How to Design Energy Efficient Homes In Australia

In Australia, we call on our buildings with energy assessments. This means that buildings can be compared against each other in terms of the cost of heating and cooling.

In Australia, most of our cities are in climates where 40 C (104 F) is not uncommon. The capital of Australia is less than -50 C, while in northwestern Australia, which reaches 55 C (131 F). So it behooves us to know how our house is going to perform in these conditions before buying.

In Australia, there is a system of stars representing the energy efficiency ratings. Each unit is assessed in an order determined by a computer program on its solvency or algorithm. A home watching high six star is much better than a two star hotel, and so on.

These programs may differ according to circumstances. There is a program for existing buildings and other software designed for buildings.

The operation of the algorithm

There are many factors that determine whether your building is energy efficient or not. These are the factors that determine:

1. The materials play a very important role. Will they keep the heat out, and it’s good? For example, a building that has a large mass of the wall, such as masonry double skin wall could allow heat during the day, before the heat finally enters the building. This could keep the building cool during the summer, during the day, but what happens at night, is the heat continues to penetrate their way and heat the house overnight. In some Australian households found that homes are more warm inside so that during the night for just this reason.

2. Guidance affects the building. It is the house facing the sun, and the sun shines directly into the building in the winter, the sun and then not enter the building in the summer?

3. The insulation is an important factor. Only the insulation work? How thick is it? How reflect? This is called an R rating. Is there insulation in the walls? What kind? During a monastery the author was the project manager and customer requirements were that they wanted a mass of double brick wall in winter to heat the building, but wanted it to be cool in summer. So that meant different isolation was supported in the brick walls of the cavities.

4. Have the eaves allow the sun during the winter, but summer? Eaves are an important part of the buildings that keep the rain where it could penetrate the building envelope, but more importantly, they offer important energy efficiency.

5. outer cover is important. Are there trees outside, and shade the building? Is sun afternoon shade? Is there a pergola nearby? All this is in the algorithms.

6. The internal processing of windows is important. Heat is lost and the gain of heat when the air moves past a glass panel. The movement of air molecules from the energy transfer components. So if you put in double glazing is very effective. But the blinds and curtains can also avoid a lot of energy exchange as well. And if you use curtains with heavy curtains, valances and have great above, which are the best of all.

7. Floor coverings are important. If a house has bare concrete or tile will absorb heat from direct sunlight through the windows during the day and reissued in the house at night. This can be helpful for households hit by cold winters. Second carpets, although it seems warmer, it will act as an insulator for the mass of concrete and concrete is then unable to absorb heat. It is good only for summer.

With this information in mind when designing a house, a solar house could be effective. We hope this information helps.