Efficient House Design
Efficient House Design: Windows, insulation & more
May 2, 2011 | Green Rate
Orientation and Layout:
• A north facing orientation is highly beneficial• Locate non-habitable rooms to west (e.g. bathrooms, laundry, garage) and main living and kitchen zones to north
• Consider the location of the house in relation to adjacent buildings
Building Size and Design:
• Minimise external wall area – simple designs often perform best• The bigger the house and the higher the ceilings, the more difficult to get higher star ratings
Windows:
• Avoid high window to floor area ratio or choose energy efficient windows• Maximise north windows
• Minimise western windows, and to a lesser extent eastern windows
• Minimise or eliminate southern windows
• Double glazing is generally more effective than low-e or tinted glazing in Victoria
• Timber, UPVC, or improved aluminium window frames provide higher star ratings than standard aluminium
Insulation:
• Insulate ceilings (R3.5+)• Insulate all external walls (R2.0+)
• Insulate suspended floors (R2.5+)
• Insulate internal walls connecting to non-habitable rooms (e.g. bathrooms, laundry, garage)
• Insulating a slab on ground or the use of a waffle slab can often add around half a star or more in Victoria
Shading:
• Use appropriate shading for windows• Important to maximise solar access to northern windows in winter, and shade western windows in summer
Sealing:
• Provide draught/weather seals to external doors and windows• Use self-sealing exhaust fans, dampers on chimneys and flues, and sealed roof lights
