Do’s and Don’ts of Energy Efficient Home Design

Interior designs trends have definitely changed over time.  There was a time when bubblegum pink was the IT color for bathrooms, and some of us (like myself) are still ‘lucky’ enough to have bathrooms that sport pink tiles.  Though popcorn ceilings and laminate counters may be things of the past, being energy conscious in your design choice is a timeless trend.

Keeping your home’s energy efficiency in mind while decorating your home can have some serious payback in the long run.  To help you out with this, here is a short list of home design do’s and don’ts.

Don’ts of Energy Efficient Home Design

Block air vents

This is such a huge one.  Moving furniture, especially heavy, solid pieces like dressers and media consoles in front of or above air vents is an enormous energy efficient home design don’t.  When the air vents get blocked, the heated or cooled air cannot circulate as well through that room, which means that your furnace or air conditioner needs to work harder to maintain the desired temperature.  Unfortunately, this leads to higher energy bills and a furnace or air conditioner with a shorter lifespan.

Place an artificial heat source near the thermostat

This means lamps, space heaters, candles, and even your fireplace.  When heat sources are close to the thermostat that can throw off the thermostat and it may report false information to the furnace or air conditioner.  The same goes for sources of cooler air.  If you have a choice, don’t place your thermostat near drafty doors and windows or outside walls.

Do’s of Energy Efficient Home Design

Be Picky With Window Treatments

Shades, blinds, and curtains can all impact your home’s temperature, and therefore its energy efficiency.  In fact, you can often get a greater return on investment for making energy conscious window treatment choices than by replacing old inefficient windows outright.

Heavy curtains left open to let in sunlight during a winter day and then drawn shut against cold night air can make a big different in how a room feels.  Cellular shades and shutters are also good energy efficient home design choices.

Lay Down Rugs

Wall to wall carpeting isn’t very popular these days, but all hardwood floors can make your feet and home pretty chilly.  Laying down cozy rugs helps to insulate your home from the cold ground air and also keeps your toes comfy and cozy.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats such as Nest have a sleek and subtle look about them-check!  Furthermore, they adapt to your family’s needs and work to save you as much energy on your heating and cooling as possible.  Win, win!

Looking for more advice on saving money on your heating and cooling bills?  Contact us at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical!