A major concern in this day and age when constructing a new home is employing smart design that will ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. To accomplish this, you need to make sure that your architect, home designer and construction contractors are all on the same page so that the style of your residence does not come into conflict with its potential for being energy efficient. If you are new to smart design and zero energy home construction, the following are a few tips to get you on the right track.

Select an appropriate construction site

The smart design of energy efficient homes starts in the planning phases when you are scouting for a suitable location. A major element to constructing an energy efficient home is integrating solar energy in the residence. Therefore, you would need to select a site that provides the ideal topography for maximum exposure to the sun. Your choice location should not only be fault, but there should be minimal obstructions in the way of the solar panels that would be installed. It would be advisable to hire a solar energy contractor who will perform a site analysis that will ensure your structure is exposed to sufficient amounts of sunlight.

Select the right orientation for your building

Some homeowners may be averse to direct exposure to the sun, especially in Australia where the weather tends to be warm for the most part of the year. This is where the orientation of your building comes in. With the right orientation, sun exposure will work to provide energy for your home but will not expose you to uncomfortable temperatures indoors. Your contractors can then ensure that the living spaces in your home can benefit from shade, which would help in minimising your air conditioning costs in the long run.

Select passive window design

When it comes to windows, some people may choose to cut costs by opting for cheaper glass materials. What these individuals are not considering is the long-term effect of having annealed glass windows that will not help in minimising the thermal loss and gain of their home. Whether you have large windows being constructed or not, you should lean toward passive windows that are capable of insulating your home. These windows will either be triple glazed or will be made from double low-emission glass. For further insulation, have your contractors use insulated window frames that would not be prone to heat loss or gain.