Every year more and more people choose to live in the private sector. The construction of environmentally friendly houses is a modern trend and can not be done without the application of energy-saving technologies. The main secret of the efficiency of such houses is the combination of engineering and architectural design of the house. It is very difficult to apply energy-saving technologies in an already built house - it is a very expensive reconstruction, sometimes even impossible.
For many countries, it is common practice to build wooden houses with energy-saving technologies. It is very important to think about all the details of the construction to make your solution economical. For example, if you do not plan to live permanently in your home, it makes no sense to insulate the floor. Underfloor heating systems will be cheaper in the long run.
You need to think about the design of the house and set your priorities: a large window will bring more light to your home, but a small window will keep you warm. Most likely, you will have to give up the idea of installing panoramic windows.
Put the room where you want to spend most of your time on the sunniest side. As a result, the house will receive more solar energy during the day. Rooms such as bathrooms, toilets, garages can be oriented to the north.
Thermal insulation of a wooden house
After building a house, it is time to think about proper thermal insulation. The main goal at this stage is to minimize heat loss to the environment.
More than 40% of the heat passes through the walls of the house, so it is important to consider the following factors:
- structural changes during shrinkage;
- precise connection of joints;
- calculation of future shrinkage (will be about 1% for multilayer beams);
- insulation of the composition at the junction of the roof.
The house loses 20% of its heat from the roof. The walls must be insulated with the same material. When choosing a material for the insulation and construction of a house, you must remember that the thickness of the insulation layer should be at least 20 cm.
Double glazed windows
More than 20% of the heat passes through the windows. There are currently two types of glass in the home that can prevent heat loss:
- Low-emission glass, a material that allows ultraviolet rays to pass through the house when long waves (from heaters and humans) remain in the house.
- Selective glass. In such a window, double-glazed windows are filled with gas, which has a lower thermal conductivity than air. As a result, less heat is transferred from the house to the environment.
We insulate the floors
The following materials are used to insulate the floor:
- The insulation mixture is an easy way to keep warm and you can immediately add a decorative coating. The only drawback is its high price.
- Aerated concrete is a cement-sand coating, which has nitrogen bubbles in its structure, which makes the floor very strong.
- Cement-sand slab with foam plastic, vermiculite, expanded clay, marble chips.
The walls
The house loses 10% of its energy through the walls of the foundation. This is due to the freezing of the soil in winter. All experts recommend insulating the walls and ceiling of the basement. This will have a positive effect on protecting your home from the effects of the environment. The following materials are mainly used here:
- Polyurethane sprayer.
- Styrofoam.
- Expanded clay. It is the least popular because it requires more labor and has a higher thermal conductivity than previous materials.
Heating costs are the largest of all household costs. Therefore, the issue of heating and its efficient operation is popular in individual wooden houses. An integrated approach consisting of several steps should be used in this matter:
- selection of modern methods of heating systems;
- cheap and environmentally friendly fuel;
- good thermal insulation in the house;
- thermal insulation of windows and doors.
In this case, you will spend the winter in a comfortable environment and without large fuel costs.
First of all, you should start with the insulation of the wooden house. This is the first important component. You only need to invest once in the construction phase of the house, and this will save your budget significantly. A well-insulated house is a house with the least heat loss and therefore the lowest heating costs. Even if only one window is poorly insulated, heat loss can be increased several times. It is recommended to use advanced insulation methods. Using old methods is a waste of time and money.
Boiler automation
An increase in internal temperature of 1 ° C will increase fuel consumption by 5%. This problem can be provided by the installation of boiler automation systems.
Automation allows you to control the comfort conditions - a decrease or increase in temperature outside the house will automatically change the temperature inside the room without delay. This system is fuel efficient and very efficient, it will save you money in the long run. If you are out of the house for a few days, there is no need to heat the house to the maximum. In this case, the automation can be set for a certain period of time. This means that the system maintains a minimum temperature while you are not at home and heats it up to normal temperature a few hours before you arrive.
Underfloor heating system
This system is considered the most economically viable today. And if you combine it with a condensing boiler, the efficiency will increase several times. Compared to a traditional heating system such as a radiator, it is not only economical, but also very fast. The floor heating system distributes heat to the entire height of the room, thus creating a comfortable indoor environment.
Solar panels
Solar panels are now becoming an increasingly common source of energy. The main problem that prevents the solar system from entering everyday life is the use of solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. This is a very expensive technology.
The main advantages of solar houses:
- solar energy is infinite;
- this energy source is environmentally friendly;
- no greenhouse gas emissions.
There are no moving parts in the solar panels. This means that the only thing you need to do after installation is to take care of the panels and keep them clean. Snow, dust, and raindrops on batteries can reduce the amount of sunlight. Keep in mind that dust in structures can reduce the amount of electricity by up to 7%. But there is no need to clean very often. One or four times a year will suffice. All you need is a hose with a nose. It is recommended to replace the batteries every ten years.
Where is your home located?
The geographical location of your home will have a significant impact on solar energy efficiency. Electricity from solar panels is based on direct sunlight, so the shadow of tall trees or nearby buildings will interfere. The more hours the batteries are exposed to direct sunlight, the more efficient the system will be.
Before you decide to install solar panels, find out the cost of insulation in your area. Insolation is a measure of how much solar radiation affects the earth in a given area over a period of time. High exposure to the sun means a large amount of electricity.
You just have to understand what energy saving systems your wooden house will have. Discuss all the details with a specialist, he will take into account all your wishes. The future will make your home not only energy efficient, but also attractive.