When considering passive solar design, it
is important to tailor the design features of
your home to your climate. For instance, in
southern parts of Australia, prominent north-
facing shaded windows with overhanging
eaves permit the entry of the sun’s warmth
and restrict the entry of heat in summer.
In contrast, in northern parts of the
country, only shading is required but on
diff erent walls at diff erent times of the year,
together with well-designed ventilation.
Properly sealed doors and windows are
essential for allowing cross-ventilation and
heat restriction when required.THE ROLE OF THERMAL MASS
IN STAYING WARM
Research shows that building materials with
high thermal mass have the highest energy
effi ciency. Thermal mass is the ability of a
material to retain heat energy when subjected
to varying temperatures and then slowly
releasing it back into the environment as
conditions change.
This transfer of heat is called thermal lag.
The hottest part of the day is usually between12pm and 2pm. A thermal lag of six hours,
which is typical for brick houses, means the
maximum heat fl ow will not reach inside the
house until six hours after this time.
In winter this means that as outside
temperatures drop throughout the afternoon
into the evening, the transfer of heat within
the house is delayed, keeping you warm
inside your home.
Thermal mass should be incorporated
in external walls as well as other areas,
including a concrete slab and solid partition
walls (as opposed to stud walls). Solid
partition walls add signifi cantly to the
thermal mass, with the additional benefi t of
reducing noise between rooms.
Thermal mass is diff erent to the R-Value
of a material. R-Value, or thermal resistance
value, gives an indication of how quickly
materials (like insulation) lose heat. The
higher the R-Value, the slower the loss of heat.
While insulation in external walls is essential,
the R-Value is static and does not predict
the energy used for heating and cooling to
maintain a comfortable inside temperature as
outside conditions change.HORBURY HUNT RESIDENTIAL AWARD
— CARR PLACE RESIDENCE
This four-bedroom home on an inner-city block was created for a young urban family. The texture and
warmth of the bold masonry bedroom wing reference the industrial and urban site context. Open and
glazed living spaces contrast well with the dark and brooding masonry box.THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT, WHEN COMBINED,
CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME,
INCLUDING THE PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN OF YOUR
HOME, THE BUILDING MATERIALS USED AND THE
POSITION OF WINDOWS. BY TAKING THESE ELEMENTS
INTO CONSIDERATION YOU CAN HELP TO IMPROVE THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND TEMPERATURE OF YOUR HOME
SOURCEBOOK
// BUILDING MATERIALS