SOLECTA

Living areas, as much as possible should face North, within around 20 degrees West and 30 degrees East.

2.0 THERMAL MASS

Materials which can absorb large amounts of heat are considered thermal mass, ie concrete floor pads and brick walls. In summer, thermal mass can absorb the heat that gets into buildings. In winter, thermal mass can absorb heat from the sun shining on it and radiate this heat back in the evening.

Tiles have a big impact and allow heat to escape into the ground - which is great in summer but not so good during winter. Unless tiled areas (on a concrete pad) are exposed to the winter sun where they can soak up the sunshine and radiate it back in the evening, they can actually make it hard to heat a room. Rugs can reduce this cooling effect and are recommended for winter.

WINDOWS

Windows have a huge impact on the internal temperatures.

In winter they can allow the winter sun to heat a room OR transfer heat from a radiator out to the cold night air. In summer they can allow cooling breezes to remove warm air from the house OR act like a solar oven and bake the occupants. It is a matter of design.

How eaves or awnings can protect windows in summer yet allow the sun in during winter is shown right.

Some points about glass;

It conducts heat extremely well. The R rating of glass is 0.16, most of which is due to the layer of air on either surface of the glass! As a building material, this is NOT good.

R ratings are values which provide an indication of how well a material conducts heat. R2.5 ceiling insulation is 2.5 while a double brick cavity wall is 0.7 and brick veneer with reflective foil is 1.6.

So unless a window provides any of these advantages;

• A view
• Winter sunshine (on the north side of the house, only)
• Sunlight
• Allows a breeze to flow through the building

it is strongly suggested that they be avoided. As the sun shines horizontally from the east in the early morning and west in the late afternoon in summer, it is particularly important to minimize east and west facing windows. Locate garages, car ports, laundries and bathrooms there instead.

CURTAINS

Curtains can make a huge difference if installed and used correctly. Heavy curtains with pelmets (real ones that block air flow) have an R rating as high as 0.5.

The more easily a breeze can flow through a home, the easier it is to cool down after a warm day. Night cooling takes advantage of the drop in temperature of the outside air to cool a building overnight.

Zoning means having doors to close off areas which do need heating or cooling, toilet, bathroom, laundry, unused rooms etc.

5.0 INSULATION

Insulation prevents the transfer of heat, whether it is the heat from a hot summer's day into a home or the warmth of a living room out to a cold winter's night. Ceiling insulation usually has the greatest impact on the comfort of a home.

However, while ceiling insulation prevents the heat from getting in from above, it can keep heat in if too much gets in during the day (through unprotected windows) AND if there is no way for the heat to eascape.