Designing an Energy Efficient Home

Winter is here and energy bills are rising, they are going through the roof, quite literally. Using smart design principals and a bit of common sense is all it takes to create an energy efficient home and to bring your power bills down to a suitable level.

The key is to have a house that is designed to respond to the surrounding climate. You can still have that visually stunning home but by taking advantage of the natural sunlight and air flow and by incorporating a smart insulation solutions, your home will gorgeous, affordable and comfortable to live in.

Learn about the area in which your house is located by doing a little research. Find out which way is North and about any other local environmental conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology records the amount of sunshine in different parts of Australia and provides maps which show the amount of sunshine in various areas. Take advantage of the natural warmth from sunlight or the cooling breezes in your area. Good airflow and ventilation will reduce the need for air conditioning.

There are three golden rules for orientating your buildings home to create a comfortable home without harming the environment or your wallet.

1) If the front of your house faces the South position, your living areas should be at the rear.

2) If your block faces East or West try to position your courtyard so that your living area faces north.

3) And the tricky one! If your house faces north try placing your living area at the front and increase the distance from the street with a secluded and spacious garden.

Incorporate a passive solar design into the plan of your home. This is a method which takes advantage of natural methods of the sun and shade to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

POINTER: An active solar design uses technology to heat or cool your home through the use of solar energies.

Some simple passive solar design elements that can be used in homes are:

- An edge that protrudes from the roof will provide weather protection. Low light will still penetrate under eaves and harsh sunlight will be excluded in summer.

- Windows are one of the greatest sources of heat loss and breezy gain in a house. Heavy curtains will keep cold out and heat inside. Make sure curtains cover the whole window, coming well below the window sill if possible.

- Plant trees on the northern side of your house, so in summer it will provide shade and in winter when the tree drops its leaves, it will let sunlight through to warm up your home. Consult your local nursery and council for tree types that are suitable in your area.

- Insulating your roof and ceiling can reduce the energy used by up to a third. It will trap heat inside in winter and keep heat outside in summer.

In Melbourne's Aurora estate these sustainable design principals have been integrated into each of the 8,000 new homes. All new homes have incorporated great insulation, ventilation, gas boosted solar hot water systems and energy efficient appliances to give them each a 6 star energy rating. Aurora estate also uses a water sensitive urban design; with rain tanks, unique storm water drains that are environmentally friendly.

Links for to check out for more information:
- James Hardie Lightweight Materials
- Aurora - Delivering a Sustainable Urban Water System for a New Suburb (PDF document download)
- Bureau of Meteorology

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