W
hether you’re trying to stay
warm in winter or cool in
summer, the heating and
cooling of your home requires
a signifi cant amount of electricity. Recent
data indicates that space heating and cooling
accounts for around 40 per cent of total
residential operational energy consumption.
For those contemplating building or
renovating their home, it has become
increasingly important to choose a building
design and materials that will minimise the
energy required for heating and cooling,
both from a cost savings and sustainability
perspective.THE IMPACT OF DESIGN ON
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Passive solar design focuses on energy effi ciency
and considers the local conditions to maximise
the thermal performance of a building. Solar
design can reduce the need for expensive
mechanical heating and cooling. This is because
good solar design uses natural heating and
natural cooling to keep temperatures within a
comfortable range — typically 18 to 24 degrees
Celsius — and should not cost more when
included at the planning stage.
Key considerations for passive solar design
are: orientation and solar access, shading and
glazing, sealing and ventilation, insulation,
and thermal mass.THE RIGHT CHOICE
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BUILDING MATERIALS WILL
KEEP YOU WARMER IN WINTER
WORDS // ELIZABETH MCINTYRELaunceston Sub Station from
Grand Designs Australia Series Six
SOURCEBOOK// BUILDING MATERIALS