In
Cayman, where the price of energy is beyond our control and is among the
world’s costliest per kilowatt, planning for maximum efficiency in our new
homes is of paramount importance! There are many different way to save energy
in the home, from energy saving appliances to alternate fuel options and
passive design elements, and each is worth a good look and a lengthy
discussion. Let’s begin today with the single most important element, the one
that informs all the choices at the beginning of the design process, the home
envelope.
To
begin with, the readers of this blog will already know that we at Phoenix are
in favour of designing and building smaller more interesting homes. We look
carefully at circulation space and minimize wasted space wherever we can,
resulting in less home to cool, clean and maintain. We perform an energy audit
of the schematic design, making certain that we understand how the orientation
and shape of the home will react to sun, breezes, and other influences on
energy loads. This tells us where we need insulation, what type and how much,
in order to create the optimal performing building shell.
The
place that we always start, therefore, is the building shell. Some clients
prefer simple block construction, or solid formed concrete walls, which both
present insulating challenges. We find the simpler and most cost-effective
solution is the Insulated Concrete Form, or ICF.
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| The Flowers ICF forms are delivered to site |
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| The envelope of the home is shown clearly here. There are an unlimited number of options for finishing the exterior walls. |
The Windows:
Once
the shell has been decided upon we must look at the home’s windows and doors.
The orientation, size, number, quality and style of the openings will all
impact the operating cost of the home. In our Cayman market the new standard is
the Miami-Dade rated hurricane impact window. These have become much more
affordable in recent years as more suppliers have come into the market, and these
windows/doors have a reasonable insulating capacity primarily because of how
well they seal the openings.
Additionally,
these may be tinted or have a reflective film added to reduce solar gain.
We
do not recommend these products for large windows designed to maximise your
view however, as there is often some minor distortion created in this
application.
Click
on the link to learn about 3M Window Film Products
Double-pane
insulated windows are also an option, should you choose to go to a non-impact
window paired with Bermuda, accordion or roll-down shutter storm protection. We
will work with you to get the combination that is right for your look and
budget.
The Roof:
Inside
the roof you also have a number of choices, primarily batt insulation installed
between the roof rafters or the attic floor joists, and open or closed cell Spray
Foam Insulation, blown into the attic space. Click on the link below for a video discussion on the value of the new spray foam insulation products.
As
in all things in a new home, it is a matter of balancing all the initial costs
against all the long-term expenses. As you can see, getting your building
envelope right is the first and the most critical step. It may eat up some
more of your building budget, but when you consider that the initial cost of a
home is just a fraction of the total cost of the home over its lifetime it
should be considered an investment towards your long-term financial well-being.
In
later blogs we will look at other ways to reduce your CUC bills. Stay tuned.
