House energy ratingsin Environment, Architecture and building on 28 August 2010 |
Changing the volumein Mike and the Bush Mechanics on 29 August 2010 |
Passive housein Greener Homes on 29 August 2010 |
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IF you’re building, buying or renovating, there’s now more reason than ever to make your home as efficient as you can. Here’s a guide to house energy ratings and regulations, and the returns for going green. House Energy ratings House energy ratings are a measure of the thermal efficiency of a dwelling. Basically, the stars tell you how comfy the home will be throughout the year. So how are they figured out? |
THE cold weather slowed me down this month. I’ve been learning to bake sourdough bread. The house is small enough that the oven heats the whole place, so every fresh loaf warmed my insides and my outsides. I’ve been pottering at odd jobs too. I have an old two-deck tape player I was given when I turned 13. Now it looks unaccountably bulky, but once I thought it sleek. It contained mysterious worlds. I remember listening to Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ and feeling entranced and uneasy. For over a decade the volume control has been unreliable and the sound has rattled and risen like a coming train. No amount of adjustment could stop it. |
Meet the eco-housing standard that demands attention to detail. HOUSEHOLD energy use accounts for nearly one-fifth of the Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions. And while our residential efficiency standard will rise to six stars next year, we’re still lagging behind many parts of the US and Europe. If you want your home to stand above the rest, you could take your cues from one of the most rigorous standards of all: passive house. |
