Making your new home energy efficient isn’t hard, but taking the right steps during the planning stage is very important. A home with an 8 star energy rating is actually quite achievable if you implement the correct strategies in your new home design. This week I will discuss the importance of knowing your climate zone and also some tips to help you choose your architect or building designer.
Knowing your climate zone.....
It is important to understand that different parts of Australia have different climate zones and therefore require different building strategies. Our local climate zone in the Shepparton and Goulburn Valley region is a “Mild Temperate Zone” (Zone 6) which is technically regarded as a cold zone, however we also endure some very hot 40+ degree days over Summer, so it is important that homes in our region are also built to keep cool during Summer. You can find out what zone your local region is by viewing the following page on the “Your Home” Australian government website:
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/introduction/australian-climate-zones
Or Download the PDF file (Supplied by the Australian Building Codes Board) from the following link to the Your Home Government website.
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/sites/prod.yourhome.gov.au/files/pdf/YOURHOME-Introduction-AustClimateZones_4.pdf
For anyone who hasn’t read my previous blogs, this website has some extremely valuable information. You can also purchase a hardcopy of the book from their website. If you are considering building an energy efficient home, I would highly recommend this.
Once you have an understanding of your local Climate zone, you can look into choosing an architect or building designer who can design an energy efficient home for your local region.
Engaging an architect or building designer.....
Our best advice if you are looking to build an energy efficient home is to find someone who has a good understanding of energy efficient building practices and also a good knowledge of the best energy efficient building products. Ask around your local area for recommendations (a question put to your facebook friends can sometimes yield some great suggestions). An ideal architect/building designer would be registered with the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) and you should also make sure they are experienced in designing the type of home you want to build. They should be experienced in designing homes specific for your region and climate. Your architect or building designer should also be familiar with your local Council laws to ensure your home is designed to comply with local regulations. Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with your choice of architect or building designer because you will be putting a lot of trust in them to design your dream home. You need to be able to work with them and feel that they understand your wishes and can put your concepts into the right home design for you. The process to designing and building your energy efficient home should be an exciting and enjoyable experience for you.
To help you understand the process more, in my next blog, I will be discussing the things you should consider when choosing your land for an energy efficient home.
Knowing your climate zone.....
It is important to understand that different parts of Australia have different climate zones and therefore require different building strategies. Our local climate zone in the Shepparton and Goulburn Valley region is a “Mild Temperate Zone” (Zone 6) which is technically regarded as a cold zone, however we also endure some very hot 40+ degree days over Summer, so it is important that homes in our region are also built to keep cool during Summer. You can find out what zone your local region is by viewing the following page on the “Your Home” Australian government website:
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/introduction/australian-climate-zones
Or Download the PDF file (Supplied by the Australian Building Codes Board) from the following link to the Your Home Government website.
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/sites/prod.yourhome.gov.au/files/pdf/YOURHOME-Introduction-AustClimateZones_4.pdf
For anyone who hasn’t read my previous blogs, this website has some extremely valuable information. You can also purchase a hardcopy of the book from their website. If you are considering building an energy efficient home, I would highly recommend this.
Once you have an understanding of your local Climate zone, you can look into choosing an architect or building designer who can design an energy efficient home for your local region.
Engaging an architect or building designer.....
Our best advice if you are looking to build an energy efficient home is to find someone who has a good understanding of energy efficient building practices and also a good knowledge of the best energy efficient building products. Ask around your local area for recommendations (a question put to your facebook friends can sometimes yield some great suggestions). An ideal architect/building designer would be registered with the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) and you should also make sure they are experienced in designing the type of home you want to build. They should be experienced in designing homes specific for your region and climate. Your architect or building designer should also be familiar with your local Council laws to ensure your home is designed to comply with local regulations. Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with your choice of architect or building designer because you will be putting a lot of trust in them to design your dream home. You need to be able to work with them and feel that they understand your wishes and can put your concepts into the right home design for you. The process to designing and building your energy efficient home should be an exciting and enjoyable experience for you.
To help you understand the process more, in my next blog, I will be discussing the things you should consider when choosing your land for an energy efficient home.