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Energy Efficiency

JUST RITE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

For New Homes and Additions

An energy smart home is one that minimises its use of energy to realise cost savings. Through design, quality insulation and choice of appliances, energy smart homes not only cost less to heat and cool but they help to reduce the greenhouse effect by lower reliance on energy created by burning fossil fuels.

An energy smart home begins with design and placement on your site. As Australia is in the southern hemisphere with most of its population below the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun's path across the sky is always to the north and lower to the horizon in the winter. Energy smart design takes advantage of the sun's warmth in winter and limits its impact in the summer. Afternoon heat from the west needs particular attention.

energyefficient

Follow these simple procedures and talk to your home designer to ensure that you are maximising your energy efficiency.

  • Choose a design that best suits the aspect of your site. Face living areas towards the north with bedrooms and utility areas towards the south. setting farthest from your northern boundary will maximise your use of the sun.
  • Divide your home into climate zones with doors that can be closed to enable individual heating and cooling.
  • Allow for windows to be shaded in summer. Plan for awnings, pergolas or retractable blinds and plant deciduous trees where possible for summer shade and winter sun.
  • Install energy efficient appliances. Look for the highest star ratings and install energy efficient light globes and water saving showerheads.
  • Insulate your home. By far the most effective way to save on heating and cooling energy consumption.

For more information on living energy smart contact 'Your Energy Savings' Office at www.yourenergysavings.gov.au

For Existing Homes

Comfortable. That's what you want your home to be. A place where you can kick off your shoes, sit back, relax and feel great. Even if the house has not been designed this way in the beginning there are great opportunities for improving the comfort level of your home as well as saving energy.

Existing homes can be made more energy efficient by insulating ceilings, walls, under timber floors and by the addition of secondary glazing for aluminium windows or double glazing for timber windows.