Safety & Environment
House Plan
Please plan building your house in such a way that the various lay outs of the windows and doors etc. contributes to energy saving:
Check for energy efficient home design:
Check for insulation
The flow of heat into and out of your home can be controlled by properly insulating house, i.e.
Cross-ventilation
See that the design and placing of the windows and doors have been made assuring good cross-ventilation. Such ventilation keeps the rooms cool during summer nights.
Landscaping:
Check for energy efficient home design:
- See that you have selected a patch of land that is longest in the east-west direction.
- If you are purchasing a flat, observe that the flat gets sunlight through windows, i.e. the house preferably faces north south.
- The land selected by you should have clear access to north - called solar access.
- Keep the living areas towards north and sleeping areas towards south.
- East and west windows should be made small, so that they can get less heat of sun.
- Make south facing windows opposite to the north facing doors or vice versa for cross ventilation.
- Windows should have good curtains with close-fitting pelmets; so that heat during summer can be shaded and heat loss during winter can be prevented.
Check for insulation
The flow of heat into and out of your home can be controlled by properly insulating house, i.e.
- Less outdoor heat penetrates your house during summer
- Less indoor heat escapes from your house during winter
Cross-ventilation
See that the design and placing of the windows and doors have been made assuring good cross-ventilation. Such ventilation keeps the rooms cool during summer nights.
Landscaping:
- Plant trees and shrubs on the east or west so that summer heat is reduced to a great extent.
- Never plant trees near power lines
- If possible provide a veranda on the east side, if you have a door on the east side to have an alternate entrance.
- Have north facing windows.