According to a recent report by the Domain Group, the demand for energy-efficient houses is increasing across Australia. This demand is adding a premium to homes with energy-efficient features at the sale, while ongoing energy bills will be lower for the life of the home. It includes new builds with features added when built or energy-efficient renovations to existing houses.

Energy-efficient windows and doors

Choosing windows and doors with energy-saving features is a superior way to increase a home’s energy efficiency rating. Up to 40% of a home’s energy is lost through windows, and 87% of warm or cold air (depending on the outside temperature) is gained through windows and doors. The average Australian home has upwards of 14 air changes an hour due largely to drafts and single glazing. All this new air from the outside needs to be either heated or cooled; hence, lower air changes reduce the constant use of heaters or air conditioners.

Therefore, choosing an efficient home is desirable as it decreases the amount of energy used while maintaining a more stable and comfortable internal temperature of the home. There is a positive ecological impact on the environment as well by using less power and relying more on quality building.

Ratings

Windows and doors are rated as a whole product, which means the glazing as well as the frame. High-performance glazing must be incorporated into a high-performance frame to reduce air leaking through the frame itself. Installation is also important, and caulking is needed to prevent air leaks. Using the Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) to check window ratings is a good way to start. The U-value of a window measures insulation and how well a window conducts heat. The lower the U-Value, the more efficient it is. Paarhammer’s tested window U-values start as low as 0.8.

There are different testing parameters with different U-value results: WERS ratings are verified by the Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC), while Passivhaus uses European values. A U-value of 1.6 under AFRC equals a U-Value of 1.2 under Passivhaus.

When building or renovating, emphasis should be on taking advantage of current technology to maximise energy efficiency and temperature regulation in homes, including the use of high-performance windows and doors. Energy-efficient homes are sought after in the marketplace as these reduce living costs in the long term and generally attract an increased selling price.

For more information

Paarhammer Windows & Doors

The post Energy Efficiency increases Selling Price appeared first on Completehome.

They required a compact design, which maximised views of the surrounding countryside and provided indoor and outdoor areas to enjoy regardless of season.

Clever design and meticulous planning were central to achieving the client’s brief. As an off-grid project Hedger Constructions ensured all services to the site and infrastructure were captured in the build. Polished concrete floors run throughout the open plan home, providing good thermal mass, whilst commercial windows draw views in to the centre of the house and allow solar gain to passively heat the concrete slab in winter. The internal walls are exposed masonry blocks, which not only provide a solid feel and rustic style, but also create thermal mass to help provide heat retention and energy savings.

Set upon a ridge top location with sweeping views, this stunning skillion roof lifestyle home provides elegant simplicity and relaxed, flexible living spaces. The contemporary home is externally clad in Colorbond steel to minimise the visual impact of the building within the landscape, whilst also reflecting the strength of the surrounding hills. A large steel-clad front door has naturally oxidized, adding a rustic feature.

Internally the home continues the use of earthy tones and textured materials to create visual interest. The living area is bathed in natural light with commercial grade windows on three sides, immersing the home in its bush setting. A Chiminees Phillipe wood heater sits upon on a custom concrete hearth, providing warmth and a cosy atmosphere to the sunken lounge.

The living room picture frames the rural vista through expansive double-glazed floor to ceiling windows designed and installed to sit comfortably with the high ceilings at this end of the skillion roofline.

The home itself is compact yet feels spacious with ample indoor and outdoor areas. The use of large sliding doors provides easy access to the welcoming undercover deck. A second Chiminees Phillipe wood heater warms the outdoor area and has been cleverly positioned back to-back with the internal heater to provide a visual link with the lounge area.

Both the ensuite and bathroom feature floor to ceiling wall tiling, and custom-made messmate timber vanities give an earthy tone to the rooms. The placement of side-by-side bathroom and ensuite mean all services can be contained to the one area making for less runs in hot water and plumbing requirements – key considerations in an off-grid build.

In the open plan kitchen, the cabinetry has been designed with attention to clean lines and the Caesarstone benchtops are both stylish and practical.

The design of the home was to involve not only a link to the rural setting, but also provide functionality for occupants and a low maintenance lifestyle. Much consideration was given to the siting of the home to enable the framing of the views through the expansive glass, whilst optimising passive solar gains.

From the outset attention to sustainability was a key component of the build. With the cost of mains power prohibitive, the home was designed to be off grid and all requirements internally scoped to suit. The house is serviced by a P.V. unit with full battery back-up, polished concrete floors for thermal mass, double-glazed windows, low energy downlights and high levels of insulation. Attention to sealing details, siting and positioning were imperative to achieve high efficiency levels. Similarly, the use of L.P.G. gas for the hot water service and cooking offset the need for electrical production. Water tanks and treatment plant were also incorporated into the build.

