How to Make Your Trivandrum Home More Energy Efficient

Posted onJan 25, 2025

The real estate market trends in Trivandrum are influenced by a number of factors, one of them is buyer preferences. We are seeing trends in lifestyle apartments, luxury apartments, and eco-friendly or sustainable apartments. These preferences are nudging builders to ensure that their projects include these kinds of flats.

Sustainability and eco-friendly housing are especially gaining popularity now. But how to identify energy-efficient apartments in Trivandrum?

• Enquire with the builder if they use sustainable construction materials and methods
• See if they have provided adequate green spaces
• Look for facilities like solar-powered lighting, heating, and EV charging stations
• Have they provided a rainwater harvesting facility?
• Waste should be ideally collected, segregated and composted or otherwise disposed of properly; check if composting arrangements are available.

Most builders of quality are ensuring to include at least some of these points if not all. If you are interested in doing your bit for the environment, here are some tips to follow at home:

Ventilation and Insulation is Essential

Whenever the outside weather is pleasant, make sure your windows are wide open to enjoy the natural breeze and sunlight. This not only reduces your need for electric fans and lights but also has a positive impact on your health. This is also one of the best tips to attract positive energy into your flat in Trivandrum.

There should be no gaps between the frame and glass, or between two panels or windows. If there are gaps, take steps to fix them; otherwise, when you switch on the air conditioner, some amount of cold air will escape outside, causing your appliance to work harder to keep the room cool, consuming more power. You can also install blackout drapes to improve insulation.

Use Energy Efficient Glass

Low-E glass or advanced thermal insulation glass can keep out the heat of the sun while letting light in; by ensuring lower temperatures indoors in the summer and reducing the use of your A/C, you can make your apartment more energy efficient.

Buy Energy Efficient Appliances

You can check appliances for their energy efficiency by their star rating. Any appliance, like air conditioner, fridge, TV, or washing machine, that is rated 3 and above is ideal. The higher the rating, the less power the appliance consumes, and the more energy efficient it is.

Pro Tip: Keep your A/C temperature just a degree or two lower than the outside temperature for optimal cooling and performance.

Switch off When Not in Use

We often forget to switch off lights, fans, and other appliances when we leave the room or have stopped using them. While this should be a simple enough thing, we forget. It may not seem like much, but appliances left on for a long time can continue to consume small amounts of electricity, even when they are not running. This includes your TVs, computers, microwave ovens, induction cooktops, etc. Always remember to turn the main switch off.

Use Motion Sensors

These sensors will switch on lights when they detect motion, and switch off after a few seconds; this makes it ideal to have in common areas like passage, dining room, living room, or kitchen. This way, if anyone gets up at night to get some water or something, they will have adequate light to find their way, and also not waste electricity.

Check for Open Wires

If you suspect your electricity bill is higher than it should be, get an electrician to check for leaks and open wires, and get it rectified instantly. This way, you can prevent wastage of electricity, and protect your family from electrical fires.

Solar Water Heaters

Today, it is possible to have a solar-powered water heater for your apartment. Check if your building is designed in a way that makes it possible, and take permission from the residents’ association and other relevant authorities as may be needed.

Conclusion

Ensuring energy efficiency in your apartment is simple enough; you just have to be consistent and make it a practice. Educate your family about saving power, and ensure everybody does their bit.

Varma Homes is one of the most reputed builders of Kerala who are environmentally conscious believe in using sustainable materials and methods, and provide eco-friendly facilities. Check our premium 2 and 3 BHK flats in the most coveted residential areas of Trivandrum.

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FAQ’s

What features should I look for in an energy-efficient apartment in Trivandrum?

When searching for an energy-efficient apartment, consider asking the builder about the use of sustainable construction materials and methods. Check if the apartment has green spaces, solar-powered amenities like lighting, heating, and EV charging stations, as well as rainwater harvesting facilities. Ensuring the building has arrangements for waste segregation and composting is also a good indicator of energy efficiency.

How can I improve the energy efficiency of my apartment in Trivandrum?

Enhance your apartment's energy efficiency by ensuring proper ventilation and insulation, using energy-efficient glass to reduce indoor temperatures without heavy reliance on air conditioning, and opting for appliances with a high energy star rating (3 or above). Additionally, consider installing motion sensors to reduce unnecessary power usage and blackout drapes to improve insulation.

Are there any simple practices I can adopt to reduce my apartment's energy consumption?

Simple practices include regularly checking for open wires and leaks, using solar-powered water heaters if feasible, and always switching off appliances when not in use. Educating your family on the importance of energy conservation and ensuring everyone participates in saving power can significantly reduce your apartment's overall energy consumption.