Browse Forums Eco Living Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 221Aug 23, 2010 1:40 am what a FANTASTIC and insightful read Russell SPOT ON!! try and do the best you can with what you have is my motto my house will be facing east west however I will have eaves and awnings on windows ETC the keeping summer heat at bay and the winter warmth coming in make the use of EFFECTIVE insulation practises ETC one point that has not been touched on is the benefits of plantings to help cool neighbourhoods Street trees can reduce neighbourhood temps by 4-7C in summer by just shading the bitumen but yet many new estates are TREE FREE ZONES even though all sevices are BURIED so overhead cables are not a concern!! Council and developers drop the ball on this one But so have home owners no longer do you see trees in gardens it is just strips of lawn with some flax (SIGH!!!!) I went outside once. The graphics were alright, but the gameplay sucked! Settlement:22nd June Slab:27th August Frame:16th Sept Bricked:21st Oct Roof:24th Nov Linings HANDOVER23rd March! Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 222Aug 23, 2010 1:12 pm The single biggest compromise in energy efficient design for most temperate climates is the lack of solar access on most suburban block. You can only get free heating if your house can get sun in. Unfortunately land divisions, setbacks and overshadowing prevent this happening. Similar issues present themselves when trying to get cross ventilation during summer. There needs to be better planning laws to assist with good design. Passive solar works only if you have sun. It doesn't how cold it is outside as long as it is sunny. We get one good sunny day here every 1-2 weeks. The rest of the time it is cloudy or raining. If that doesn't happen then you still need extra heating. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 223Aug 23, 2010 8:06 pm onc_artisan If you intend to carpet the sun rooms (ie the rooms that get the most sun) then be aware that carpets will insulate the concrete floor and not allow solar gain into the slab. Noted thanks. We are only carpetting upstairs. No carpet on the polished concrete downstairs. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 224Aug 23, 2010 8:08 pm russell summergrace I have done the best I could within my budget after navigating through the information overload. And that's all anyone can truly ask for! Thanks russell Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 225Aug 23, 2010 8:13 pm joles ^^^^ Great post Russell. I'm happy with the decisions we made, and it was the best we could do within the limits of our builder and our budget. Just like summergrace. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 226Jan 06, 2012 10:38 am Hi all, I'm new to the forum and have read a little of this thread, well the first and last pages so far, I was wondering now I have resurected it if there have been any noticeable improvements at Governmental level or growing public awareness of Green issues since this thread was initiated in 2008. this is an area I am very interested in and am actually studying to Honours degree level in this field. In Ireland only a dedicated few are embracing energy efficient building but with great reluctnce the country is, or rather will have to wake up to the idea if and when the construction industry recovers. How is low energy and the Passive house concept being accepted in Australia today or even tomorrow ? Regards LAK Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 227Jan 06, 2012 8:05 pm I have only read page 1 and 12 because there was too much in between to read. We put windows in last year and I didnt find it too difficult to get info There is a website which give a direct rating comparison of different brand windows in the different styles and frames, pretty straight forward. Plus, on the frames, there is logic. The greater conducter a material is, the greater the energy transfer. Metal is a good conductor, therefore a poor thermal choice. Timber is a poor conductor, therefore a good thermal choice etc etc The 'your home' website is also pretty helpful. As for external shading vs insulation, why is it an either / or?? The reason there is no hard and fast rule for eco design is that orientation and climate vary from person to person. ie. In a hot climate on a west wall, external shading all the way. Cold climate, south wall...insulation. The answer is research and common sense, then do the best you can. GOOGLE is your friend!! Common sense goes a long way ie if black clothes and black cars absorb lots of heat, so will black roofs Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 228Jan 06, 2012 10:13 pm Hello, I was interested to find out why one would not build "eco". I'm trying to implement the least costly options to help myself (not necessarily the environment ) I think that there's a general consciousness among people to do the basic eco thing. And if it will save them money in the long run (and the funds are available upfront), people will definitely go the eco option..... Because it makes economic sense! I'm going with a light coloured roof and bricks, this is because I live in Perth, which has the most hours of sunlight, of the Australian capital cities, per year. I'm not good with the heat, so this will hopefully help to