OFF GRID HEATING WINDOWS
Ensure internal windows are fitted with lined curtains, or close fitting blinds, to reduce heat entry.Fit external blinds or awnings to more effectively block out morning and afternoon rays.Pergolas, vines, or angled louvers can also be used for shading windows and any outdoor entertaining areas.Īngled louvers are very effective in removing high angled summer sun, and allowing low angled winter sun to enter through.
Considering the mature height and width of a tree or shrub can make a dramatic difference to the amount of heat that enters the house. Deciduous trees planted on the Northern side of the house will provide shading in summer, and drop their leaves in winter to provide extra heat and light in winter. Your house should be designed with appropriate eaves, louvers, awnings, shade sails or vegetation. Please be careful not to plant trees in a position where they will shade any solar panels (photovoltaic or solar hot water) and reduce system performance. Of course it is always best to use water wise, native, indigenous and edible plants where possible to get the most out of your garden. Vegetation can provide essential wind breaks or even channel the breezes into the home to help cool it down. Trees can protect the house from summer heat and allow the winter sun into the house. The design of the landscape around your house will also play a part in your passive design. If there is no additional shading around the house, it is best to have the longest alignment of the house within 15° east or west of north.
In most cases, the best orientation for a house is with the rooms used the most facing the North (with large windows is appropriate) and minimal windows on the East and West facings. Orientationīy orientating your home correctly on your site, you can improve how well the passive heating and cooling works. Smaller floor plans, reducing open plan living, and reducing ceiling height (max 2.7m) can also help with this. To help keep warm in winter and cool in summer stay in the highly used areas, these rooms may need to be ‘zoned’ together and be able to be separated from other areas of the house (i.e. These utility areas should be located close together in the house to minimize the amount of heat lost from hot water piping. Areas such as bedrooms that require less heating can be placed on the Southerly side of the house, and any ‘utility’ rooms can be placed on the hottest, Western sides of the house. The Northern aspect of the house will be the most comfortable area to be in meaning that all the daytime living areas should be placed on this side of the house. The main consideration you should have in mind is allowing in the maximum amount of winter sun, and minimal amount of summer sun, into the high use areas of the house. The internal layout of your home will also help reduce heating and cooling requirements. making sure all doors and windows are adequately sealed.using natural airflow and ventilation to help cool the house especially at night.shading the house from the sun in summer.using the winter sun and thermal mass to heat the house.considering the orientation and placement of the house on the site.It is very important to consider these techniques when first planning your home as they are more easily incorporated during construction, rather than imposing them on an already built structure. Passive design ideas and techniques can be used in any house construction type and in any climate area of Australia. A well designed passive house should be able to remain within 18☌ and 28☌ throughout the year in most locations. Passively designed houses take advantage of the climate and surrounds to provide a consistent, comfortable temperature inside the house with no ‘mechanical’ heating or cooling.