When it comes to the most efficient building shape, uncomplicated dome and cube structures retain the most heat. This is because the air can circulate more efficiently around a dome whilst a cube has the smallest surface area to floor area ratio, so it loses minimal amounts of heat.
House shape
However the fundamental rule is that a simple shape is much more sustainable than a complex shape. Complex shapes use more materials and they are not as energy efficient because they have more surface area. The shape that uses the least amount of materials is the circle.
The reason most commercial designs are rectangular, or square, is because they are easier, faster and more economical to build out of ordinary materials – stone, concrete, brick or wood. Square and rectangular shapes are also exponentially easier to reconcile, and there's usually less waste.
According to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Building Guide, flat or low-sloped roofs often demonstrate better energy efficiency because of differences in insulation. Generally, these roofs have a membrane system, which is applied on top of sheets of rigid insulation.
These include design, insulation, heating, cooling, and appliances such as energy-efficient washing machines, dryers, and hot water systems. These decisions may improve your level of comfort, as well as decrease your electricity bill.
In an existing house, the first step is to conduct a home energy assessment (sometimes referred to as an energy audit) to find out how your home uses energy and determine the best ways to cut energy use and costs.
Energy efficient building design involves constructing or upgrading buildings that are able to get the most work out of the energy that is supplied to them by taking steps to reduce energy loss such as decreasing the loss of heat through the building envelope.
Concrete Tiles and Slab Roofs
The thickness of this material means it takes longer to heat in the sun — and hence longer to absorb that heat back into your home.
If you want the absolute lowest costing roofing material, asphalt shingles are usually your best option. Dimensional asphalt shingles are very durable, affordable, and go well with most residential structures. Affordable concrete tiles or corrugated metal roofing can also be great options for a budget-friendly roof.
White is the best color for energy efficiency because of the albedo effect. With a white roof, or a roof with a color that has similarly lighter hues, the sun's rays are reflected instead of absorbed.
Framing. Perhaps the most expensive part when it comes to building a home is the framing, which consists of wooden beams that make up the home's skeleton. Forbes states that high-quality lumber averages about $33,000 for a home in the United States. Metal stud framing systems begin around $20,000.
Buildings with a simple geometrical shape, such as cuboids or cubes, have less surface area in relation to their volume and thus a better S/V ratio than buildings with numerous protrusions, oriels or dormers.
Hexagons are the most scientifically efficient packing shape, as bee honeycomb proves.
A sustainable home is designed in a way that respects natural resources by optimizing energy and water use; a home that includes quality systems that ensure durability and uses low-impact, high-performance materials that are efficient in terms of manufacturing, shipping and installing.
Engineered hardwood flooring also has low VOC levels, especially when you choose nontoxic and environmentally-friendly finishes or stains for your floors. Fewer chemicals mean better air quality for your building and less pollution in the surrounding atmosphere.
Home Resilience
Resiliency has been identified as the newest trend of sustainability, dedicated to ensuring homes can withstand major events and retain longevity. By using durable and non-toxic materials, future homes require less replacement and maintenance, limiting the need for new materials and wastage over time.
The Remodeling Report for 2019 found that a metal roof, on average, cost homeowners $38,600 and increased home value by 60.9 percent. Compare this to their findings for asphalt roofs, where the average homeowner spent $22,636 and got a return of 68 percent.
Asphalt tiles are the cheapest and the most popular roofing material, but other materials — like wood, metal, and slate — have a longer lifespan and offer better insulation and durability. Another option for sustainability is glass solar shingles, which offer electrical-generation capabilities.
Concrete, clay, and slate tiles have an average lifespan of 100 or more years. They are without a doubt the materials that last the longest but are also, bar none, some of the most expensive. Slate roofs are often called the “forever roof” because they can last seemingly forever.
Tile roofing offers some unique advantages as a roofing system, starting with the fact that it's perfect for insulation.
White or light-colored roofs reflect heat rays from the sun, keeping the attic and rooms below it cool during warm weather. As a result, the building's cooling load decreases, helping home and business owners stay comfortable and save money on their energy bills.
The Drawback of White Roofs
A Stanford University study reveals the roof may actually lead to warmer temperatures in the long run. Researchers in the study believe the roof reduces the vertical transport of moisture into the atmosphere. This reduces cloud coverage, leading to less rain and an increase in drought.
ensure proper building techniques, including proper installation of insulation and sealing holes during construction. use good quality weather sealed external doors and windows. install self-closing extraction fans to cut heat loss.