What is an energy-efficient house design?

An energy-efficient home design takes the entire home into consideration. This is anything from the appliances you use and your hot water system to the climatic conditions of your home’s location and household size. An energy-efficient house design covers absolutely everything to create the most energy-efficient home for you. Whilst, these upfront costs are much higher than your standard home, the investment will help you save on energy use and subsequent energy costs in the future.

How is energy efficiency measured?

Energy consumption is measured in many different ways. To keep it simple, in terms of household gas and electricity, meters can be installed to understand your home’s energy consumption. An overall household meter is more common but you can also measure specific systems such as lighting and air conditioners with different meters.

Do I need to build a new home to make it more energy-efficient?

No, you can easily make the necessary improvements to an existing house. Sure if you're looking to build a new custom home , it’s easier to make structural changes to roofs and walls whilst the house is under construction. However, it’s not difficult to implement smaller changes to improve your home’s energy efficiency.