The best time to think about the energy efficiency of your home is during the planning of your site and design. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that the house you build today will still be cost-efficient to heat and cool tomorrow.

 Study your site to make the most of its natural features. Sun and wind must be considered in placing your house on its site. In cold climates, a good southern exposure, that captures solar heat in the winter, can help offset fuel bills as well as provide you with a light-filled interior. The south side of your home receives almost three times more sun than any other side, so it should contain most of your glass. Minimize glass on the north, east and west, but remember to let in some light to balance the light from the south. Deciduous trees on the south blocks hot summer sun, but are leafless in the winter to let the sunshine in. In hot climates, you should shield the house from the effects of direct sunlight, both for comfort and for air-conditioning efficiency. Overhangs, porches, shade trees and windows in the path of air flows can help prevent overheating in the summer.

 Planning for a smart design to be built on your site is essential to the energy efficiency of your home. The less space you have to heat the better. Start by determining exactly how much living space your family requires. Arrange rooms in relation to the sun. Put heat and light where you need it the most; the breakfast nook in early morning, the kitchen throughout most of the day, and the family room during the late afternoon. Consider locating sleeping and working areas in the north. People need higher temperatures for living areas than for sleeping or work areas. A work area such as the kitchen will generate its own heat. If at all possible, avoid placing an entry to the north. If this cannot be avoided, keep cold air from entering with an air-lock entry.