How to Plan an Energy-Efficient Home Addition Project

Home additions give you a great degree of flexibility since you have the opportunity to incorporate features from the ground up. In today’s post, the interior home remodeling experts at DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Madison share how you can plan an energy-efficient home addition project.

Effective Insulation

Every nook and cranny of your home that separates indoor and outdoor spaces requires insulation. It keeps the temperature inside your home consistent and comfortable. If your home has poor insulation, you can expect heat loss during the winter and heat gain during the summer. This makes your HVAC system work overtime to try to maintain your home’s temperature effectively. Additionally, a well-insulated home is quieter due to its inherent soundproofing capabilities.

Additional Tips to Go Green

While insulation is one of the most important steps in increasing your home’s energy efficiency, there are numerous other ways to do so. With the price of energy and fuel steadily increasing, every improvement you can make when planning your home remodeling and interior renovation project that focuses on maximizing energy efficiency will help in the long run. Here are some suggestions:

Window positioning. The way you position your windows greatly affects your home’s energy efficiency. Windows can allow for natural cooling and ventilation during fall, summer and spring. They can also encourage passive solar heating during the winter months.

Add a whole-house fan. Instead of relying solely on your air conditioning unit, you can save if you use a whole-house fan to cool your living space. Fans consume significantly less energy compared to traditional AC units and are easier to maintain.

Utilize compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs consume about 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, while lasting 10 times as long.

Low-flush toilets & low-flow faucets. Studies show that toilets and faucets account for around 30% and 15% of your monthly water consumption, respectively. Low-flow versions cut down on these percentages while offering the same performance.

Use Daylighting

Daylighting is one of the most effective methods to increase your home’s energy efficiency. This can be done through the use of large glass windows and/or skylights. Your home remodeler can help you to find the optimal positions for windows and skylights to receive natural light. North-facing windows create mellow lighting, while windows facing in other directions provide direct sunlight, depending on the time of the day.

Let’s Start a Conversation!

Don’t settle for other interior remodeling contractors — trust the local experts! Start a conversation with DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Madison. Call us at (608) 352-9944 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve Madison, Deforest, Fitchburg and other nearby communities.

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