Technology has woven itself seamlessly into our daily lives in the rapidly evolving landscape of the modern world. From smartphones that serve as personal assistants to refrigerators that can order groceries, our homes have become hubs of innovation and convenience. As we embrace this digital age, we must recognize technology’s role in transforming our private spaces into efficient, secure, and connected sanctuaries. In this article, the writer from writing paper service delves into seven technological solutions that a modern private home desires and truly needs.
1. Functional flat roof
This economical and modern roof option is not often found in homes. And for good reason. A flat roof fits easily into houses with any exterior and, in addition, allows you to save on finishing materials and roofing, reduce the load on load-bearing structures, and add valuable space to the house. It can be turned into a recreational area: you can place sun loungers and sofas, a table, a grill, and a Jacuzzi. Walking on the roof was comfortable. The surface was covered with lawn, lay tiles, or fill gravel. Another option for using a flat roof is a greenhouse for growing vegetables and herbs. This is especially useful on small plots without space for beds.
A flat roof can also be unexploited but remain helpful. Place solar panels on it to save on electricity in spring and summer, or additional windows to make the house brighter.
2. Ventilation system with recuperator
Ventilation in the house is responsible for air circulation: it lets in clean and fresh air and removes the used air with carbon dioxide and dust. It saves from overheating the room, high humidity, and delay of unpleasant odors.
Ventilation with a recuperator, in addition to these functions, helps to maintain a comfortable temperature and reduce heating costs. In such a system, there is a heat exchanger where the air from the house and the street meet: the fresh air is heated from the outgoing air and enters the room already warm. The new air can take up to ⅔ of the temperature of the old atmosphere. They do not mix during the process, so you don’t have to worry about air purity. A filter is built into the recuperator that traps pollen, dust, and other allergens.
There are several varieties of recuperators, but the most popular for private homes are plate and rotary (rotating). In the first one, the leaves in the heat exchanger are static and installed parallel to each other: they work by creating tunnels for air. In the second, the plates are constantly rotating. In both cases, heat transfer occurs by heating and cooling the walls.
3. Basement floor with communications
An additional floor on the lower level is an excellent opportunity to increase the floor area of the house without expanding the building. In it, you can collect all communications – electricity switchboard, heating boiler, counters. Also, make a laundry room to avoid taking up space in the bathroom and a closet for household appliances. If the basement is large, part of the space can be allocated for leisure and equip a gym, sauna, billiard room, or workshop. But for the basement floor to be usable, you need to consider safety measures.
Make waterproofing. The basement is located below ground level, so its stability can be affected by groundwater and heavy precipitation. A reliable protective coating will prevent cracks, mold, and leaks. Read more: How basement waterproofing window replacement will transform your home.
Calculate the strength of the foundation. In the basement, the walls are pressurized by the surrounding soil. The foundation of the house must be strong enough to withstand it.
Insulate the walls and floor. With this, the basement will become damp and dank – even going there will be unpleasant, and you can remember about comfortable rest.
Provide ventilation. This will help to avoid the accumulation of gases and moisture.
4. Underfloor heating
The floor is the coldest place in the room. It’s simple: warm air is lighter and closer to the ceiling. This is a nice bonus in summer: if you want to stay calm, you can lie on the floor. But this is a problem in autumn and winter: you can only walk around the house with slippers or socks, sit on the floor, or play with your child.
Underfloor heating gives a hundred plus to comfort: you can walk barefoot at any time of the year and not worry that the house’s inhabitants will fall ill. Systems for heating are many, and globally, they are divided into two types.
Water. Under the floor covering, a network of pipes of small diameter is placed, through which the heated liquid circulates. Tubes should be made of heat-resistant solid material (copper, metal-plastic, cross-linked polyethylene) and preferably long: the more joints, the greater the probability of leakage, and its elimination will require serious repairs. Water floors can be laid even under furniture. It is economical and does not require additional electricity costs. But for installation, you must put a cement-sand screed, which will reduce the room’s height by about 15 centimeters. if the ceilings are already low, this can be a problem.
Electric. The surface is heated by thermal radiation. It can come from resistive or self-regulating cables, convection or infrared thermometers, and infrared film coating. With few exceptions, such a heating system cannot be placed under furniture; it requires a connection to an electric thermostat. This has advantages – it is easier to control the heat supply.
You can do without additional heating if you make a thermal insulation of the floor. It is beneficial on the ground floor, where the surface is additionally cooled by proximity to the ground. The main criteria for selecting thermal insulation are resistance to temperature fluctuations, vapor permeability, and environmental friendliness – the material should not emit toxic substances such as styrene and formaldehyde.
5. Smart systems for optimizing resources
Smart systems can be connected to all the engineering circuits in the home and control lighting, heating, ventilation, CCTV, alarms, and more. Resources can usually be managed through an app and by voice. Or set up the system automatically and let AI technology decide when to switch appliances off or on. Light, motion, sound, and temperature sensors are responsible for quality performance. For example, if you go outside and forget to switch off the lights, they will notice and do it for you.
In addition to saving money on housing and utilities, the intelligent system makes your home safer. You can check your home’s appliances and condition from your office or traveling. And if there’s a problem like uninvited guests or a short circuit, you’ll immediately get a notification on your phone.
6. Reliable wall insulation
The suitable insulation material can help you cut winter heating costs and avoid summer heat. One of the energy-efficient and safe options is now considered to be PIR slabs. They are made of polymer material similar to polyurethane foam. PIR is vital – it consists of closed cells with pentane gas inside.
Such a board does not pass or absorb moisture, so it does not rot, decompose, and cannot be affected by fungus. The material does not support combustion and has a very low thermal conductivity coefficient (this helps maintain a comfortable temperature in the house). It is also light and thin, adding no load to the load-bearing structure. PIR-slabs make it possible to build energy-efficient homes of A++ class, close to passive energy consumption: they use 30-90% less resources – which will positively affect utility bills.
7. Energy-efficient glazing
Properly positioned windows allow natural light to enter your home, and you’ll reach for the light switch less often. South and east-facing windows will be the most energy-efficient. South-facing windows maximize light penetration during the day: a south-facing window can be used for a living room, kitchen, or gymnasium. Rooms with east-facing windows will be sunny in the morning – a good option for a bedroom, nursery, or study. On the north and west sides, windows may not be placed, or small double-glazed windows may be placed so that the room can be effectively ventilated and the air conditioning can be dispensed with.
The glazing area in the room should not be less than ⅛ of the floor area. If more – fine. Don’t place standard windows too low – this will limit the depth of ray penetration, and the light may not reach the far corners of the room.
For windows to help control the temperature in the house, you can put energy-saving double-glazed windows. They have an inert gas between the panes (its thermal conductivity is less than that of air), and the inner surface is coated with a heat-reflective coating. In this way, the window lets in less cold air from the street in winter and hot air in summer. Usually, energy-saving windows are more expensive, but reduced heating or air conditioning costs compensate for the price difference.
