The Benefits of Energy Efficient Buildings

It’s estimated that people spend about 90% of our time indoors — whether at home, work, or school. That’s a lot of time, and buildings are a huge part of our lives. How can we ensure that our indoor spaces are comfortable and safe? There’s one answer you may not have considered: energy efficiency.

Sure, efficiency can help you save on bills, but it comes with some additional benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of energy efficient buildings.

Benefits of Energy Efficient Buildings

Comfortable Indoor Climate

Think back to when you were a kid, and your parents would chastise: “Close the door, I’m not paying to heat the whole neighborhood!” Ring a bell?

You’re probably not leaving the door wide open anymore, but if your home is inefficient, you may still be losing that nice, climate-controlled air that you’re paying to heat during the winter or cool down during the summer. How? Air leaks in your walls, or around windows and doors let air escape far faster than you want it to, meaning you need to pay more to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

What can you do about it? Good insulation, thorough air sealing work, and quality Energy Star® certified windows will control heat, moisture, and airflow in an effective way that keeps your family comfortable and breathing freely. Want to go one step further? Efficient ventilation systems like air exchangers on heating systems, ventilators, fans, and heat recovery circulate air and push out unwanted moisture and pollutants. High-efficiency boilers and furnaces use less energy and heat buildings more efficiently without leaving hot or cold spots.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Let’s face it: the air in your home can get stagnant. And it’s no wonder! Think about all the moisture created by your coffee maker, tea kettle, fish tanks, shower, and more! On top of that, the air in your home is filled with particulate matter from carpeting and textiles, even fumes from paint and cleaning solutions. All of that flowing through the air can make things a little stuffy. For that reason, a healthy amount of airflow from outside is important.

Building efficiency experts say that the air in the average home should be refreshed roughly every three hours with air from outside the building. We know what you’re thinking — just a minute ago, we said that you want to seal up leaks and drafts! But when air is properly circulated from outside, it actually takes less time to heat or cool due to a lower level of contaminants.

Keep Your Home Dry

About 5-13 gallons of moisture precipitate inside a house every day, and this becomes an air quality problem when humidity levels creep over 40%. In more humid areas, building occupants will notice peeling paint, stained walls and ceilings, and even mold issues.

And for humidity over 50%, issues like airborne diseases become more difficult to control in indoor spaces. In areas that see issues like humidity at these levels, it can be crucial to cycle air into the space every 3-4 hours. Finding a good balance between sealing up air leaks and having enough ventilation from outside is vital for your comfort.

Increase Your Home's Value

What is your home worth? Did you know that one of the benefits of energy efficient buildings is that they tend to sell for more than inefficient ones? That’s because they last longer and cost less to maintain — and on average, they are better lit, have better ventilation, and are more comfortable than less efficient buildings. On top of that, there is the added comfort in knowing that you have more control over monthly energy bills!

How Do You Make Your Home More Efficient?

Okay, so we know the benefits of energy efficient buildings — but how do you make an inefficient home an efficient home?

PosiGen can help! We provide all of our solar customers with a free energy efficiency audit. One of our experts will perform an in-depth analysis of your home and areas that could be improved upon. We’ll help seal air leaks, recommend appliance upgrades, replace your air filters, and more. The result is a healthier, more comfortable home for you and your family. Want to get started? Reach out to PosiGen today.