Putting together an energy-efficient home means more than adding extra insulation and installingsealed windows. Energy efficient building means creating a whole-house system for energy management. Custom home buildersin Calgary focus on creating custom homes that integrate cutting edge technologies to produce a highly energy-efficient home with all the luxurious details expected.
Home Builders in Calgary: Custom Energy-Efficiency
Putting together a home with the highest-levels of energy efficiency integrates many components to create a whole-house system. These elements work together to keep energy needs to a minimum.
1. Orienting the home on the property - Maximizing the sun exposure during the winter and minimizing it in summer helps keep energy usage to the lowest levels possible - especially in Calgary, where there are large amounts of sunshine annually. The orientation is also critical in using solar technologies to lower energy use.
2. Choosing an energy-friendly floor plan - An open floor plan on the south side of the house is often the best choice in the Calgary area. The open floor plan offers easier heat circulation and maximizes the use of natural light and heat. The options available for floor plans arethingsclients consider when choosing among home builders in Calgary.
3. Creating a thermal envelope around the home - Every crack and corner of homes need to keep the air inside the house instead of allowing it to leak to the outside. This keeps the cool air inside during the summer and the warm air in during winter. Insulation, proper sealing, and energy-efficient windows are part of this effort.
4. Choosing the right roofing materials - Metal roofs reflect heat in the summer months, making it easier to cool the house. Metal roofing can last up to 50 years and are also an eco-friendly choice since metal is recyclable.
5. Using shade for summer cooling - Trees and other natural plantings can help keep summer heat from affecting the indoor temperatures. Pergolas, eaves, and awnings also offer shade around the edges of the house. For those who want to use solar technology, some shading elements are not available since they can block the sunlight.
6. Implementing energy-saving HVAC systems - Choice of heating and cooling systems is critical in promoting home energy efficiency. Using highly efficient systems with a well-designed duct network can keep costs to a minimum. Solar is just one of the options for lowering HVAC costs.
7. Choosing in-house elements for lowering energy consumption - The choice of certain in-home elements will make a difference with energy costs as well. Energy efficient appliances and using low-energy light bulbs are just two examples.
When energy-saving techniques are combined, clients can cut the amount of energy needed to live in a home by up to 50 percent. That translates to significant savings in ongoing energy costs.
Fine Line Homes is proud to be a leader among home builders in Calgary. We create energy-efficient home designs that offer affordable, custom dream homes for our clients.
