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Energy efficiency - and what to consider when buying your new home

In our last post we discussed the BERS Pro system that Indigo Homes uses to assess the energy efficiency of a house, and this week we’ll talk about two key factors that affect the overall rating.

Building orientation

One of the most important factors contributing the comfortable temperatures in a home is the orientation of the building itself. Correct orientation will help keep the home cool in summer and warm in winter, while also reducing heating and cooling costs, contributing to the overall efficiency of the house.

Building orientation takes into consideration where rooms, windows and shade structures are located within a home in relation to solar north, coinciding with the path of the sun across the sky throughout the year. In Brisbane, solar north is approximately 11 degrees west of magnetic north.

Here’s a simple guideline as to how different living zones should be oriented:.

• Living areas to face north in order to catch summer breezes and winter sun.
• Sleeping areas to face south to remain cool and comfortable for sleep while catching cool summer breezes.
• Bathrooms, laundry rooms and garages to face east and west to block low summer am and pm sun.

Eaves and windows

Installing the correct width eaves on the north side of the house is also a big factor, and helps to limit sun penetration in summer and allow sun penetration in winter through north facing windows.

In the Brisbane area, the width of eave or shade structure should be half the height of the window it’s covering. For example, in a room with a 2440mm high ceiling, 2125mm window head height and a window 1200mm high, the eave width should be approximately 600mm.

Using small, well shaded windows or where possible no windows to the west, helps avoid low summer pm sun. Using well shaded windows to the east takes advantage of summer breezes while protecting against low summer morning sun.

There will be times where other factors will overrule these simple rules, for example when a large window is required to take advantage of valuable views. When large windows and glass doors are installed facing east or west it will be necessary to allow plenty of shade for these openings to prevent morning and afternoon summer sun overheating these areas.

Indigo Homes consider all these aspects as it designs its range of homes. See more of Indigo Home's comfortably designed and award-winning new homes here.