Cowaramup Country

6 STAR ENERGY RATING FOR YOUR HOME
As of 2010 all new homes will be required to achieve a 6 star energy rating - but what does it all mean and how can you design your home to achieve this rating?



Building orientation
We've all noticed the difference when walking into a home that has been designed to suit the orientation of the block - lots of natural light, warm in winter and cool in summer. It's not hard or expensive to achieve - it just takes a bit of thought.
The easiest thing to remember is - living areas to the north.


Internal room layout
When designing the layout, remember things such as:
Indoor living and entertainment areas to the north (for that warm winter sun)
Bedrooms to the south (for protection from the summer sun)
Group rooms with similar uses together to create zones and use doors to separate these zones (for energy efficiency)

Window placement, sizing and shading
Want natural light, warm winter sun, protection from summer and cooling cross ventilation breezes?
Windows are important, so make sure their size and placement achieve what is needed.

Insulation
Yes, it may cost a bit more upfront, but by insulating correctly, you'll ensure that your heating/cooling bills remain low and be comfortable all year round.

Ventilation
Doors and windows should be positioned to make use of cooling afternoon and night time summer breezes through cross ventilation.

Draught proofing
Stop air leaks and draughts adding to your energy bills by installing draught excluders around doors and windows.

Use of heat absorbing building materials
Your choice of building materials can make a significant difference to the performance and comfort of your home.
Dense materials such as brick, stone, concrete and rammed earth heat up and cool down slowly - they have what is called a high 'thermal mass'.
Lightweight materials such as weatherboard and fibre cement allow the home to heat up and cool down quickly. These materials have a low thermal mass.

Landscaping
Designing your garden carefully can improve your comfort levels. Deciduous trees or vines can provide shade in summer and the sun in winter when you need it.
Planting to the west or north-west can sheild your home from winter storms.
Use the "wind regime" of the region to help make use of cooling summer breezes and reduce the impact of hot summer or gusty winter breezes.

Take the time before you build to consider these basic design principals to ensure your home is energy efficient, has lots of natural light and is a comfortable temperature all year round.

You don't need to remember all this yourself - let us put you in touch with someone who can help you.