Pride in workmanship and build quality are evident in the delivery of this stylish off-grid lifestyle home. The clients entrusted Hedger Constructions to scope all fit out components, complete all permit requirements, project manage all trades and provide full collaboration throughout the build. Unmatched attention to detail ensured this unique off-grid home met the design intent and functionality requirements to achieve full client satisfaction.

Hedger Constructions are Victoria’s multi-award-winning custom home builders. Specialising in luxury custom home construction, Hedger Constructions are redefining modern living with homes that transcend the traditional. Creating bespoke custom homes from concept to completion, the company is renowned for unique, energy efficient and innovative homes with outstanding craftsmanship.

For more information

Hedger Constructions

The post An off-grid lifestyle home in picturesque Flowerdale appeared first on Completehome.

The quiet park and train station are just across the back fence from Sherrin and George’s inner suburban Melbourne home. However, the couple and their two kids were cut off from the park, the backyard, and the advantages of the northern sun, like natural heating in the winter, because of the 1990s extension by the previous owners. The wrong design had the laundry and bathroom in the back of the house. Without any light, it was gloomy and depressing, Sherrin recalls. This was transformed into a Melbourne period home.

A northern outlook wasn’t the only thing on their minds when planning the renovation of the period home. They wanted to lift its energy efficiency from a lowly 2.2 Stars and switch to all electric appliances, while keeping the hydronic heating, minus the gas. The shift to electric appliances was “bleedingly obvious”, says Sherrin, not only because she is aware of the efficiency of all-electric systems as a renewable energy engineer, but also through the couple’s experience of heating a poorly insulated house with gas. “The house had only R1.5 insulation in the ceiling and in winter the gas heating was on all the time – it was expensive,” says George.

Logan Shield, a building designer from Geometrica, and Megan Norgate, a retrofit specialist from Brave New Eco, worked together on the renovation. “I focused on the shell and Megan the interior, but our philosophies worked together,” says Logan. “We could have done a substantial extension, but instead decided to stay small and be a bit smart with how we laid the house out – the better environmental choice.”

The closed-in laundry room and bathroom have been replaced with a sunlit living area, and the existing spaces have been rearranged, pushing the footprint of the updated home just two meters beyond their original locations.

“We looked at what inherent qualities the house had and how to use these to add to the amenity of the house,” says Megan, including taking advantage of the generous room sizes and reconfiguring the design to add an enclosed laundry to the dining room. The false ceiling from the 1990s extension has been removed to create greater airflow and continuity throughout the home, with the team settling for a height in between the original and false ceiling. The full-height ceiling has been reinstated in the laundry, though, with a new storage loft in the 3.6 metre-high space as well as drying racks up where the warm air settles.

The design team wanted light from the north side of the house to illuminate the front area, which was darker, and to be able to see the borrowed landscape of the park from the front door. To allow the front and back of the house to be thermally and acoustically zoned without obstructing light and views, a solid door was replaced with a glazed pivot door in the middle of construction. The open plan dining and living space has been defined with a doublesided ethanol fireplace and joinery unit designed to allow views from the dining area to the rear garden. Clerestory windows above the rear glass doors further capture treetop glimpses and natural light. “We’ve been able to turn it from a poorly planned, awkward extension into something that beautifully opens to the back with northern light,” says Logan.

The decision to replace the floorboards throughout gave an opportunity for underfloor insulation to be installed, and George and Sherrin decided to do blowing insulation in the original part of the house too. “The blow-in insulation made a massive difference to the Star rating and energy efficiency,” says Logan; the rating is now 5.8 Stars overall, and considerably higher in the north-facing section when it is zoned, according to the owners.

Wide eaves and, in one instance, a deep shroud shield the double-glazed, north-facing windows and doors in the kitchen and living areas from the summer sun. A highlight are the window frames, which have FSC-certified hardwood inside and powder-coated aluminum outside for increased durability. Logan explains that the updated pergola off the kitchen has an adjustable louvre roof that gives it more flexibility to shade the windows during the shoulder seasons. When the misting fan is on and the louvres are closed, Sherrin claims that the deck is like a cool microclimate.

