The following checklist will allow you to design your home with greater efficiency:
* appropriate orientation: main living areas should face approximately north
* north windows: maximum window area should face north and be shaded to limit summer sun
* west windows: should be kept to a minimum and small in size with shading by external awnings
* room separation or zoning: living areas and bedrooms should be separated to assist with internal temperature control. Upper floors should be isolated from lower levels by door and air flashes
* concrete slab and some internal masonry: will stabilise and maintain internal room temperatures
* roofing material: the roof accounts for around 40 percent of the homes exterior surface, so the type of material used can play a vital role in reducing energy costs. A properly insulated COLORBOND© steel roof can reduce heat transmission into and out of the home by as much as two-thirds
In hot weather it ensures immediate relief when a cool change arrives because its low thermal mass eliminates storage and re-transmission of heat into the home. Choosing lighter colours also achieves even greater reflection of heat
* insulation: of both ceilings and walls will prevent heat loss and help stabilise room temperatures
* weather seals to doors and windows: eliminate draughts and minimise temperature loss
* appropriate landscaping: do not plant evergreen trees too close to north walls, however they should be kept as close as practical to western walls. Windbreaks can be useful in reducing heat loss during winter.
A high level of comfort with minimum energy consumption is both enviable and achievable if one makes careful and informed decisions.
Nu-Steel Homes has the knowledge and conviction to help home builders find low energy solutions that will bring energy savings year after year while improving their comfort.