4 Retrofitting Tips To Build Your Energy-Efficient Home

Home Insulation Installation

When it comes to building a comfortable and inviting home, great architecture and clever design are no longer the only deciding factors. With increasing awareness of environmental needs, the ability to combine residential design with the principles of sustainability is beginning to gain traction. Since building a house from scratch or renovating your old home can cost a bomb, retrofitting your current home would be the recommended route. From picking the right home appliances, installation of energy-saving devices to home insulation practices, here are 4 tips on building an energy-efficient home in Melbourne without needing a major renovation. 

1.     Choosing and using appliances wisely 

Have you noticed how most appliances you purchase from stores come with energy rating stickers? These stickers give you a good indication of how much energy those appliances will use in a year. If numbers aren’t your thing, an easier way to compare appliances is using the star rating on the sticker. The more stars the appliance has, the more energy-efficient it will be and the more you can save on your power bills and carbon footprint. 

Filtering through your current appliances at home to identify which ones need to be replaced with better and more energy-efficient technology, can improve the overall sustainability of your home. Besides that, ensuring you use your appliances wisely is also essential. If you know you won’t be back in your room for the next few hours, switching off your air-conditioner, fan or lights can make a huge difference. 

2.     Use alternative sources of energy

Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, is energy produced from natural sources or extracted through processes that are constantly replenished. The most common types of clean energy are solar, wind, and hydropower. One that is currently being adopted in Melbourne homes, is the installation of solar panels. 

Solar panels are usually installed on rooftops of homes for direct exposure to the sun. When particles of light hit a solar cell, chemical reactions occur within the panel to generate a flow of electricity. If these panels are installed strategically and properly, your home may be able to generate all its power from a standard six-kilowatt solar array over a year, and possibly even sell anything extra back to the grid. This gives you the possibility to save money and make money!

3.     Seal, glaze and insulate

Insulation is all about thermal efficiency – which is the measure of your home’s ability to reduce the transfer of heat between the indoors and outdoors. Unfortunately, Australian homes are known to be notoriously leaky. In places like Melbourne with four seasons in one day, sealing, glazing and insulating your home is more critical than ever. 

As a result of poor home insulations, draughts are common observances, especially during winter. These gaps in your home allow air to pass through, making it difficult to keep your house warm during winter or cool during summer. It is also likely that these gaps are making your air-conditioner or heater work overtime to compensate as 10-35 per cent of warm or cool air generated can be lost.

The good news is insulating your home can be done easily. Purchasing simple window and door seals from a local hardware store, looking into chimney dampers, and sealing up old wall vents can do wonders for your home. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive home insulation exercise involving your walls, ceilings and floor, seeking professionals such as home insulation Melbourne contractors can help ensure you have the proper home insulation installations for your needs.  

4.     Look into the other smaller stuff

When it comes to making your home sustainable, there are a few other not-so-obvious things you can do in your house:

  • Replacing your hot water system. Having your hot water system installed as close as possible to your taps and having extra-thick pipe lagging (insulation) is an effective way to improve energy efficiency.
  • Choosing LED lamps and lights. LED lighting is known to have significantly lower energy consumption than other types of light bulbs.
  • Installing shades and drapes. The simplest way to cool your home is to block out the source of the heat. Having shades, drapes, blinds, curtains, or external awnings will help in keeping the heat out during summer. 

Whilst there are many ways you can make your home sustainable, the one that is proven most effective is still ensuring proper home insulation. At Insulation Essentials, our knowledgeable professionals can give you a hand in finding the right insulation solution for your home at the best possible price.

To learn more about our home insulation Melbourne services, fill out our contact form or call us at 03 8339 7111.