How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
In our latest blog Alex Hawkins, our Senior Architect and Passivhaus Designer, discusses the fundamentals of making your home more energy efficient and how by taking a ‘fabric first’ approach you can play your part in a more sustainable world and create a healthier home environment.
Fabric First prioritises improving the core elements of the building—its walls, floors, roof, windows and doors—before investing in energy-efficient technology or renewable energy systems.
Why? Because focusing on the building's fabric maximises energy savings by reducing heat loss and improving thermal performance.
Ensuring your home is properly insulated, airtight and thermally efficient, creates a solid foundation for long-term energy savings.
Once your building fabric is optimised, any additional investments in energy-saving technology, such as solar panels or heat pumps, will perform much more effectively.
What Can Be Done?
Insulation
One of the most important factors in maintaining energy efficiency is proper insulation. A well-insulated home prevents heat from escaping in the winter and keeps it cool in the summer.
Insulating your attic, walls and floors can drastically improve the thermal performance of your home.
Ensuring continuity of the insulation and choosing the correct type of insulation for your application is key to its effectiveness.
Windows and Doors
Most of us are aware of the importance of a good quality window to help reduce heat transfer.
However, the weak point of any window is the frame, where the majority of heat is lost. When choosing windows, consider investing in thermally broken frames that reduce heat transfer through the material.
If you're considering triple glazing, ensure that the window manufacturer uses not only a thermally broken frame but also a frame specifically designed for triple glazing to maximise your investment.
Some manufacturers use standard double-glazed frames for triple glazing, which compromises performance.
Lastly, the best-performing windows and doors are only as effective as their installation.
To minimise air leakage, consider using airtight tape around doors and windows to seal any gaps. Proper installation is essential for maximising the energy efficiency of your windows and doors, keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Thermal Bridging and Thermal Bypass
Thermal bridges occur when heat bypasses insulation and escapes through less insulated materials, like metal or concrete. Reducing thermal bridging by using continuous insulation and paying close attention to construction details will minimise heat loss.
Similarly, addressing thermal bypass - gaps between the thermal elements - both reduces energy consumption and the potential for moisture damage to the structure.
Airtightness
Airtightness plays a crucial role in energy efficiency by reducing drafts and preventing uncontrolled air leaks.
When a home is not properly sealed, warm air can escape during the winter, and cool air can leak out in the summer, causing heating and cooling systems to work harder.
By sealing gaps around windows, doors and other openings, you can help maintain a consistent indoor temperature and prevent drafts, making your home more comfortable and energy efficient.
Airtightness also prevents warm, moist air from travelling through the building fabric. When this air reaches cold points or voids within the structure, it can condense and lead to the formation of mould.
Effective sealing not only helps reduce energy consumption but also minimises the risk of condensation-related problems, ensuring a healthier indoor environment.
Ventilation
Proper ventilation is necessary to ensure a healthy indoor environment, especially in airtight homes.
Installing energy-efficient ventilation systems, such as a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery unit (MVHRs), allows fresh air to enter your home without losing heat in the process. This not only improves indoor air quality but also helps regulate temperature, keeping your home energy-efficient and healthy.
Build Quality is Key
Finally, the overall build quality of your home significantly affects its energy efficiency. A well-constructed home with attention to detail will outperform a house with expensive materials but poor workmanship.
At Kimble Roden, we oversee every stage of a building project to ensure that all elements are seamlessly integrated.
Properly constructed junctions, well-sealed seams, and thoughtful material selection guarantee that your home will retain heat in winter and stay cool in summer - maximising comfort and energy savings.
Closing Thoughts
Energy efficiency begins with the basics, and as Alex outlines, a ‘fabric first’ approach ensures your home is well-insulated and airtight before investing in advanced energy technologies.
By addressing core elements like insulation, airtightness and thermal bridging, you create a solid foundation for long-term energy savings.
This not only enhances comfort but also makes any subsequent investments in renewable energy systems far more effective, contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly and healthier future.
Kimble Roden is a high quality RIBA Chartered Architect, dedicated to creating outstanding design projects whilst adding value to your home.
If you would like to discuss your project with us, please call +44 (0) 1625 402442 or email us for a free initial consultation.
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