With rising energy costs and growing concerns about climate change there are very few homeowners who are willing to ignore cost-effective ways of saving money on their household bills. Building energy efficient homes and improving energy efficiency in our homes can increase their value. Even smallest changes can yield the biggest results.

A surprising number of homeowners have started educating themselves on how to make their home more and more energy efficient.Every conscious undertaking is, after all,  a step towards increasing your home’s energy efficiency.

The first step in making your home energy efficient is made by conducting energy efficiency audit. Home energy audits are easy to carry out and useful in identify areas for home improvement. It focuses on the areas of lowest energy efficiency, such as un-insulated lofts, single glazed windows, open fireplaces and energy ‘eating’ appliances as well as improving your home’s air tightness.

A home energy audit from a certified energy advisor such as Booth Electrical is necessary to ensure that the most cost-effective improvements are undertaken. Basic areas which energy auditor from MES will test in your home are:

• Blower-Door testing.
• Weatherization Programs.
• Thermal Imaging Video of you Home.
• Duct-Blasting Test.
• Furnace Flute Testing.
• Moisture Reading.

After completion of audit, their energy auditor will provide you with a full written report of the findings and solutions to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Each energy audit has its own benefits and some of the most prominent of them being:

• Make your home more comfortable and at the same time using less energy.
• Prevent wear and tear on your heating and A/C equipment.
• Lowering your energy bill.
• Reducing airborne contaminants.
• Immense help in saving energy.

All Western people are increasingly looking at ways to improve the energy-efficiency of their homes as making substantial improvements in energy efficiency. This will save house owners money in the long run.

In today’s market, the options for sources of alternative energy can be very difficult to implement for both home owners and contractors alike. This is due to the high upfront costs required for acquiring and deploying these types of solutions. The initial investment tend to be so expensive that people simply don't have the cash available for purchasing the system.

If, in the other hand, the equipment for green energy is installed and provisioned while the home is in its construction phase, then this will unfortunately increase the final cost of the property thus affecting its ability to be sold.

On the other hand, fossil fuels are causing a great deal of damage to the planet,  and their use needs to stop as soon as possible. In our opinion, the need for government intervention is inminent in this sector so that green buildings become a reality for the majority of us.

Some of the many technologies used for building green homes are: photovoltaics, energy-efficient appliances, solar hot water, geothermal heat, heat reflecting windows and loft insulation. Each one of these offers its own degreet of efficiency and cost.

The most expensive technology is photovoltaics but, if you plan to live in the same home for a long time then photovoltaics can be a good cost-saving option. In some cities, the government is now offering subsidies for installing photovoltaic systems.

In order to effectively convert our homes to Green Homes, the following aspects are very important:
 

• Deliberate planning and attention to detail from the outset covering the design through all the phases of construction.
• Understanding of building science principles, including the principles of air, heat and moisture flow.
• Good communication among the entire team, including the developers, architects, engineers, builders, trade contractors, and material suppliers.
• Proper sequencing of decision-making and building activities throughout the entire design and construction process.
• Adequate training and supervision to ensure high quality construction.
• Testing and verifying performance both during and after construction, and establishing a feedback loop to improve future designs based on the testing results.

The important subjects you need to understand and review while working on green buildings or homes are:
 

• Decrease Energy Use
• Conserving Water
• Choosing Green Materials
• Reducing Waste
• Protecting the health of the people
• Site Selection

In order to keep down your energy consumption, follow these simple guidelines:

Televisions and other electronic equipment draw power even when they are turned off. Plug electronics into a power strip and turn off the power strip when not in use.Use fresh air cooling strategies before air conditioning, including ceiling fans and window fans. If you install a room air conditioner, choose one that carries the EnergyStar label.Replace bulbs with EnergyStar labeled bulbs.Turn out the lights when you are not in the room.