Choosing your new home
- Aim for the stars
- Eaves work wonders
- Glass has an impact on bills
- Insulation is a wise investment
- Checklist
Aim for the stars
Your home's star rating indicates how comfortable it will be and how much you're likely to save on heating and cooling bills. The star rating scale goes up to 10 stars - the highest that can possibly be achieved. In many States new homes are required to be at least 5 stars (NSW requires BASIX scores instead of star ratings). Astute home buyers are beginning to ask for 6 stars or more - an indication of good, energy saving design.
The star rating for your home is focused on the building 'shell' - building materials, insulation, windows - as well as how your home is matched to your block. All the tips on this page will help you reach a good star rating. You can get a good star rating with almost any house style, but some styles work more easily than others.
'We paid extra for better insulation in the ceiling - it was worth every cent. We couldn't believe the difference ... we hardly use the heater anymore.'
Moving to a 5-star home can halve your heating and cooling costs. In a climate like Melbourne upgrading to a 7-star home can reduce heating and cooling costs by 75%!
What's more, a high star rating can improve the resale price of your home.
Eaves work wonders
A roof with eaves is a cheap and effective way to help keep your home cool in summer. The eaves help shade walls and windows from high-angle summer sun.
Eaves work particularly well on the north side, providing effective summer shading and letting in winter sun, without you having to do a thing. This happens because winter sun is at a lower angle than summer sun and comes in under the eaves.
Eaves can also help with waterproofing and can stop paint from cracking and fading in the sun. If you choose a style without eaves, just be aware that you'll want to include additions like adjustable window shutters to keep your home comfortable.
Glass has an impact on bills
Glass is the 'path of least resistance' for losing or letting in heat, so don't go overboard on it. If you do, your home may feel like a sauna in summer and an igloo in winter.
The way the sun moves across the sky means that some places are better for glass than others - glass facing north is ideal because you get lots of winter sun and all you need are eaves to shade it in summer.
Glass facing east or west can overheat in summer and needs adjustable shading like shutters or louvres. Deep shade pergolas can also work well in some cases.
Glass facing south doesn't get much sun and could make your home feel cold in winter.
If you live in a cooler climate, consider double glazing to keep your home more comfortable. Curtains with pelmets also help to keep warmth in.
Windows that can open up wide make it easy to capture cooling breezes in summer. Flyscreens, security grilles and windows that lock when partly open allow you to let breezes in whenever you need to. For more information on choosing glass to suit your needs, see the Your Home Glazing factsheets.
Insulation is a wise investment
Although you don't see it, you'll feel the impact of good insulation every day. Your home will be quieter and more comfortable plus you'll save money on energy bills.
Ask about what's included in your price, and, if necessary, talk to your builder about increasing the amount of insulation in your home. The right level of insulation for your home depends on your climate but generally the more the better.
Make sure you have reflective insulation (like shiny foil sarking that goes under the roof) as well as bulk insulation like batts. The higher the 'R value' the better the insulation.
Make sure you also have good draft proofing, including weather seals on windows and external doors.
Checklist - Comfort
Choosing our new home
- The star rating of our home will be: (Will we score 6 stars or more?)
- Is there good insulation under roofs, in ceilings and in walls?
- Do we need floor insulation?
- Do our windows predominantly face north?
- Are our north-facing windows shaded by eaves or overhangs?
- Are our east and west-facing windows shaded by adjustable shutters?
- Do we need to consider double glazing? Where?
- Will we use curtains with pelmets to help keep in heat? Where?
- Comments, things we'd like to change about our home design: