ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, AND WHAT IT GIVES US
Energy efficiency is getting more and more attention in construction today. Efficient technologies are growing in popularity because they cut energy consumption. The main aim is to lower running energy costs, create comfortable living conditions and reduce harmful emissions. Modern building design strives for minimal energy use together with a comfortable home.
Achieving that means adopting new methods and technologies.
INSULATION is of major importance. It reduces heat loss through the walls, roof and floors, using purpose-made materials and techniques such as mineral wool, polyurethane foam and others.
Energy-efficient construction includes WINDOWS and DOORS with multi-chamber frames and low-emissivity glazing — double and triple glazing, specialised frames and seals.
To cut energy consumption further, HEAT PUMPS, SOLAR COLLECTORS, VENTILATION SYSTEMS and similar equipment are installed.
A new kind of LIGHTING — LED — is increasingly being built in. It consumes significantly less energy and has a long service life.
RENEWABLE energy sources are entering everyday life — SOLAR and WIND power, via solar panels and wind generators. They produce energy with no harmful emissions and suit single-family houses or small residential buildings best.
The FOUNDATIONS and STRUCTURE also play an important part in a building's energy efficiency, as does the use of new materials with better THERMAL performance.
Last but not least come MODERN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS — automation and control of lighting, heating and air conditioning.
Developing energy-efficient techniques is an important direction in construction, and they will play an ever greater role in the future.
In recent years buyers have increasingly steered their property search towards buildings with good energy efficiency. At the same time, banks offer additional interest-rate discounts through the so-called "green mortgage": clients pay less to service the loan if they invest in a home in a building with high energy efficiency.
The adoption of new technologies in construction is gathering pace and opens up real prospects — lower property maintenance costs, a new quality of life, and a lighter footprint on the planet. It is a step towards the smart homes that are the future of real estate.