The most recent solar PV system, which was sized to be able to run most appliances all year long, including during winter cold snaps, is the last component in the electrification of the home. Because there were few options for electric heat pump boilers and because the existing radiator panels had to be replaced because of the lower operating temperature, switching from gas hydronic heating to electric was not simple, but Sherrin and George are pleased with the outcome. During the upgrade, a three-phase electricity supply was installed, with future plans calling for an electric car that will also serve as a home battery via bi-directional charging.

Megan commends the couple’s tenacity in their pursuit of improved design and energy efficiency. It’s really nice when the client doesn’t lose interest, and Sherrin and George’s dedication has made it possible for them to create a well-resolved and cozy home, she says.

DESIGNER
Brave New Eco & Geometrica

BUILDER
Stan Elder,
Elder Constructions

PROJECT TYPE
Renovation & addition

LOCATION
Ascot Vale, VIC
(Wurundjeri Country)

WINDOWS & GLAZING

• New glazing: Miglas timber-aluminium composite framed double-glazed windows and doors
• Laundry window was relocated from old living room

For more information

Miglas

The post An energy-efficient Melbourne period home appeared first on Completehome.

Redesigned using Passive House principles, a major component are Paarhammer double glazed windows and doors with low-E glass: Heritage Range for the existing part of the building and Architectural Range for the extension.

A new entrance door featuring leadlight glass inserts together with energy efficient tilt & turn windows made to look like a double hung style, ensures the owners can enjoy the look of yester-year with the comfort of new technology in the original part of the home.

A new addition has been built over the existing brick garage and cleverly linked by a two-story glass structure hidden behind timber slats. This area features fixed glazing whereas openable dormer windows were added to a new mezzanine floor.

Affectionately called the ‘Jewel Box’ by the owners, this building is now spacious and unfolds as one walks through, providing space for the family while returning the exterior to its original with its Arts & Crafts detailing.

Architects: Lovell Chen

Photographer Entrance door – Internal: Trevor Mein

Other photos during installation and adjustment by Paarhammer staff

For more information

Paarhammer Windows & Doors

The post Jewel Box – Heritage Windows appeared first on Completehome.

Investing in solar panels may seem like a large undertaking, but with the right system and planning, it can save you from bill shock in the long term.

According to Solahart’s latest report, the Solahart Solar Index Report, 71 per cent of people who choose to go solar said cutting down power bills was a key priority. And they were not disappointed, with a typical family saving around $1500 off their annual energy bill using a 6kW solar power system.

“Going solar is an investment that can help you reduce your energy consumption by harnessing the sun’s free energy to deliver power to your home, instead of relying only on the grid,” says Solahart. “This means that by considering a clean and green source of energy in your renovation plans, it could actually help you keep more money in your pocket over time and protect you from increasing grid-energy costs.”

With Australia having more sunshine per square metre than any other continent in the world, switching to solar down-under makes sense — and the stats couldn’t agree more. Between 2017-18, there was a 23 per cent increase in solar generation, indicating a shift towards increased energy productivity. And according to research by Solar Citizens, average households with solar power have bills approximately 20 per cent lower than those without.

So, you may be thinking, “Yes, but doesn’t all my excess solar energy just go back into the grid?” Adding home battery storage means your home can store this excess solar power for when the sun isn’t shining instead of sending it back into the grid, using it for peak times such as at night.

“Solar power is a proven way to help you minimise your reliance on the grid, reduce your energy bills and do your bit for the environment,” says Solahart.

Along with solar panels, installing a solar hot water heater can make a big difference to your home’s energy consumption. A conventional water heater typically makes up 25 per cent of a household’s energy use in Australia, however by replacing this with a solar water heater, households can save up to 65 per cent of hot water energy consumption.

An example of this is Solahart PowerStore, Australia’s first solar-smart electric water heater, which converts excess solar power into hot water. According to Solarhart’s report, if you replace an electric water heater on an off-peak tariff with PowerStore, the combined solar power and Solahart PowerStore systems could save you up to $1760 per year on your energy bills.

Not just good for your bank balance, solar can both increase the value of your home and make a significant contribution to the environment. According to research from realestate.com.au, 85 per cent of Australians surveyed said solar panels would add value to a home and two in five renters would pay up to $10 extra a week for a home with solar.

This is in line with many people moving towards green products that do good for the environment. By switching to solar, an average family can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to seven tonnes per year.

“Solar helps you make a significant contribution to the environment, as it uses a natural power source to deliver energy and hot water to your home. As a result, you are also doing your bit to reduce greenhouse emissions,” says Solahart.

For more information

Solahart

The post Increase the Energy Efficiency and Comfort of your Home with Solar appeared first on Completehome.