areas
like the attic, garage, basement and
exterior walls.
Start with a solid foundation.
Building a new home is a big investment,
especially considering rising energy
requirements and fuel costs. Relying on
energy-effi cient construction materials,
like Nudura's insulated concrete forms,
can provide homeowners nearly 60%
energy savings compared to traditional
building methods using wood. ICF
construction results in less waste
during the building process and also
reduces the amount of energy needed
for heating and cooling due to their
continuous insulation, thermal mass
and high R-value. Th e result is an
airtight structure that enables building
mechanical systems to heat, cool and
ventilate more effi ciently, creating
a healthier living environment with
a lower carbon footprint.
*
22 * Cooperative Living * March 2024
To learn more, visit nudura.com/eco-fr iendly.
co-opliving.com
http://www.nudura.com/eco-fr http://www.co-opliving.com
March-2024 Cooperative Living-CEC

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