With rising energy bills showing no signs of abating, many homeowners are looking to build their own properties with a high level of energy efficiency, so they are not so dependent on fossil fuels to power their home. Read on to discover our top tips when it comes to building an energy-efficient home.

Make A Plan For Seasonal Changes

The UK weather is notoriously changeable, and we can experience wet and windy days in the middle of summer, and remarkably bright and warm spring times. How you build your house will determine how you interact with the changing seasons, and everything from the amount of rainfall to the amount of light your house receives needs to be taken into consideration. It could be that you build it south facing to make the most of the sun, or in a location where it won’t be battered by autumnal winds.

Choose The Right Heating And Cooling Systems

It’s not often that cooling systems are built into UK properties, and more often than not homes here are designed with a central heating system. If you are going to be building a new property, think about how you plan to heat or cool your home. Figure out how big your home will be and how big the heat load needs to be, how large your boiler should be and if you need fans to move the air around in the summer months. Carefully consider the scale of glass usage, as it can both heat the home and cool it down too.

Understanding The Energy Efficiency Of Your Roof

It’s amazing to think that around 25% of heat generated within a home is lost directly through the roof if it has not been insulated. As you build your property, don’t neglect to provide adequate levels of insulation in the attic. This will greatly reduce your energy bills by keeping the ambient temperature more stable. You can lay mineral wool between joists to keep that heat in, or you can also buy specialist insulation to cover the rafters such as insulation boards or spray foam insulation.

Maximise The Use Of Natural Light

Light is a key component of any build, and you should think ahead to how light is going to affect the rooms in your property. Wherever possible, position your windows so that you don’t need to turn the lights on during the daytime, but at the same time you don’t want sun blaring through the main living spaces throughout the day. The north facing sides of the house will likely be in shade, so why not integrate skylights to let that natural sunshine penetrate to the darkest regions of your home.

Install Proper Insulation

Try to keep as much heat inside your home as possible during the colder months so you don’t have to rely on your heating systems. This is something done much more effectively with the right insulation. Spray foam in your wall cavities will really cut the amount of heat lost, but also consider other types of insulation and insulative material in your build.

Buy Energy Efficient Appliances

If you have old appliances that suck energy, consider replacing them with state-of-the-art eco-friendly and energy-efficient appliances. Appliances can account for around 15% of all your electricity used, so always opt for ones with the Energy Star rating. Even when you use these, put them on an eco setting to preserve electricity.

Final Thoughts

Of course, you can implement many of these strategies on your existing property quite easily, however there’s nothing quite like building a house of your own, with all of your personal touches to make it a special place for years to come

If you’re looking to build your own home with the very best energy-efficient features, get in touch with us today at Early Birds and we’ll be happy to discuss the property of your dreams with bespoke eco building solutions!