Energy Saving Interior Designs
Sustainability Quotes
from local businesses
As the price of oil continues to skyrocket, many people are looking for new and clever ways to save on energy costs. One way to do this is through a creative application of interior design. By changing both architectural and decorative features within your home, you can cut down on your monthly heating and cooling costs, while also helping to preserve the environment.
The sun is by far the most powerful source of energy that we have. It warms and lights our world, providing the necessary ingredients for life to exist on earth. Manipulating the sun through interior design can also be a great way to offset energy costs, using its potent force to help heat or cool our homes.
The placement of windows is very important in energy efficient designs. Windows which face either east or west are going to receive more sunlight than those which face north and south, because they will be in line to catch the rays of either the rising or the setting sun. As the light comes through the glass, it will heat the air within the home. However, as long as you keep the windows closed, the heated air won’t be able to escape back out into the world, creating your own personal greenhouse effect.
By contrast, if you live in a very warm environment then it will be beneficial to have your windows facing away from the rising and setting sun, pointed in a north or southern direction. Even if your windows are improperly placed, the use of thick blinds can do a lot to cut down on the heat from unwanted sunlight.
In certain specific climates, houses will be fitted with windows which face away from the sun so as to restrain unwanted heat in the summer, but are also angled facing down towards where snow will fall, so that they can let in illumination that bounces off of the white landscape, warming the house in the winter. This design will of course work best in locations which fluctuate in temperature rather dramatically.
Another energy saving step that is often taken in interior design is replacing old, money guzzling appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, water coolers, and dishwashers with newer, updated, energy star rated efficient machines. These can drastically cut down on your monthly energy bills, and often the savings you achieve will end up more than paying for the cost of the new appliance.
Texture is another important but often overlooked aspect of energy efficient designs. The presence of warm, soft objects such as pillows, blankets, and throws, can help to make a room feel cozy and toasty. By contrast, smooth slick textures such as stainless steel, glass, and silk will feel cool to the touch, giving a room a colder chilled atmosphere. This is a simple way to combat the elements without having to restructure the nature of your homes architecture.
Energy efficient design is a simple way to make a house more comfortable, while also saving you money. It’s about using the features of the space to preserve heat in the winter, while doing what you can to dispel or repel that heat in the summer. It’s a process of updating old appliances, filling in cracks in insulation, and structuring your home so that it naturally maintains a comfortable and livable temperature.
This article was sponsored by PebbleZ – therustic home decoratingand natural stone store. The content was written by artist and designer Joey Pebble.
Sustainability Quotes
from local businesses
