In recent years, Barndominiums, aka Barndos, gained a considerable amount of popularity and value. Low cost, ease of renovation, and not having to build a foundation are some of the benefits of a Barndominium.
However, when it comes to energy efficiency, Barndos are not the best in the world. Because of the metal structure, energy efficiency can decrease. Therefore, in this post, we are looking at how to increase Barndominium energy efficiency.
Heating or cooling a metal structure is not the easiest thing in the world. However, your Barndominium might offer higher energy-saving capabilities with good design features.
Table of Contents
Are Barndominiums Energy-Efficient?
You might have got some idea about this matter from our introduction section. You might answer NO to this question. Right?
However, you will be surprised to hear that Barndominium homes reduce carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency. Because they are built on existing structures, you don’t need a large amount of money and energy to construct them.
On the other hand, if you construct an ordinary house, you will have to build it from scratch. So, you will need lots of energy and money. But, for Barndominiums, you don’t need much energy or money. From this section, you might have got a clear answer to are Barndominiums cheaper question too.
Besides, adding proper insulation and appliance can significantly increase energy efficiency, and it will prevent heat loss and maintain the desired temperature in your home. We will talk about these tactics in the next section with details.
5 Ways That You Can Make the Barndominium More Energy Efficient
As we mentioned above, metal is not a good insulator. So, this affects the energy efficiency of Barndominium to a great extent. However, there are a few methods that can fix this matter. So, if you are looking for answers to how to increase Barndominium energy efficiency, the below methods will work perfectly.
Install High R-Value Insulations
Most of the time, Barndominium have a higher value for wall cavity than traditional homes. For instance, a typical home has a 10-inch wall cavity. On the other hand, Barndominium has a 12-16 inches wall cavity.
Having said that, adding extra insulation will increase energy efficiency. Also, it benefits your home in many ways. For instance, it will prevent air from escaping from your home. Besides, it will keep the outside weather condition at bay. Most modern homes come with blanket insulation for the ceiling and walls.
Or you can go for a method such as a spray foam that can provide extra cover for the wall. Also, these spray foam insulations expand to the wall cavity. So, with an extra wall cavity, Barndominium requires more spray foam insulations. Besides, when you choose high R-Value insulations, the energy efficiency will increase automatically.
High Energy Efficient Appliance
Your home’s cooling and heating efficiency largely depend on the items you buy. For instance, installing an air conditioner system that has multi-speed levels or a multi-stage furnace can increase energy efficiency considerably.
Compared to old single-stage furnaces, modern furnaces have around 70 operating stages. Therefore, these modern furnaces will quickly give you the desired temperature according to the thermostat. Besides, they are capable of operating at full capacity with minimum energy.
When it comes to modern air conditioner systems, these appliances can increase energy efficiency. For instance, they can run at lower speeds during the summer to preserve energy.
One Floor Design for Barndominium
Larger homes are difficult to cool or heat, and when you have multiple floors, the task will be more difficult. For instance, a 2000 square foot single-floor house is easy to cool or heat compared to a 2000 square foot double-floor house. Therefore, you can save some energy surely with this method.
For Barndominiums, having a single floor design is the best option to increase energy efficiency. If we consider a simple design for a Barndominium, it has a living room and a kitchen in front of the home. Besides, bedrooms and bathrooms rear of the home. So, stick with that design.
Select an Open Concept Floor Plan
Choosing an open concept floor design comes with many benefits. For instance, it will enable good air circulation. Besides, you can go one step further by adding an exposed ceiling. As you can understand, there are fewer walls in an open concept design.
So, the heating or the cooling won’t take that much time because the AC system or the furnace work less time than usual. That means more energy saving.
Energy Efficient Doors and Windows
If we consider the frame of the Barndominium, it is a metal structure and can support bigger windows. On the other hand, if the doors and windows are too thin or come with poor sealing, the air can escape easily. So, you will get a higher utility bill.
Spending some extra money on doors and windows can seal them properly. Besides, these modern energy-efficient doors and windows have a longer life span too.
Therefore, you don’t have to replace them for a long time. Also, they will save lots of energy too. If you are looking for how to increase Barndominium energy efficiency, having energy-efficient doors and windows is one of the best options.
How Can I Heat My Barndominium?
There are plenty of ways to heat your Barndominium. For instance, you can use furnaces, space heaters, radiant heaters, heat pumps, and more. However, the heat pumps are the most energy-efficient source for Barndominiums. Also, Barndominium heating and cooling costs are less.
When it comes to heat pumps, they are more energy-efficient than furnaces and radiant heaters. Besides, these heat pumps are capable of generating heat and distributing hot air using the home’s air ducts. Also, heat pumps can draw out hot air from your Barndominium and channel that air to the outside.
Are Barndominiums Safe in a Tornado?
Yes, for weather conditions such as a tornado, Barndominiums are the best option. They are safer than the traditional home. Also, with proper Barndominium plans and designs, you can get a more durable home. So, if you own a barndominium oklahoma, you don’t have to worry about any tornado issues.
Bottom Line
Today you were able to learn five ways to increase the energy efficiency of your Barndominium. Besides, these are the best answers for how to increase Barndominium energy efficiency questions. So, apply the above method properly to get the best results possible.
If you follow the correct procedure, the Barndominiums can be a highly energy-efficient place for decades. So, you won’t experience any Barndominium problems for a long time.
