Solar Orientation

This is a great concept where you look at your lot, and the sun, etc. to orient your house. For example, you will want to orient main activity rooms and windows to the south, patios and decks on the south side of the house, and properly shade south exposure with roof overhangs and correctly placed shade trees to provide summer comfort. Why? Well, the south side of the home gets more exposure.

Increased Insulation Levels

Insulation is fairly inexpensive, and upgrading to a better R level of insulation can make a huge difference in the energy you use or save. So, superinsulate walls using 2" x 6" framing, R-19 insulating batts, and a layer of rigid insulation over the exterior wall framework; insulate ceilings to R-40; and be sure to insulate the foundation walls with exterior rigid board insulation.

Effective Air/Vapor Barrier

This is something many home builders do not think is very important, but when it comes to energy conservation, installing a continuous impervious membrane on the inside of exterior walls with no breaks; seal all penetrations with gaskets and caulk, can really boost your savings.

Controlled Ventilation

This is another important aspect of energy conservation. You should try to install an air-to-air heat exchanger to control ventilation rates in the house. Then you can use a furnace and water heater that draw combustion air from the outside.

Energy Efficient Window Treatments

This is last, but it is not least. Much of energy that is lost is lost through poor insulation, and through your windows. Purchasing windows that are energy efficient will only add a small increase to the overall house cost and will be paid back many times in lower energy bills and increased comfort.

So, when it comes to windows, remember the following: You should try to minimize the number of windows on the north and west walls of the house. You should reduce window areas to eight percent of the floor area of the house. Always install window frames made of a non-conducting material. And try to install double-paned windows treated with low emissivity ("Low E") coatings. This alone will great decrease the amount of energy lost through windows.