Before You Build

How to design an energy efficient home.

The Energy Efficient Home Designer application could help you design a new home that is safe, practical and comfortable to live in. It covers all the point below.

It will show you the best block to choose, how to position the house, where to place windows and other features to make it energy efficient. 

Energy efficient home design

An energy-efficient home is bright, comfortable and resistant to temperature extremes. In a nutshell, it’s a pleasure to live in.

Because you’re starting from scratch, you have the perfect opportunity to create a comfortable, energy-efficient home that can help to lower your energy bills.

Selecting the best block of land

 

• ideal block is longer in the east-west direction, and shorter in the north-west direction.
• Choose a block that is not overshadowed to the north by buildings, large trees, fences or other obstructions. This clear access to the north is called ‘solar access’.

Working out where to put your windows

Think carefully about where you’ll put your windows and you’re well on your way to keeping your home cool in summer and cosy in winter.

North

Try to place most windows on the north side of your home where they can be easily protected against the summer sun by eaves or pergolas.

East or West

Avoid windows facing east and west. In winter they won't receive enough sunlight to provide warmth, while in summer they receive both morning and afternoon sun, making it harder to keep your home cool. If you need windows in these positions for views, try to keep them small, or position them under a veranda or carport.

South

Windows facing south get virtually no direct sun, and can cause major heat loss problems in the winter. Windows on the south side of your home should be modest in size to reduce heat loss and positioned to allow cross-ventilation in each room.

Other considerations

• Ensure you have the correct sized eaves, as this means that the winter sun will still be able to enter and warm your home.
• Think carefully about placement and design of pergolas to ensure they don't keep out the warm winter sun.
• Windows, especially large ones, should have good curtains with close-fitting pelmets or pleated blinds that fit inside the windows to prevent winter heat loss.
• Windows positioned opposite each other are great for cross-ventilation – perfect for taking advantage of a cool change at the end of a hot summer day.

 

Insulation

Control the flow of heat into and out of your home with the right insulation and you’ll reap the benefits:

• Less outdoor heat penetrating your home during summer.
• Less indoor heat escaping from your home during winter.
• You save money, as the cost of running air-conditioning and heating appliances is reduced in an insulated home.

The most important insulation in the home is in the ceiling. However, depending on the construction materials of your home, wall insulation might be cost-effective and worth considering.

Use high thermal mass construction materials

• Materials that are slow to heat up and take time to cool down help to keep your home at a pleasant, even temperature.
• After the sun sets in winter, the heat they release will help keep your house warm.
• In summer, provided you stop the sun entering your home, the solid materials will help keep your home cool throughout the day.

Take advantage of natural breezes

• The cooling sea breeze comes from the south-west.
• Even if there are no westerly windows, cooling air can enter through southerly windows.
• Every room should have cross-ventilation (a door and a window opposite each other, or two windows opposite one another) to promote airflow.
• Keeping at least some windows open all night in summer will help to cool your house down, so consider security screens for open windows.

Landscaping and outdoor living

• In addition to external eaves or pergolas, trees and shrubs can be strategically placed to improve the comfort of your home.
• Keep north facing windows clear to the winter sun.
• As the north side of the house should be open to the winter sun, evergreen trees are not recommended. Instead deciduous trees are ideal as they provide shade in summer but drop their leaves in winter.
• Trees and shrubs can be used to reduce heat gain through east and west walls in the summer.
• Tall evergreen trees on the west side of the house help shade that side from the hot afternoon sun but allow the sea-breeze to flow underneath.
• Remember to take into account the fully-grown height and width of the trees you choose to plant.
• Don't plant trees so close to your house that branches can drop on your roof in storms.
• Don't plant trees near power lines.
• Latticework with vines is an attractive alternative in places where you haven't the space for trees or shrubs.
• If cold winter winds are a problem in your area, plant a windbreak.
• The south side of the house will be shaded all winter and most of spring and autumn, so plant shade-tolerant or seasonal plants in that area.

