How do we balance keeping cool and saving the earth when it is so tempting to crank up our air conditioners? Studies have shown the most eco-friendly temperature to be 25 degrees celsius but let’s be real: that’s just no match for the heat out there.
If you live in a landed property, maintaining energy efficiency while trying to keep such a large space cool can be a real challenge. The odds are further stacked against your favour if you, in a bid to enter the booming landed homes segment, had forsaken your preferred facing direction for a lower price point.
We still think it’s a worthy investment, which is why we’d like to help you out. On top of the apartment-specific tips we shared previously, here are 5 ways to be forward-thinking about A&A or rebuilding for landed properties
1. Create air wells with double glazed windows
Ventilation is the first rule of keeping cool in any living space. For the same reason we advised against partitions that obstruct airflow in small condominium units, a landed home can benefit from an airwell.
An airwell, as its name suggests, is an open column in the middle of a home. You may have seen one in balinese living spaces without giving much thought to their function, but they are a staple in resort living for good reason. By promoting cross ventilation in different parts of your home, it enjoys better air circulation than one that is largely “contained”.
If your home is not that big to afford a large void, constructing one around the stairway will hardly cannibalise the space available for rooms. The bonus? An abundance of natural lighting for your morning stretches in place of boring fluorescent lights.
2. Build roofs that reflect the sun’s energy
Does your attic always feel warm and stuffy? There’s a good chance your roof - an often overlooked component - is not optimised for thermal insulation.
It’s no news that dark surfaces trap more heat than lightly coloured ones, which is why you will probably see more white cars in the Middle East than anywhere else in the world. To reflect a majority of sunlight, do as the Greeks and paint your roofs a cool, light shade. You will thank yourself when it’s time to clear the gutters barefooted on a sunny day.
Roof tiles are often preferred, but modern homeowners are starting to prefer metal one for their aesthetic appearances. The good news? You can still pull it off with a layer of heat insulation underneath.
3. Install solar panels on your roof
In Singapore, where the sun is so strong that it dashes any hope of a rooftop garden, solar panels may just be the saving grace. This is a privilege exclusive to landed homeowners as HDB owners are not allowed to do so.
On top of providing shade, solar panels reflect heat energy away from the roof and remove them through convection currents between both surfaces. More than a heat absorption measure, it is a clean energy solution that is gaining popularity among the eco-conscious.
The initial outlay, which can cost between ten to fifty grand depending on the size of your house, is a common barrier to entry. But if you’re in it for the long haul, you can very well break even with electrical cost savings between 4-7 years.
4. Plan the use of your attic ahead of time
Is your attic going to be used for storage or living purposes? This is a decision that should not be left to the eleventh hour.
Between your roof and the attic’s ceiling is what we call the airspace - an element that may vary across landed properties depending on when they were constructed. Limited airspace impedes heat insulation, which makes the attic less suitable for a bedroom. On the other hand, ample airspace makes it possible to live and work there without being overly reliant on the air conditioner.
5. Invest in sunshades to cool your windows
Windows allow large amounts of hot air to enter the house. Because full-length windows are characteristic of landed homes, this is something you can preemptively manage.
Previously, we talked about optimising window panes for thermal insulation with double glazed or laminated options. Awnings and canopies will complement those on afternoons where the sun is just beating down on your glass surfaces. If having shade 24/7 gets in the way of your gardening hobbies, consider in-between options like pergolas that lets you enjoy low-maintenance flexibility.
Keep your landed home cool
A landed home has way more potential for keeping cool than apartments do - if only you explored innovations on both the architectural and furnishing fronts. It’s never wise to make thermal insulation an afterthought in our climate - it should be a consideration from day one.
Want to cover all grounds on your hunt for a dream home? Get in touch with us and let us guide you along.
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