Gen Links    / Jai-Pics / Instant Blues Music / For Beginners / Design Tutorial
Dictionary / Australia / Kids / Radio / Blues / Networks/ Pro Designs
Stolen Kids/ 40+ Singles / Searching / Free Websites / email // Home

Low Energy Home Design by Jai

Whether you build your own, supervise the building, or modify an existing home, there is much that can be done to reduce your building, running and maintenance costs and make your home as you want,  improve comfort and lifestyle. Remember most houses tend to be fixed and static and organized to present ideas, trends and projected family size. It is always a compromise and there are no houses that are truly
organic and changeable.  But with these ideas in mind you can make your home somewhat flexible and organic and energy efficient.

Look at ......  http://www.urbanecology.org.au/index.html

A new house should have its longest face northwards with appropriate numbers and sized windows to catch winter sun and light.

Energy efficiency and conservation can be improved in most homes with intelligent living and some simple and relatively inexpensive changes and additions. For example insulating the roof and north facing wall and the addition of verahdah on the north side. Most of the heat tends to come thro open doors and window glass.  Double glazing can be expensive but its best to have heavy drapes and pelmets on these and close on really hot days. Conserve your water usage by installing rain water tanks and use grey water for toilet flushes and the garden. Solar panel on roof to heat water will pay for itself quickly. Desiduous trees planted on the north face of building help control sun and temperature, both winter and summer, and vines along the verandah do the same.

If you are really keen, you can even grow your own fruit and veggies.

 
My HouseJai does it too.
.
 I  now  (2002) reside in our  mudbrick  house five kms from Strathalbyn.
.
 I designed and built the house on low energy principles about 16 years ago, facing due north. It is heated when required by a slow solid fuel combustion heater, that also heats the water.  And has two reversible overhead fans, rarely used. Water is heated by a solar panel, and is completely self -sufficient for water supplied by three rain water tanks. The house is situated on five acres in an area called Burnside Equestrian Park.  It took  three years of hard yakka to build. I built the house for half its actual value The house requires very little heating and cooling. 

The block  has  lots of indigenous native and  fruit and nut trees, with two wood lots suitable for coppicing grown from local indigenous seed..  It has a great view overlooking the extensive reserve and creek. There's a chook shed, a potting shed, a garage and car port. The house has mains water as well  as self-sufficiency with 12 thousand gallons of rain water. Water is heated by combustion heater as well as solar panel.

Strathalbyn  is about an hours drive south of Adelaide, South Australia's capital city, and is building quite a reputation as a heritage town, with many businesses specialising in art, antiques and collectibles.
I am neither Architect or a Builder. I was trained as a mechanical fitter and turner and have an Arts degree. Prior to building this home I studied for an owner builders course at Marlsdon College Adelaide and did an Adobe building workshop with John Archer from Victoria. I also studied many owner builder and low energy design books.  At present I am a business and home builder consultant, freelance writer and web site designer.
I have a coat of many colours and happy to assist and advise wherever I can.

Here are some book refs, there are many more  ....

Useful Links ....


Email or phone me ....

fleurcom@bigpond.com .... or  Australia 08 85 363 884