Are you on the verge of buying a new home and you do not know what are the criteria to follow to make the best choice? Do you want an energy efficient home and want to know more details? Certainly the house of your dreams exists, what you need to do is to carefully follow all the details of the house, from the way of construction and materials used for the entire construction.
The choice must be made carefully, with prior documentation. Although sometimes many homes are promoted as energy efficient, there are situations where in reality the heat losses they have are high, and the maintenance bills you would receive later exceed any expectations. Therefore, when choosing a home, it is good to analyze carefully, what materials have been or are to be used, how the construction is made and if all the elements are present that will give you a warm house in winter and cool in summer.
What to pay attention to when choosing an energy efficient home?
Masonry materials used
Although the first thing we look at when entering a new home is the finishes, in reality we need to look more closely beyond them. It is good to ask for details about the materials from which the walls of the house were built. The exterior walls of a house can no longer be changed during the entire use of the house. Depending on the materials used, you will be able to estimate the costs of the energy bills you would have for winter heating. 20% of energy losses occur through the walls of the house, so the initial investment in a quality masonry solution has effects on the entire life of the home.
The walls of the house must provide several types of protection. Thermal protection is important to have low costs on monthly bills, but just as important is that the walls provide protection from earthquakes, fire and noise from outside or neighbors. This is the only way you can have a comfortable home, which will ensure the savings of your family, durable and resistant, in which you will feel safe. There are many types of masonry materials on the market, document yourself, analyze the benefits that each offers you and choose wisely by balancing not only the costs during construction, but especially the long-term benefits and savings they provide. . This is the only way you will be able to enjoy your home and the above protections throughout its use.
Good quality doors and windows
Carpentry must be another criterion to consider carefully. Due to the desire for low prices / square meter or due to poor information, it is possible to choose a very beautiful carpentry from an aesthetic point of view, but which does not ensure a very good thermal efficiency. What you need to know is that appearance is not always the most important thing when it comes to doors and windows. They must insulate the house as well as possible from a thermal point of view, not allowing the cold outside to penetrate inside in winter or heat during the summer, but they must also have sound qualities, in order to have a quiet environment in your home. The number of rooms of the double-glazed windows, the structure of the carpentry, the materials used, but also the hardware are elements that must be analyzed very carefully before making the purchase decision.
The cardinal orientation of the house
If you want to have an energy efficient home, it would be good to take this aspect into account as well. Choose a house located in the southwest because in winter there will be much more light inside, and in summer it will be cooler. The more light enters the house in winter, the easier the walls will heat up and the warmer the home will be, with lower energy bill costs.
Exterior insulation of the building
It is good to take into account in your decision and the insulation option chosen for the exterior, if it was used. There are several common materials used for these works: extruded polystyrene, expanded, graphite, basalt mineral wool, or BCA mineral plates. There are also masonry blocks that no longer need additional insulation. Find out, see the benefits of each type of material and ask all the details of the specialists before making the purchase decision.
Attracting solar energy
Lately, more and more manufacturers are focusing on solar energy and the installation of solar panels for energy efficiency. The price per square meter of construction increases, but it can be a good option to recover the investment and obtain subsequent savings during the use of the house.
In conclusion, before you go on the road and make the purchase of your first home, find out, make a list of the elements you need to pay attention to in order to have an energy efficient home so that you can enjoy later comfort and savings with your family!
