Every year more and more people choose to live in the private sector. The construction of ecological houses is a modern trend that cannot be achieved without the introduction of energy-saving technologies. The main secret of the efficiency of such houses lies in the combination of engineering and architectural design of the house. It is very difficult to implement energy-saving technologies in an already built house - this is a very expensive reconstruction, sometimes even impossible.
It is common practice in many countries to build wooden houses with energy efficient technologies. It is very important to consider all the details of the construction so that your decision turns out to be cost-effective. For example, if you do not plan to live permanently in your house, there is no point in thermal insulation of the floor. Underfloor heating systems will be cheaper in the long run.
When considering the design of the house, you will need to determine your priorities: a large window will bring more light into your home, but a small one will keep you warm. You will probably have to give up the idea of installing panoramic windows.
Place the room where you intend to spend most of your time on the sunlit side. As a result, the house will receive more solar energy during the day. Premises such as bathroom, toilet, garage can be oriented to the north.
Thermal insulation of a wooden house
After building the house, it's time to think about proper 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:
- changes in the structure during shrinkage;
- precise connection of the joints;
- calculation of future shrinkage (for multilayer beams will be about 1%);
- insulation of the composition of the roof junction.
The house loses 20% of its heat through the roof. It must be insulated with the same material as the walls. When choosing a material for insulation and building 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 that can prevent heat loss in the home:
- Low-emission glass that has a material that allows ultraviolet radiation to pass through the interior of the home, while long waves (generated by heaters and humans) remain in the home.
- Selective glass. Double-glazed windows in such a window are filled with gas, so they have lower thermal conductivity than air. The result is less heat that is transferred from the home to the environment.
We insulate the floors
The following materials are used for floor insulation:
- The insulation mixture is an easy way to maintain heat and you can add a decorative coating immediately. The only drawback is its high price.
- Aerated concrete is a cement-sand coating, there are nitrogen bubbles in the structure, which makes the floor very strong.
- Cement-sand slab with grains of foam, vermiculite, expanded clay, marble sawdust.
Walls
The house loses 10% of its energy through the walls of the foundation. This is due to the freezing of the ground in winter. All experts recommend insulation of the walls and ceiling of the basement. This will have a positive effect on protecting your home from environmental influences. The following materials are mainly used here:
- Polyurethane sprayer.
- styrofoam.
- Expanded clay. It is the least popular because it requires more work and has a higher thermal conductivity than previous materials.
Heating costs are the highest of all household costs. That is why the question of heating and its efficient operation is popular in private wooden houses. In this case, an integrated approach should be used, which consists of several steps:
- choice of modern heating methods;
- cheap and ecological fuel;
- good thermal insulation at home;
- thermal insulation of windows and doors.
In this case, you will spend the winter in comfortable conditions and without huge fuel costs.
First of all, you need to start with the insulation of the wooden house. This is the first important component. You will only need to invest money once during the construction phase of the house and this will save you a lot of budget. A good insulated home is one with the least heat loss and therefore the lowest heating costs. Heat losses can increase several times, even if only one window is poorly insulated. The use of advanced insulation techniques is recommended. Using old-fashioned methods is a waste of time and money.
Boiler automation
Increasing the internal temperature by 1 ° C will increase fuel consumption by 5%. This problem can be maintained by installing boiler automation systems.
Automation allows you to control the comfort conditions - lowering or raising the temperature outside the home will automatically change the temperature inside the room without delay. This system is economical and very efficient, it will save you money in the long run. In a situation where you leave 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 time. This means that the system maintains minimum temperature conditions while you are not at home and warms it to normal temperature a few hours before your arrival.
Underfloor heating system
This system is considered the most cost-effective today. And if you combine it with a condensing boiler, the efficiency will increase several times. Compared to a traditional heating system as a radiator, it is not only economical but also very fast. The underfloor heating system distributes heat over the entire height of the room, thus creating a comfortable indoor environment.
Solar panels
Nowadays, solar panels are becoming an increasingly common source of energy. The main problem that stopped the entry of the solar system into everyday life is the use of solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. This is a very expensive technology.
The main advantages of houses with solar energy:
- solar energy is infinite;
- this energy source is environmentally friendly;
- no greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar panels have no moving parts. This means that the only thing you will need to do after installation is to take care of the panels and keep them clean. Snow, dust, raindrops on batteries can reduce the amount of sunlight. Remember that dust on structures can reduce the amount of electricity by up to 7%. But you do not need to do the cleaning very often. One to four times a year will suffice. All you need is a hose with a nozzle. It is recommended that the batteries be replaced every ten years.
Where is your home?
The geographical location of your home will have a significant impact on the efficiency of solar energy. Electricity from solar panels relies on direct sunlight, so the shade of tall trees or nearby buildings will create a barrier. The more hours the batteries are exposed to direct sunlight, the more efficient the system.
Before you decide to install solar panels, find out the value of insulation in your area. Insolation is a measure that measures how much solar radiation hits the earth in an area over a period of time. High sun exposure means a large amount of electricity.
You need to understand that only you can decide what energy saving systems your wooden house will have. Discuss all the details with a specialist, he will take into account all your wishes. It will make your future home not only energy efficient but also attractive.