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An energy-wise home will use the best combination of
sustainable building considerations such as site
orientation, wall and ceiling insulation, ventilation and
materials to reduce overall energy consumption.
Legislative change is turning this knowledge into action
through minimum standards for new houses that will
provide big savings in energy, and by default, energy bills.
House Energy Rating Schemes (HERS) to measure
thermal performance are being implemented nationally,
with the aim of integrating sustainability into design
development from the outset.
New homes built anywhere in NSW now require a
BASIX (Building Sustainability Index) certificate stating
that the design will meet specific energy and water
mains reduction targets. In Victoria all new homes must
achieve a 5-star energy rating, made up of a
combination of energy-efficient elements. |
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Two tools are used to assess the thermal rating of
homes in Queensland: the Building Energy Rating
System (BERS) and the Nationwide House Energy
Scheme (NatHERS).
The principles are surprisingly simple, but the end result
is year-round more comfortable homes, benefiting both
the environment and your wallet. So even if you’re
renovating, now is the perfect opportunity to save
money over the long-term and increase your home’s
value by thinking energy-wise. |
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The position of a house relative to the sun will drive
considerations to best utilise its natural energy for
cool summers and warm winters indoors. This is
called ‘passive solar design’.
Thermal mass, or the ability of a material to absorb
heat, is an important aspect in most Australian
climates where there is a need to average out
temperatures. High density materials such as clay
and concrete have a high thermal mass because a
lot of energy is required to change their
temperature. An eight to ten hour delay in energy
flow can effectively produce a warmer house at
night and a cooler house during the day.
With the goal of northerly living areas (where
exposure to the sun is best controlled), features like
extended eaves and skillion roofs are popular solar
design attributes that provide desirable shading in
summer, while still letting in the low winter sun.
In terms of collecting tank water, a roof’s span will
clearly affect the volume of rain collected, so ensure
a guttering and downpipe system of adequate size.
Tiled roofs of greater pitch will more efficiently
deliver rainwater to this system, particularly if the
profile is shaped. |
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There are three additional factors crucial to the thermal
performance of tiled roofs:
>colour
>ventilation
>sarking |
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