Building and Keeping the Energy Saving House

Today's lifestyle is all about spending and having the best appliances, the best furniture, and the best electronic equipment – but it also means saving energy for the future. The best electronic equipment won't work if you don't have energy to use. The best furniture will go to waste in a house that doesn't have electricity. And the best appliances will be for nothing if your house is not an energy saving house.

So, how can you build and maintain an energy saving house? The keywords are insulate, ventilate, and clean.

Since some appliances require a warm ambient temperature to run, an energy saving house should be well insulated. Seal all cracks in windows, doors, and walls to keep the heat in and the cold out.

Warm rooms are a requirement in an energy saving house, so install fully insulated doors on all entrances to rooms which are exposed to cold, such as garages, cold storage, and basements. However, save on your heating bill by not heating these rooms, and instead invest on insulating your house properly.

Upgrade the windows in your energy saving house to high efficiency windows, such as those equipped with insulated spacers and argon gas fill. Cover windows or openings with clear plastic sheeting, especially during the winter. This is a cheap and easy way to keep out drafts.

You can also cover your windows with insulated, thermal-backed drapes. These will cool your house down and reduce your air-conditioning costs during the summer, while they can keep your house warm and reduce your heating costs in the winter.

Keep the walls of your energy saving house free from cracks and openings. If you have unfinished rooms or chambers, check for spider webs. Cobwebs are a sign of a draft, so clean those webs away and shut those drafts out.

An energy saving house should be covered with a good roof – and the best is a reflective one, which can reduce your roof's surface temperature by up to 60 degrees fahrenheit, keeping the sun out, and lowering your air-conditioning costs.

An energy saving house is also well ventilated. However, you don't have to spend a lot on buying and maintaining air conditioners. Install an attic ventilating system. Such a system can cool air through the house during the summer, but can be sealed to keep heat in during the winter. The system can also provide the same level of comfort as conventional air conditioners, but without the high cost, thus keeping your energy saving house cool.

If you want to keep your energy saving house comfortable without a vent or air conditioner, buy ceiling fans. They use much less electricity, and cost only about 5 cents an hour to operate. However, they can costs much more if not well maintained, so clean their blades regularly and keep them dust and cobweb free.

Open your windows during the summer nights to let the air in – but don't forget to turn your air conditioner off. If you have an air conditioner, turn it on only during the day, but close the windows of your energy saving house to keep the cool air in and the warm air out.

An energy saving house is clean. Make sure that all your appliances are free from dirt and dust. Grime on light fixtures can keep them from operating properly, and can increase their energy consumption while lowering their energy output. If you have a sliding glass door, keep its tracks clean. Dirty tracks can destroy door seals and create gaps through which heat can escape.

Buy energy saving appliances such as high efficiency heaters, refrigerators, and washing machines. These appliances not only reduce your electricity costs – they help save the environment as well. When purchasing appliances, buy those labeled with the Energy Star, and look for those with an energy saving switch feature. Such switches can turn your equipment off when they are not needed, and can keep electric consumption at a minimum.

What's an energy saving house without the proper garden to make it look like a home? Plant trees and shrubs to keep your house safe from the wind. These windbreaks can reduce wind by up to 50%, and lower heating costs by up to 20-40%. Plants, moreover, can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and clean up the air in and around your house.

In the end, an energy saving house is as good as its occupants. Keep it well insulated, well ventilated, and clean – and take care of your appliances. In the end, the effort of switching appliances off, the money invested in energy efficient appliances, and the time spent in keeping your house warm but well cooled and spick and span, will end in better savings, and a better home.

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