Housing...Inside and Out

September 11, 1998
Keep Energy Measures In Mind

If you are selecting, building or remodeling a home, you have a golden opportunity to be an energy conservationist. Many decisions you will make will affect the amount of fuel required to operate your home. Use the following suggestions to minimize the amount of energy you use:

  • Provide only as much space as you actually need. Remember you will have to heat, cool, light, maintain and clean it. 
  • Reduce space allowed for little used areas. Example: how large does a formal living room need to be if you only use the family room? 
  • Consider multi-use rooms: living room-dining room, office-guest room.
  • A foyer instead of a door directly into a room will trap outside air and keep it from spreading through the home. 
  • Locate "hot rooms" (kitchen, laundry) in cooler sections of the home away from the west summer sun. 
  • Design and orient the house so that in the summer you do not have large un-shaded windows facing the west. 
  • Protect windows from the summer sun's rays by means of shades, screens and roof overhangs.
  • Avoid large expanses of concrete or blacktop directly adjacent to large windows. Concrete or blacktop intensifies the heat. 
  • Landscape the yard to provide trees to shade the roof and west windows in the summer. 
  • Select window treatments with an eye toward insulating qualities for the winter. 
  • Carpet floors. Carpet and rugs are warmer than smooth flooring. 
  • Consider color of rooms in relation to the location in the home. Warm colors (reds and yellows) will make cool rooms seem warmer. Cool colors (blues and greens) will make warm rooms seem cooler.
  • Insulate the attic.
  • Have storm windows installed on all windows.
  • Select heating and cooling equipment for efficiency and capacity for your home.
  • Take care in selecting kitchen appliances. Select only appliances and features that you will need and use.


Written by Dr. Francis Graham (Retired)

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