ENERGY

1. ORIENT BUILDING TO MAXIMIZE NATURAL DAYLIGHTING

Description: Natural daylighting is usually available to the east, south, and west facades.

Benefits: Maximizing natural daylighting reduces the need for artificial light, thus reducing energy consumption and utility bills. Dwellings that have good natural daylighting are also more pleasant for the residents.

2. PLACE WINDOWS TO PROVIDE GOOD NATURAL VENTILATION

Description: Natural ventilation systems take advantage of prevailing winds and thermal convection to ventilate living spaces.

Benefits: Placing windows to take advantage of natural ventilation reduces the need for air conditioning, saves money on energy bills, and can make homes without air conditioning more comfortable.

3. SELECT A LIGHT-COLORED “COOL ROOF”

Description: Dark roofing materials absorb heat, making the house warmer in summer months, whereas light colored roofing reflects heat away from the building.

Benefits: Light colored roofing reduces heat buildup Through the roof, thus increasing occupancy comfort and decreasing air conditioning bills. Light colored roofing can also last longer because it does not thermally expand and contract as much as darker colors.

4. PROVIDE OVERHANGS ON SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS

Description: Overhangs or screens on south-facing windows are one component of a natural cooling system.

Benefits: Shading south-facing windows reduces heat gain by screening the summer sun during the hottest periods of the day.

5. INSTALL WHOLE-HOUSE FANS OR CEILING FANS

Description: Whole-house and ceiling fans improve interior comfort by circulating cold and warm air.They can be adjusted to either draw warm air upward during summer months or push it downward during the winter.

Benefits: Fans can reduce the need for air conditioning and heating by circulating air effectively, and on average uses one-tenth the electricity of an air conditioning unit.

6. ELIMINATE AIR CONDITIONING

Description: After the refrigerator, air conditioning is the second biggest consumer of electricity in an average household.

Benefits: Eliminating air conditioning will significantly reduce a household’s electricity bill.

7. PROVIDE COMBINED-HYDRONIC HEATING

Description: Combined hydronic heating uses hot water stored in the water heater to operate radiators typically installed in baseboards.

Benefits: Combined-hydronic heating saves energy by using hot water already produced and stored in the water heater, and eliminating the need for a separate furnace.

8. INSTALL FLUORESCENT LIGHTS WITH ELECTRONIC BALLASTS

Description: Interior fluorescent bulbs and fixtures produce light quantity and quality that is comparable to incandescents, while expending less energy. Electronic ballasts also improve efficiency and reduce flickering.

Benefits: Energy efficient lighting reduces energy consumption and lowers utility bills. One compact florescent bulb will pay itself back over ten times over the course of its life through reduced energy use.