Built in Wardrobes
Karli from LangwarrinMy Husband and I have just bought a 10 year old home in Langwarrin and we are wanting to put in some Built in Wardrobe systems into the wardrobes. What are our ... continue reading
Blinds with Minds
June from Mt. MarthaWe have some ferocious winds come off the bay where we live and have lost an outdoor umbrella and a couple of sheets of pergola skylight over the years. I have been told there is a shade system that ... continue reading
Heating Options
Christina from TooradinMy partner and I are building a new house in Tooradin and as theres no natural gas connection down that way, we're wondering what the most efficient heating would be? Ducted heating automatically ... continue reading
Double Glazed Windows
Corina from PakenhamWe recently moved into a house which is on a main road. We are finding that the noise from the traffic is becoming quite annoying. We thought we would get used to it, but no. I have heard that there ... continue reading
Bathroom Seminar
posted 1 month, 3 weeks, 1 day, 20 hours, 30 minutes agoLatest bathroom seminar a huge ... continue reading
Superb time had by all at the Master Builders & Home Inovations Golf Day
posted 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 hours, 9 minutes agoMBA members and HIDC exhibitors came together for a social game at Mornington Golf Club on a fantastic early summer's day. ... continue reading
Design & Building Industry 2013 Forecast Night a huge success!
posted 6 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 16 hours, 2 minutes agoHome Innovations has been overwhelmed by the accolades we have received following the hugely successful Design & Building Industry 2013 Forecast Night held last Wednesday, 28th November, ... continue reading
Tycoon’s illegal pool removed
posted 7 months, 3 weeks, 5 days, 11 hours, 58 minutes agoA horizon pool illegally built on Crown land beside billionaire tycoon Solomon Lew's Mt Eliza property has been ... continue reading
Master Builders Green Living - Domestic
Friday 9:00 am, 28th June 2013A Master Builder course for environmentally aware builders and building public to pursue sustainability options in their constructions. ... continue reading
Interior Design & Decoration
Tuesday 10:00 am, 13th August 2013Create and experience your own new world of design with this highly practical, stimulating course that will provide you with a thorough grounding in the skills and techniques of Interior Design. ... continue reading
Heating and Cooling your Home
Most Australian homes need heating or cooling at some time of the year. In some areas this accounts for up to 40 per cent of household energy use.
There are many ways you can minimise energy costs and improve your comfort all year round.
Passive Design
Implementing passive design will help you to maintain the interior temperature of your home with little mechanical heating and cooling. Many people think that passive design is only relevant when planning a new home but many passive design solutions can be retro-fitted into an existing home.
Passive design ideas include:
- orientation of the house
- insulating the ceiling, walls and floor
- sealing draughts around doors and windows
- allowing winter sun to warm the house
- stopping summer sun from entering the house
- using natural airflow to help with cross-ventilation.
Depending on your circumstances you may be able to implement passive design solutions effectively using shading, passive solar heating, passive cooling, thermal mass, window glazing and skylights.
Heating Options
Even if you have implemented good passive design in your house it's likely youll still require some form of heating. Things such as climate, type of heater, how you use it and even postion in the room can make a big difference to your heating bills.
In general, most heating options fall under the following categories:
- Gas heaters and efficient reverse-cycle heat pumps. These are generally cheaper to run than standard electric heaters and produce about one third of the amount of greenhouse gases.
- Ducted central heating systems. These can use either gas or reverse-cycle heat pumps as the energy source.
- Hydronic central heating systems. These generally gas-fired but may use a wood-fired heater, solar system or heat pump.
- Reverse-cycle air conditioners (or heat pumps). These are the most energy efficient type of electric heater.
- Heat shifters have a fan and ducting to direct warm air to unheated parts of your home. They can be cost-effective to install and low-cost to run.
- Wood is a renewable energy source if it is harvested sustainably. For efficientcy Use a low-emission heater, not an open fireplace.
- Electric portable heaters. These are often cheap to buy but very expensive to run and less effective.
- Electric in-slab floor heating. While very comfortable and luxurious this form of heating often has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any heating system and may be the most expensive to run.
Cooling Options
When preparing for a hot summer, options may include:
- Electric Fans. These are often the cheapest option and sufficient in many cases.
- Evaporative coolers. These work best in low-humidity areas. If the majority of hot days where you live are also humid then this is unlikely to be the best solution.
- Air conditioners. These are likely your most effective cooling solution but the downside is that they are expensive to run. To optimise running costs ensure that your unit is well maintained and that filters are clean. Using timers and zoning your home will also help you to use your air-conditioner efficiently.
HIDC Exhibitor(s) who specialise in this area;
Bayside Peninsula Shutters & Blinds
Rylock Doors & Windows Frankston
