The shape and size of your roof can also constitute effective passive design. Adding a large overhang allows light into your home during wintertime because the sun is at a higher angle, says Rodriguez. In the summertime, the same overhang will block sunlight in the summer, keeping your home cooler.
2. Geothermal heat pumps
As part of a top-to-bottom renovation, consider installing a geothermal heating and cooling system to conserve energy. They work by tapping into stable temperatures a few feet below the earth’s surface to heat and cool a home.
“[Geothermal energy] relies on harnessing relatively even subterranean temperatures,” explains Leslie Schneeberger, an architect and owner of Schneeberger Collective, a sustainable firm based in Massachusetts. “The trenches to do this can be deep or lateral, depending on the amount of land you have to utilize.”
While digging and installing geothermal pumps cost more than a typical air-sourced system (anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000, according to home services site Angi), Schneeberger notes that they offer a significant return on investment (ROI). The savings on energy costs are often recouped within 5 or 10 years of installation, per the US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
3. Recycled materials
Photo: Kim Sayer/Getty Images
Instead of shopping for new counters, cabinets, and shelving, turn to places like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore or an architectural salvage shop for materials to reuse in your home. “You can retrofit pretty much any old piece of furniture into the space you need it for,” says Gabriela Narvaez, general contractor and founder of Guild Properties.
Recently, Narvaez has been sourcing antique console tables and armoires and retrofitting them for bathroom vanities. “I love doing this because not only will you have a totally unique piece in your new space but you’ll also be recycling and repurposing previously used materials into your home instead of buying a mass-produced product,” she says.
4. Energy-efficient windows
Insulated and laminated impact windows and doors do wonders for reducing a home’s overall energy consumption, explains Manny Angelo Varas, president and CEO of homebuilder MV Group USA. If you’re replacing windows in a home, take a closer look at triple-glazed windows, also known as triple-pane windows. “These have a much better insulation value, and with the right films, can cut down on not only solar heat gain but UV rays that can damage artwork, fabrics, and finishes,” says Schneeberger.
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