 

Outdoor living areas

• The best outdoor living areas are on the north and east sides.
• The south side of the house is often cold, dark and damp in winter and the west side is very hot on summer afternoons.
• A veranda on the east side also protects that wall from the summer morning sun.
• Be careful not to block the northern windows with covered pergolas.
• If you need a northern pergola for summer shade, consider purchasing one with angled slats that allows winter sunshine to penetrate but completely shades the ground in summer. Or you can use shade-cloth on your pergola in summer and simply roll it back up in winter.
• Avoid paving directly in front of the north windows, as the bricks will reflect heat into the house in summer.
• Remember to leave a sunny spot for your clothesline.

 

Powerpoints and lights

Avoid the frustration of tripping over extension cords and living in a poorly lit home.  It only takes a short time at the design stage to work out the ideal position and number of powerpoints and lights you’ll need in each room.

Select a room from the map below or scroll down to see our recommendations for the number of powerpoints and type of lighting you may want in each room.

Room	Powerpoints	Lighting
Kitchen	We recommend: Five double points, with at least three double points above the bench top Consider: Microwave recess. Dishwasher recess. Fridge and freezer recess. Toaster and other small appliances Telephone points.	Consider: Special lighting like down lights, flouros etc. A light above the sink and hotplate.
Living areas	We recommend: At least three double points in each living area (two double points may be enough in the dining area). Consider: Lamps and special lighting. Vacuum cleaner points. Position of furniture to allow access to points. TV, hpme theatre, PC etc. Heaters and coolers.
Passage ways	We recommend: One single point in passageways for vacuum cleaners if the passageway is longer than five metres.	Consider: Low voltage down-lights are an attractive and energy efficient option for passageways. Make sure passageways are well lit for safety purposes. Consider two-way switching at either end of the passageway for safety and convenience.
Master bedroom	We recommend: Three double points: one double point on either side of the bed-head, and one on the wall facing the end of the bed. Consider: Night reading lamps. Alarm clocks. TV, video, radio. Antenna points. Telephone point. Electric blanket. Ceiling fan.	Consider: Think about lighting effects for pictures. Dimmer switches for ambience.
Other bedrooms	We recommend: Two double points. Consider: Lamps. Clock/radio. TV antennas. Telephone points. Study areas - PC, printer etc. Ceiling fan.	Consider: Lighting effects for pictures. Dimmer switches for ambience. Night lights for small children.
Study/home office	We recommend:  Three double points. Consider: Lamps. Fax, photocopier, computer, printer. Telephone point for phone/fax. Telephone point for modem/internet access. Stereo, television, video, etc.	Consider: Lamps, down lights, spot lights, etc. Special switching. Special light effects (eg. pictures, statues, etc).
Ensuite/bathroom	We recommend: One double point. Consider: Exhaust fan/heater. Hair dryers. Electric shavers. Spa bath.	Consider: Heat light (tastic). Special lighting for make-up. Under floor heating. heated towel rail.
Outside	We recommend: Two double points. Consider: Garage. Two way switching. Automatic roller doors. Outside stereo/radio speakers. Shed/tools. Pool / spa / pond pumps. Reticulation system.	Consider: Security lighting. Entry way lighting. Garage lighting. Entertaining area (pier lighting, BBQ area, etc). Footpath and steps. Highlighting plants and garden beds. Water features and pumps Special effects. Shed lighting. Swimming pool and spa lighting.

 

Consider your current and future needs in relation to:

• Smart home automation systems.
• Security lighting.
• Smoke detectors.
• Meter box lock (to secure your power supply) or internal circuit breakers.
• Emergency lighting.
• Fire/smoke alarms.
• Burglar alarms.
• Remote controllers.
• Intercom.
• Pool heating.
• Air-conditioning.
• Electric heaters.
• Ceiling fans.
• Water systems - electric or solar.

 

Other Tips for Saving Energy and the Environment

To work out the approximate costs of running various apppliances you can use our Energy Calculator.

For other useful energy saving information go to the following:

Air-conditioning
Cooking Appliances
Top Tips
Energy Smart Homes (Sustainable Energy Development Office website - opens a new window)