One of the quietest design decisions on any new build is also one of the most expensive to get wrong — how the house sits on the block. In Inner Sydney, where blocks are often tight and surrounded by neighbours, this matters more, not less.
Every piece of land has its own character. The sensible thing is to design with that character, not against it.
In Australia, the coldest winds tend to come from the south. The south is also the side where glass leaks the most heat. So if you have a choice, that's where the garage or service rooms go — not the living areas with the big picture windows. The east is where the sun rises, which makes it a kind side for bedrooms and a breakfast area. The north is the one to take advantage of in winter, when the sun sits low and streams through north-facing windows; deep eaves or a veranda will then shade those same windows in summer so the room doesn't overheat. The west needs more thought, because western afternoon sun is the hottest light you will deal with in summer — generally not where you want your kitchen.
These are small-sounding decisions on a plan. They are very large decisions on your power bill, and on how comfortable your home feels in February at 4pm.
This is the thinking that sits behind energy efficient homes. It isn't only about insulation grades and double glazing, although both matter. It's about whether the house was designed to work with the climate in the first place, or whether the design ignored the climate and is now trying to compensate with air conditioning.
A few questions to ask early:
- Which way does the block face, and where does the afternoon sun fall?
- Where on the block can the main living area open to the north?
- What is shading the western elevation — eaves, a veranda, or nothing yet?
Get these decisions right at concept stage and you will feel the benefit every day you live in the home. Get them wrong and you'll be paying to fix them through the meter.
If you'd like a hand thinking it through for your block, visit inh.com.au/EnergySmart.
