Thinking of building a new home? It’s the perfect time to consider your energy consumption requirements and how to save on energy bills, not just now but also plan for the future (and save the planet).
Heating and cooling account for a massive 40% of household energy consumption in Australia. Common appliances like fridges or washing machines make up an additional 25%, and water heating (using fossil fuels) can be account for another 23%.
The orientation of a building determines the passive solar heat gain or heat loss of the home throughout the year. It is the golden design rule for potentially lower energy usage and increased comfort, and will continue to deliver benefits from the sun free of charge for the life of the home.
Reduce the need for expensive heating and cooling by orientating your new home so that it takes advantage of the natural warming effect of the sun in winter, while staying cooler in summer by limiting exposure to the harsh Australian sun.
A good future-proof design considers the roof pitch, orientation and area to ensure there is enough space for solar panels to meet the future energy needs of the home. Installing a renewable energy source like solar panels and a battery gives you the opportunity to substantially reduce or eliminate your power bills. Depending on your energy needs you can start with a small solar power system and add on later, or include battery power for night time or days when there is less sun.
Correctly chosen and installed, insulation will significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature inside a home regardless of the weather outside.
Some types of insulation are good for keeping the heat in the home through winter and other types insulation are good for keeping the heat out in summer. Foil wrap provides the added benefit of minimising air infiltration and helps to contribute towards air tight construction. A skilled thermal comfort assessor will be able to inform the designer in selecting the right type of insulation for the home.
Consider installing larger windows and doors to support cross-flow ventilation. Together with the correct orientation, cross-flow ventilation can reduce your over energy costs by using less heating and cooling.
A single glazed window will lose 18 times as much heat as an equivalent amount of external insulated wall. The more glass that is added to the home, the more it will be susceptible to extreme outside temperatures. Choosing high-performance glass (like double glazing) together with carefully placed windows can significantly reduce the energy consumption of your home.
