It does not matter whether you are looking to renovate a fixer-upper, an old home or a home with “heritage” tag, you will need to renovate keeping the gospel of energy efficiency in mind. Neglecting this aspect could have been a mistake in the past but today it is nothing short of a crime.
If the addition you are planning on is spread over more than half of your existing home area, the Building Code of Australia will require you to keep up with six star energy ratings (stars indicate how energy-efficient your home is).
Insulation above all
I can never speak too highly of insulation. Whenever you look to remodel or add to your existing home (a relatively old one), you have got to be doubly conscious of its insulation arrangements.
Prevent leakage through attic and crawl spaces
The idea is not to bleed energy through “common culprit” areas. I am tired of finding out how energy leakage through attic and crawl spaces are not being looked into despite provision of energy efficiency audits and emergence of wonderful techniques like the blower door test.
Breathable building membrane
Talking of insulation, I think that there should be due emphasis on breathable building wraps. They help in stopping infiltration of moisture and unwelcome air. For the purpose, they are blessed with vapour control layers and air-guard facility.
Criteria the membrane should meet
I will go to the extent of saying that any such breathable membrane you choose must pass the UV and heat-resistance test. While most manufacturers will tell you that they do, it is your duty to keep your thinking caps on while buying.
Air condensation and moisture permeability are two demons that you must be wary of. With a handy breathable membrane you build an airtight seal which facilitates effective heat transfer.
Acts as flame retardants too
You will only be glad to hear that some of the latest entrants into the “breathable wrap” field also act as flame retardants. You won’t need me to establish how and at what time this can become important.
Sustainable buildings are the mantra today and for a successful tirade against energy crisis we need to be very diligent about the energy we waste. It is a great idea not to demolish an old (or heritage) home.
After all, there is a lot of emotional comfort in retaining the past with us. This should however not come at the price of energy-efficiency.
What energy efficiency measures have you adopted for your renovation project?
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