Sustainability
Is It Time To Get A Battery?
I got my Electricity Bill the other day which set me wondering if I should invest in a battery for our house. Our Situation We live in a retirement unit which is reasonably compact. As a result our 3.25 kW…
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Insulation Basics – Brick Veneer Walls
This post will help you understand how much heat you lose through walls. A previous post has explained ‘R’ and ‘U’ values When considering insulation a typical Australian brick veneer wall would be: Element R value Outside surface air layer…
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Solar Power – Reasons for Low Output
For each kw of installed capacity of solar panels on average you can expect to generate 3.5kwhrs per day. This can however vary considerably for a variety of reasons. Monthly Variation On a peak summer day you may be able…
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Eaves
If you go back 39 years most houses had proper eaves but now they are less common. As I travel around I sometimes see new houses with eaves on the front facade but non elsewhere, which I think looks weird….
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Double Glazing or Smaller Windows?
I’ve posted on Double Glazing but that not the only way to save heat loss through windows so I thought I would do a numerical comparison of the various options for glazing treatment of windows. In a bedroom of our last…
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Round or Slimline Tanks?
These days many states require you to have rainwater storage , unless you have access to recyled water. But which type of tank will be best? Round Tanks The standard is round tanks. These cost less because they are easier…
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Rainwater Tank Problems
Rainwater Tanks aren’t always trouble free, so here is some advice on a couple of problems that you can encounter. Cleaning Even with pre-filters there will eventually be a build up of dirt and cloudy water at the bottom of…
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Insulation Basics – Ventilation
A significant factor in the comfort of you house is the ‘Ventilation Rate’. No one likes cold draughts in winter.. . . and hot air creeping in during summer can be equally unwelcoming. So how do you calculate heat losses…
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Insulation Basics – Reflective Finishes
There are a number of insulation products with reflective surfaces now available but how do they work? Why do the instructions tell you to put the more reflective surface on the underside rather that the top? Here is some information…
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Buffer Zones
Planning a house layout? or considering builders standard layouts? Thinking about buffer zones when you are will save you on heating and cooling costs. So what are buffer zones? Buffer Zones are basically rooms and spaces that may be heated…
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