Home: Keep It
Small; Keep It Simple
Keep Utility Bills Down
|
Home Contact Directory Ecovillage Build Remodel Consult Speak |
|
News of Green
Building Join our email list here.
|
The best way to keep utility bills down is to keep your home small and to
keep it simple. Small In the Journal of Industrial Ecology, Alex Wilson and Jessica Boehland write, "In general, the energy efficiency of a building envelope (i.e., the structural elements that enclose a building, including the walls, roofs, and foundations) is a function of how well insulated it is, how airtight it is, the exposure of its glazed areas to solar gain, and its area." They continue, "Along with the greater surface area increasing heat loss and unwanted heat gain, larger houses also generally require longer runs for ducting and hot water pipes. Losses in conveyance of warm air, chilled air, and hot water can be significant." Simple In addition to costing more to build, increased outside walls also increase surface area for heat gain and loss. The nooks and crannies of architectural design look good but generally speaking, a square is cheaper to build and cheaper to heat and air-condition. It is simple! Wilson and Boehland note, "A house’s smaller square footage does not always mean a comparable reduction in surface area. If one reduces the total size of a house but breaks it into smaller, separate wings and more complex geometry, for example, as is sometimes done in custom houses, one may not gain much in the way of energy savings compared to the large box." The authors conclude, "All else being equal, a house with more surface area will consume more energy for heating and cooling. Thus, a larger house—or one that has more complex geometry—will consume more energy." Keep It Small Keep It Simple Keep Utility Bills Down Call Terry Jensen at 972 251-1532 or 817 545-0140.
Try These Services
to Find What YOU Need in Green Building Assistance:
|
Green Builders Green Built Glossary
Try These Services
to Find What YOU Need in Green Building Assistance:
|
DFW Net Mall Homepage
More Green
Building
|
Home Contact Directory Ecovillage Build Remodel Consult Speak |
Contact
Copyright © 2006-2008 DFW Green Building and Remodeling. All rights reserved.