ENERGY EFFICIENCY KEY TO HOMES OF FUTURE
Building for the future means building homes that are sustainable and rely on renewable sources of energy. For many homeowners, the dream home includes the finishing touches such as stainless steel appliances and open concept kitchens. We’re starting to see a shift where homeowners are also asking about energy efficiency — how well does the home keep you cool in the summer? How much does it cost to keep you warm in the winter?
As more builders and homeowners adopt sustainability into their plans, we’ll start to see these options become more affordable for everyday homeowners. We’re already seeing that with solar energy — solar panels are less expensive now than they were 10 years ago, thus making building a net-zero home much more attainable.
WHAT IS A NET-ZERO HOME?
To put it simply, a net zero home is capable of producing its own energy, and can produce at least as much as it consumes.
To be completely net-zero, you will likely need to incorporate solar power — and sometimes wind power, too. The good news is that many areas offer energy buyback programs, meaning if you produce more than you use, you can sell that energy back as a credit.
I love building to a net-zero standard when I can. My garage is completely off the grid, and when my son rebuilt his home, he made sure that his renovation budget included solar panels on the roof.
There’s more to building netzero than installing renewable energy sources, you will also need to make sure your home is equipped to use that gathered energy efficiently. If solar isn’t in your budget right now, there are still a few smaller projects you can undertake to help improve energy efficiency in your home.
IMPROVING YOUR BUILDING ENVELOPE
One of the simplest ways to update your home to be more energy efficient is by updating your building envelope — everything that separates the inside of your home to the outside. This includes areas such as your doors, windows, attic, foundation and exterior walls. You want to make sure your envelope has a high R-value, so that it’s resistant to heat loss — and is properly sealed.
First, you will want to mitigate any drafts coming in through improperly sealed areas. Check the caulking around doors and windows, as well as any wall openings, such as a dryer vent. Replace the caulking as necessary — you should be checking yearly to see if it needs replacing.
For outdoor caulking, I like to use a rubberized caulk because it lasts longer, and it’s flexible, meaning it will move with the natural expansion and contraction of the house.
You may want to consider replacing old windows, as these are one of the major sources of heat loss in a home. One indication of bad windows is when you spot condensation between the panes in a double-paned window.
EFFICIENTLY HEATING AND COOLING YOUR HOME
For most Canadians, the cost to heat their homes accounts for more than 50 per cent of their annual energy consumption. So when you’re renovating, you may want to consider options that will provide heating without driving up your monthly energy bills.
Here are a few options to consider:
In-floor heating: In-floor heating works well with many different types of flooring, including tile, laminate and some engineered woods. Popular additions to kitchens and bathrooms, in-floor heating lets you adjust your temperature on a room by room basis, meaning you’re not wasting energy to heat a room that’s not in use. Some systems include an uncoupling technology that can prevent tiles and grout from cracking. Now that’s smart heating.
Geothermal heating: Geothermal heating absorbs the temperature underground through tubes and funnels it into your home, keeping it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Unfortunately, geothermal heating is an expensive retrofit on an already built home. You’ll save on your heating bills immediately if you install it, but you may not ever recoup the investment of having it installed. However, if you’re building from the ground up, geothermal heating becomes a much more viable option.
I believe we should build for our future. That means building and renovating homes so that they’re energy efficient while still providing the comforts we all need. By incorporating the right technology, finding the right builders, and even by making a few simple tweaks we can all take steps to reduce our energy waste right at home. Watch Mike Holmes in his series, Holmes Makes It Right, on HGTV. For more information, visit makeitright.ca