We incorporate solar passive design principles in all our projects.

Solar passive design when done well should reduce or eliminate the need for additional heating or cooling thereby delivering a lifetime of thermal comfort, low energy bills and low greenhouse gas emissions.

We take the following topics into consideration when co-designing with our clients:

DESIGN FOR CLIMATE

Australia has 8 main climate zones (as specified by the National Construction Code), and it is important to make sure your home is designed to suit your climate zone. Different passive design strategies suit different climates.

PASSIVE HEATING

Why not use what we have been given for free by nature to our advantage. ‘The Sun and the four directions’.

We design houses that allow the sun to heat up the house in winter and retain that heat.

Passive solar heating allows us to ‘collect and store’ the winter sun’s energy through well designed windows so that it keeps your home at a comfortable temperature.

Using the sun to heat your home can slash your heating costs, reduce condensation and dampness, and make your home healthier and more comfortable.

As well as reducing heating costs, passive heating is by far the most environmentally friendly way to heat your home. Other forms of heating generate greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions.

PASSIVE SOLAR COOLING

Passive solar cooling systems work by reducing unwanted heat gain during the day, producing non-mechanical ventilation, exchanging warm interior air for cooler exterior air when possible, and storing the coolness of the night to moderate warm daytime temperatures. Simply put, passive solar cooling design includes overhangs or shades on south facing windows, shade trees, thermal mass and cross ventilation.

ORIENTATION

The orientation of the home with respect to the four directions allows for natural light to be available thereby reducing electricity costs, we well as heating and cooling costs.

THERMAL MASS

Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat energy. Appropriate use of thermal mass in your home can save significantly on heating and cooling costs.

A solid piece of stone or a water body can provide thermal mass to regulate the temperature in your house. A solid wall placed strategically can also provide the thermal mass to heat the home in the winter.

INSULATION

At Earth Home Design, we use natural materials such as Hemp, Mud, Straw-bale to build the walls. These natural materials provide excellent insulation against extreme climatic conditions outside the home.

GLAZING

Glazed windows and doors have a significant effect on your home’s thermal performance – up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87% gained through glazing. We recommend glazing options suited for your climate and orientation.

SHADING

Appropriate shading — which can include eaves, awnings, shutters, and plantings — can maximise thermal comfort by allowing in winter sun but blocking summer rays. The most appropriate strategy will differ with climate and orientation.