reflect some of it! In Perth, building companies have to abide by some "green rating" system..... Or maybe they're local council requirements. All I know is, my builder includes R4.0 ceiling batts for insulation as standard, which meets these requirements. I know that local councils require new buildings to meet the "green ratings" before they will approve house plans.... Apparently size and location of windows on the building design have something to do with this. States and the federal government might have incentive programs for the installation of energy efficient options too, like solar heating. If I could, I'd install one of those photo voltaic systems so that I could receive bills that are in credit.... And so that I'm not using fossil fuels for my electricity production, of course Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 229Jan 07, 2012 7:36 am I have to adapt my way of thinking for this forum ! In Northern Europe the emphasis is keeping the heat in and the cold out, In Australia the emphasis seems to be on keeping the heat out, a nice problem to have me thinks. In my opinion I feel that this is the beginning of a revolution in construction, borne out by the many innovations in renewable energy technology and the ever increasing amendments to building codes that demand far better insulation and renewable energy sources to be incorporated into new build dwellings, (enforcement of the law is aother argument) While presently many technologies are expensive in terms of payback, in time they will be like computers and VCR's initially expensive but now so cheap everyone has one, or more. The biggest stumbling block is changing the mindset of the people, it's like banging your head against a wall, Most people simply wont take good advice especially when it is being contradicted by incompetant contractors set in their ways and unwilling/unable to adapt from time honoured but archaic building methods. Passive house development should be "the" standard, not one that is unrealistically unattainable. I was recently in a Passive house nearing completion using Gulam beam construction and the overwhelming opinion was that the build was far too expensive to be a realistic option for anyone other than eccentric architects. But for me simplistic design and orientation and not over emphasising overtly expensive elements are the key to success. Gulam beams : http://www.passivehousebuilder.com/site ... house.html Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 230Jan 08, 2012 12:07 am Hi Guys,
i read many pages, it would've been nice if the first post could be a summary of what all people agree! So i suppose modern houses that have large open plans: kitchen, living area, tv room; they are not so ECO? Since these cannot be closed to insulate better? Some even have stairs that go either down or above, and thus heating is spread all over the place, which might be unnecessary... Is it so expensive, to install equipments to use water from bath, kitchen for the garden? Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 231Jan 08, 2012 12:13 am I forgot to mention about the use of deciduous trees. Yes people do not like them, because they have to clean their leafs, but during summer they have them on to protect the house from the sun, and during winter the let the sun hit the house... Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 232Jan 29, 2012 3:39 pm fekish I forgot to mention about the use of deciduous trees. Yes people do not like them, because they have to clean their leafs, but during summer they have them on to protect the house from the sun, and during winter the let the sun hit the house... Blocks of land are barely large enough nowadays to enable a decent size tree to be grown.... Geoff - Decophile. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 233Jan 29, 2012 4:20 pm ^^^ Unless you buy an acre! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ RANT: Why we're not eco..... 234Jan 31, 2012 9:15 pm Thank you LAK for reviving this thread. I have read every single post with great interest. Thank goodness Joles had a rant in the first place! I sincerely hope now that you are happy in your home and consider the headache worthwhile. As someone interested in being eco-friendly and about to embark on an owner-builder adventure, this thread has been very pertinent. Not so much from the point of view of the theory, but from other's personal experiences when applying it. I realise several years have passed since much of it was written and I would be interested to know what has changed in the meantime for consumers. I like dymonite's uncomplicated, KISS view of doing as much as you can, because that's better than nothing! However, the thing that struck me most of all was the fact that a few posters - after appearing to do all their homework - chose NOT to go ahead with solar panels (seemingly for different reasons). Solar features on our wish-list but now I shall be investigating further. I wonder if one's motivation for investing in this energy has anything to do with it? That is, if you want to do your bit to save the planet, GO FOR IT. If your hip pocket is the bottom line, FORGET IT! That's a question, not a statement by the way. Anyone? Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 235Feb 18, 2012 1:07 pm MissyP we have just started our build, and like you are trying to be as sustainable as possible. Unfortunately so much of it does come down to money. We plan to have 4.5kw solar power, but have recently had a few budget blow outs and looks like this will have to be delayed. We will still get it, but I'm fairly sure it will be a ways down the track now. This is something we really want, but as we are connecting to the grid as well, it's the most obvious thing to sacrifice first. We are not happy about this at all by the way. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 236Feb 20, 2012 10:15 am MissyP However, the thing that struck me most of all was the fact that a few posters - after appearing to do all their homework - chose NOT to go ahead with solar panels (seemingly for different reasons). Solar features on our wish-list but now I shall be investigating further. I wonder if one's motivation for investing in this energy has anything to do with it? That is, if you want to do your bit to save the planet, GO FOR IT. If your hip pocket is the bottom line, FORGET IT! That's a question, not a statement by the way. Anyone? *puts hand up* After umming and ahhing about a year ago, and eventually doing nothing, I am about to buy a solar power system. It has everything to do with money. February is the one month of the year when I can make big dollars due to a very busy time at work with lots of overtime, and last year I decided to extend my deck and create a much more usable outdoor area instead of going solar. It was a lifestyle choice! I have done far more research this time around and I am very comfortable with the choices I have made regarding the quality of the system that we will get. Just waiting on quotes now! Geoff - Decophile. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 237Feb 20, 2012 10:24 am greenfish MissyP we have just started our build, and like you are trying to be as sustainable as possible. Unfortunately so much of it does come down to money. We plan to have 4.5kw solar power, but have recently had a few budget blow outs and looks like this will have to be delayed. We will still get it, but I'm fairly sure it will be a ways down the track now. This is something we really want, but as we are connecting to the grid as well, it's the most obvious thing to sacrifice first. We are not happy about this at all by the way. What we are doing is buying a 1.9kW system (10 panels) with a 3kW inverter. This makes it cheaper initially, but we can add panels down the track. We have no intention of going larger than 3kW, as we would be constrained by lack of available north facing roof area anyway. Geoff - Decophile. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 238Feb 20, 2012 12:19 pm [/quote] What we are doing is buying a 1.9kW system (10 panels) with a 3kW inverter. This makes it cheaper initially, but we can add panels down the track. We have no intention of going larger than 3kW, as we would be constrained by lack of available north facing roof area anyway.[/quote] Hey that's a good idea, thanks Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 239Feb 29, 2012 5:59 am I think a few of the people in this thread might not be giving "eco" design options their due chance. I understand that it can be frustrating (or expensive!) at times to make these sorts of changes, but in the long run it is ecologically superior, and often economically cheaper as well, in terms of saved energy or water usage and bills. I also agree with MissyP that "if you want to do your bit to save the planet, GO FOR IT." You will sleep better at night knowing you've done your part, too. Re: RANT: Why we're not eco..... 240Mar 01, 2012 2:13 pm Eager greenfish MissyP we have just started our build, and like you are trying to be as sustainable as possible. Unfortunately so much of it does come down to money. We plan to have 4.5kw solar power, but have recently had a few budget blow outs and looks like this will have to be delayed. We will still get it, but I'm fairly sure it will be a ways down the track now. This is something we really want, but as we are connecting to the grid as well, it's the most obvious thing to sacrifice first. We are not happy about this at all by the way. What we are doing is buying a 1.9kW system (10 panels) with a 3kW inverter. This makes it cheaper initially, but we can add panels down the track. We have no intention of going larger than 3kW, as we would be constrained by lack of available north facing roof area anyway. And now we have changed our minds!!!!! Not about getting solar though. What we are doing now is going with a different company and getting a 2.5kW system straight up. It is about all I can fit on that section of the roof anyway, with the solar hot water panel being in the way, and the quote is only about $400 dearer than the 1.9kW system from the original supplier, with panels and inverter of equivalent quality! Hopefully we will sign on the dotted line in the next day or so. Geoff - Decophile. That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17856 Hi All, I just wanted to close this topic out with an update. So we ended up agreeing to a number with the insurance company, and after an extensive amount of hand… 8 23394 A Sabco spin mop, minimal moisture, not very regularly. I was told these hybrids are water resistant 🤷♀️ 2 7637 |