thisplace.com.au - Energy Efficient House Design

How an energy efficient home can help you to live in comfort and save money. An energy efficient home is designed to provide shade and allow for the passage of cooling breezes in summer, whilst taking advantage of the free heat from the sun in winter.

Even in climate areas where air conditioning and heating are necessary, energy efficient house design can greatly reduce cooling and heating costs.

Location

energy efficient house design is influenced by climate - different climatic regions require different approaches to design
if climate conditions are not considered, it can lead to an inappropriate house design which will not be comfortable for most times of the year
the optimal orientation, size and shading of windows, the amount and type of insulation and internal design may all need to be varied according to the climatic region in which your home is located
Queensland has a variety of climate types which can be generally grouped into four distinct regions that influence the design of houses

inland	very hot, dry days in summer - warm winter days with very cold nights
sub-tropical	hot humid summer days and warm nights - comfortable winter days with cold nights
tropical	hot humid days and warm nights in summer - comfortable winter days with cool nights
temperate	some hot summer days and warm/cool nights - cold/cool winter days with cold nights

Orientation

the amount of heat entering a home depends to an extent on the orientation of the walls and windows

Internal Planning

locate living and outdoor areas so that they are to the north or east - in summer these areas are cooler and generally receive cool afternoon breezes - in winter, they will warm and sunny
create zones by grouping rooms of similar use together, eg rooms that use hot water should be located together

Window size and Placement

careful consideration should be given to the size, type and placement of windows - this will be influenced by climate, views, building codes and shading by trees, terrain and/or other buildings

Insulation

installing insulation can be the single most effective way to improve your home's comfort level throughout the year

Building Materials

construction materials such as concrete and brick can absorb and hold large amounts of heat - this heat is then released when the air becomes cooler - these materials are most effective when insulated from the outside

Ventilation and Infiltration

internal layout of rooms, doorways and windows should be considered when planning for good cross ventilation - this will allow unhindered flow of natural breezes to provide a cooling effect in hot humid climates

Landscaping

careful selection and placement of plants and trees to shade the walls and windows can moderate the temperature inside your home

Water Heating

water heating accounts for the largest use of energy in most Queensland households - so consider how you will heat your water and what you can do to reduce your water consumption

Lighting

devoting sometime to the layout and type of light fittings when designing your home can achieve major improvements in light quality and lower your energy costs

For more information check out the Office of Sustainable Energy website or call 1300 369 388.

Source: Queensland Government, Department of Mines and Energy, Office of Sustainable Energy.