Using a designer’s plans: copyright and permission to build
Building from drawings you did not produce is routine, but the right to copy, adapt and reuse them is not automatic. Check it before the first trench is dug.
12 min read
Topic
Passive design
Articles and news about Passive design for Australian builders.
Using a designer’s plans: copyright and permission to build
Building from drawings you did not produce is routine, but the right to copy, adapt and reuse them is not automatic. Check it before the first trench is dug.
12 min read
Designing cross-ventilation through window placement
A house can have plenty of windows and still trap warm air. This article covers the layout-level airflow paths that cross-ventilation depends on, kept separate from fans, evaporative cooling and heat recovery systems.
12 min read
Ceiling fans and passive cooling: where a fan earns its place
A ceiling fan cools people, not rooms. This guide sets out where it belongs in a passive cooling strategy, after shading, insulation and night ventilation have done their work.
12 min read
Cool roofs and heat-resilient homes: colour, insulation, ventilation and shade
Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest natural hazard, and homes that trap heat put occupants at risk and push up cooling bills. The roof is where most summer heat gets in. Here is how to build homes that stay cooler.
7 min read
Passive solar design: orientation, eaves, glazing and thermal mass that actually work
The cheapest energy upgrade is the one designed in. Orientation, shading, glazing and mass can make a house comfortable with far less heating and cooling, and make energy ratings easier to meet. Here is how it works, climate by climate.
7 min read
Windows and glazing: U-value, SHGC, frames and the installation details that stop leaks
Windows are the biggest lever in a home’s energy rating and one of the most common sources of leaks. What the performance numbers mean, how frames and glass compare, and how to install windows so they stay dry.
8 min read