What is an energy efficient house?

Today’s people are characterized by the value of the living environment and the ecological mindset, which is also guided by the choice of home. In the context of rising fuel prices, energy efficiency and economy of buildings are increasingly important.
Energy efficient houses are divided into three broad categories: energy class A buildings, low energy houses and passive houses. It is important that the customer decides if he wants a energy efficient home before making an order. Here begins a process that determines what the design and ventilation and heating system should be, as well as the architectural solution of the building and the location of the house in relation to the points of view.
The lowest calorific value (up to 15 kW / m2) is a passive house, but a passive house that meets the standards is not easy to build in Estonia, the construction costs are relatively crispy and the return on investment can be irrationally long.
The low-energy house (heating power consumption on average 30-50 kW / m2) is favorable for heating costs, but in the same way, the money paid for erection of the house may not pay off very promptly as additional investments must be made on structures, roof, heating system and openings. Under certain conditions, a low-energy house may be the best choice.
In Estonia, it is most optimal to build energy-class A buildings that do not require extra investment, but their heating consumption is small, up to 100 kW / m2. The best solution is to build a house with better characteristics from the standard, for example, with energy requirements of, say, 70-100 kW / m2. Log houses can be built in the same energy-efficient way, but they need to look more carefully at design solutions, and the investment can go up a bit more expensive.

The air exchange, the window density and ventilation must be considered in its entirety – all aspects together with the location affect the energy efficiency. For example, modern heat recovery ventilation systems provide much more energy efficiency. It should be taken into account that the energy efficiency of the entire building, apart from the choice of heating and structural elements, also has an architectural solution. The energy efficiency of a very sopic building is small, considering the amount of glass surfaces and the location of the weather paths.
In the case of energy efficiency of the building, it is also worthwhile to look at the consumption patterns of the inhabitants as it strongly affects the thermal performance of the building.

Windows and doors are becoming more and more quality

The time when the use of large glass surfaces meant a cold during the winter and a terrible room in the summer is redeveloping. No longer takes into account only the thermal insulation of the glass package, but the entire structure (glass package, frame and lining) thermal insulation.
Timbeco Woodhouse collaborates with AS Aru Group, which provides accurate thermal conductivity calculations for each window produced, and tests the heat and durability of its products thoroughly.

The secret of durability lies in the installation

In the uncontrolled air movement, the design involves a movement of moisture that, after a very high heat loss, can cause the wall to wet. The result is the proliferation of harmful molds and rot.
Various moisture resistance vapor and air barriers should be used to prevent moisture damage. The drying capacity of the structure must always be greater than the expected moisture load

The regulation sets minimum requirements for energy efficiency, according to which the critical nodes of building boundaries must be fully airtight. In modern constructions, no simple steam barrier should be used, but certified vapor and air barriers.
It is very important to have a high quality installation of the air and vapor barrier according to the prescribed instructions. This ensures good airworthiness. Without a high-quality and neatly installed house, the house is not air-tight.

Air quality errors help to find pressure

To avoid errors due to air movement, after air and vapor barrier and before installing the inner lining, you can check the air resistance of the house, ie to make a blower-door test.
The pressure test produces an overpressure or overpressure of 50 Pa in the door or window fitted with a fan, and then it is measured how many times the air in the room changes over one hour. The permissible air exchange is 3 / h, while the passive houses are 0,6 / h. Unlike a thermal camera, a blower-door test can be performed every season.

The need for heat energy is divided into:

The final energy requirement actually reflects the amount of energy used to heat, cool, ventilate and house the appliances.

The final need for heating energy is the amount of energy used by the heating system to maintain room temperature. The final need for heating energy may be less than the net power of heating energy (for example, heat pumps), higher (for example, cooker) or even (for example, direct electric heating).
The final energy requirement actually shows the amount of energy used to heat, cool, ventilate, heat up and use the home appliances and electrical equipment.