What
is Energy-Efficiency?
The
World Energy Council defines energy-efficiency as "a reduction
in the energy used for a given service (heating, lighting, etc.) or
level of activity."
The
Council goes on to further explain that due to the financial burden
imposed by rising energy prices, consumers may attempt to decrease
their energy consumption by reducing the energy services they use.
They may turn down their heating or reduce the mileage they rack up
in their car. Reductions of this nature should not be classed as
energy-efficiency, since they do not necessarily result in an
increase in overall energy efficiency and any savings made are deemed
easily reversible.
Reducing
the Influence of Human Behavior
A
truly energy-efficient home reduces the influence of individual human
behavior by automating certain functions such as room temperature and
lighting. While some may take the concept to the extreme and take
great pains to build solar pod homes and the like, this is beyond the
reach of many consumers.
The
Benefits of Energy-Efficient Homes
Technological
advancements have created an array of eco-friendly building materials
and techniques. Solar panels, wind turbines, ultra efficient
insulation and glazing are just some of the methods used to make new
homes energy-efficient. The informed homeowner can take full
advantage of the technological innovations in energy-efficiency, and
enjoy a host of benefits.
Performance
- Energy-efficient homes feature thermal regulators to maintain the
temperature between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. This represents the
World Health Organization's recommended temperature for optimum
comfort and health. The air in a thermally regulated home will be
dry, healthy and safer for vulnerable individuals like the elderly,
small children and those with allergies. Homes are free of irritating
condensation and protected from extreme weather conditions.
Financial
Considerations - Living in an energy-efficient home will almost
certainly lead to decreased energy bills. This is undoubtedly a major
attraction for many consumers. If energy-efficient measures are added
at the home owner's expense, any money spent on making alterations is
generally recouped within a certain number of years, thus making
savings in the longer term. It is worthwhile to consider passive
systems that deliver maximum benefits but do not cost anything to
run. In addition, an energy-efficient home will be more desirable and
thus have a higher perceived value to potential buyers.
Greener
Home, Clearer Conscience - An eco-friendly home will reduce energy
waste and minimize its environmental footprint, without the need for
the homeowner to compromise on comfort or lifestyle. While saving
money and living in a comfortably heated home are important, it is
equally important to consider the consequences of our actions today
on the generations of tomorrow.
Comfort
- The level of comfort in any home can often be viewed as being
directly attributable to the annual energy spend. When comparing
standard new homes to energy-efficient homes, greater levels of
comfort can be seen with energy-efficient builds for the same annual
energy spend.
Energy-efficiency
in the home offers a host of benefits to the savvy homeowner. Cost is
an important factor but as can be seen, there are many other
important issues to take into account.
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