Passive Design for ClimateSmart Housing

Design Principles for Housing in Queenslands Climate Zones An Introductory Guide

Passive design is a key feature of a sustainable house. This guide provides an overview of the passive design principles and associated information that can improve household comfort, livability and savings in each of Queenslands four climate zones. It presents a summary of passive design concepts and benefits that can be used to assist in designing a new house, or altering or purchasing an e isting house. Passive Design Principles for Energy Efficient Housing in Queensland The sale and use of air!conditioners in Queensland has increased rapidly in the last few years due to a range of factors, including housing being inappropriately designed for it is prevailing climate. To realise a more suitable and sustainable housing design for our climate it is important to consider traditional housing styles. The classic "Queenslander can be considered to provide some useful insights for #$limate%mart& housing, and many of its design principles are behind the "re!found movement for todays passively designed homes. !e "Queenslander House The old #Queenslander& style house is generally regarded as a good e ample of a comfortably designed house broadly adapted for Queenslands climate. 'lthough residents in the southern part of the state sometimes refer to "freezing in them in winter as they can often allowed cool night air to leak indoors (if they didnt have an internal fireplace) or occasionally being in an "oven during summer heat waves, the Queenslander was, for its time, reasonably adapted to suit our climate on most days of the year. If bulk insulation had been available and included as part of its construction, it would have basically addressed the ma*ority of housing comfort needs in most of the state, and for all seasons. 'lthough it was built throughout Queensland, it is recognised that it does not perform as well in climate +ones , - .ot 'rid and / - 0arm Temperate, where thermal mass has a more beneficial role than the lightweight design of the Queenslander. The design of the Queenslander originally came from India during the days of the 1a* when 2nglish 3ictorians had to adapt to its hot, tropical climate. There were often substantial roof overhangs (roof eaves), or awnings were over every window with returns on the low!sun sides to block direct sunlight (window eaves). The sash windows could be opened not only at sill level (sometimes at floor level), but also from the top of the high frame. 0ith high ceilings, this allowed fresh air to enter higher up and travel across the room before filtering through the fanlight space above the door, and through to the window on the other side of the house - creating e cellent cross! ventilation for cooling. ' ceiling rose at the centre of each room e pelled the hot air that was not blown out the sides up into the roof space, which then travelled out of the roofs ridge vents. The front door usually opened onto a long hallway that ended at the rear door. 0rap!around verandas provided substantial shade and created a "transition zone - that wonderful space where residents could en*oy the opportunity to find the coolest spot on a hot day (with sections of timber lattice that filtered the harsh summer western afternoon light) or the warmest sunny spot during winter. !e Evolution of Queenslands Housing Stoc# 4ver time, changing social attitudes re*ected the historic form of the Queenslander. The possibility for more privacy increased with higher average incomes and the verandas, or #sleep!outs&, were simply enclosed to accommodate e tra bedrooms. The transition zone was thereby absorbed, and with it, cross ventilation opportunities decreased. 'lso, newer designs often did not e tend the roof out to provide for the lost veranda shade cover for cooling. The ceiling height dropped and the fanlights and the ceiling roses also disappeared. .owever, the windows were often casement types that could still be positioned to catch some breeze, or louvres that could be opened to catch the full breeze. 2ventually though, these practical windows subsided as sliding aluminium windows came onto the market, effectively halving the amount of potential cross!ventilation into the house. .omeowners may have gained more privacy and saved on purchase costs, but they lost their homes natural comfort and livability potential.

%ince the %econd 0orld 0ar, the ma*ority of houses in Queensland have not been designed and built individually. Instead, they have been supplied in bulk, located in sub!divisions cleared for suburban development. 6ittle thought has been given to providing good room!zoning opportunities, as houses were often built with the living room facing the street regardless of their western sun orientation and local climatic conditions. 7ore recently however, developers and builders have started to realise some basic passive design principles, such as including a north! facing living room. $undamental Passive Design Principles The above summary highlights the need for the incorporation of fundamental passive design principles to achieve more comfortable houses that are also energy efficient i.e. cooler in summer and (in cooler parts of Queensland) warmer in winter. The si passive design principles are (in order of priority)8 %& orientation - generally, wherever possible, orientate the living area to the north for winter warmth in the cooler parts of Queensland and away from the summer sun in north Queensland. 9tility areas such as the garage, storage rooms, entry and laundry should be positioned to the south!west to shield the house from the setting sun. '& ventilation - openings throughout the house allow summer breezes to provide cooling cross!ventilation. (& s!ading - effectively shading walls and windows prevents heat transfer e.g. roof and window eaves. )& insulation - insulate the roof space against heat and cold transfer, and insulate the walls where no overhangs are provided. *& t!ermal mass - build in thermal mass to absorb heat where it can be useful to re!radiate this heat at night (:;. this principle applies mostly to +ones , - .ot 'rid, and / - 0arm Temperate where hot days can be followed by cool nights). +& materials - use energy!efficient materials appropriate for the climate zone to improve thermal performance e.g. e ternal walls, windows<glass<tinting and solar pergolas. The application of these passive design principles for housing in Queenslands climate are detailed further below. %& ,rientation .ouse orientation is the fundamental passive design principle as it significantly affects the houses comfort and energy performance. $onsider how the plan interacts with the site, as good orientation ma imises the benefits of solar access, cooling breezes, summer shading and wind protection. 0here practical, it is recommended houses be orientated so their western side blocks out the heat from the low summer sun, and their south!western side acts as a buffer against westerly winds. 's a general rule, window area on the north!facing wall should be 5=!>/ percent of the floor area of the room so that the room can gain suitable access to winter sun. In areas north of 1ockhampton, the southern side of the house should normally be shaded, as this can provide some liveable outdoor space in summer. .owever it should also be recognised that this space can occasionally get cool on winter days, so design this space for fle ible use. In +one 5 - Tropical, the midday summer sun strikes the southern face of the house, while midday winter sun is toward the north. Establishing True (Solar) North, not Magnetic North It should be noted that true (or "solar) north significantly deviates from magnetic north throughout Queensland and this should be taken into account when orientating a house. 7aps and street directories can give this information, or alternatively use a compass to determine magnetic north and then subtract true (solar) north by adding the magnetic variation for your location using the following map8 Diagram- rue .Solar/ 0ort! as Degrees 1est of 2agnetic 0ort! .3our Home/ The ideal orientation is between the range of 5/ =0 to >==2 of true (solar) north (although >= =0 to ,==2 of true north is acceptable). This allows appropriately sized eaves to admit sun in winter to heat the house and shade it from the hot summer sun. %un path diagrams for a range of Queenslands ma*or cities and regional centres have been

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devised to provide assistance with specific house orientation issues and room zoning, and these can be downloaded from the %mart .ousing web site8 www.housing.?ld.gov.au<builders<smart@housing<sunpaths<orientation.htm '& 4entilation Throughout Queenslands summer, the ultimate home comfort aim is to live in a house so well ventilated and shaded that it would be like sitting under a large tree on a hot day where the breeze can pass unhindered. %uch a concept can be incorporated into a house through applying the design features presented below8 i. Openings 's windows and door openings receive breezes, the more fle ible the opening the better its potential for ventilation. %liding windows are very infle ible, as they generally have two panes and only ever have potentially half of the opening available to catch breezes. $asement windows and hinged doors can catch the breeze when positioned correctly. Aor e ample, if the cool summer breeze is from the north!east then ensure the windows are hinged on the western side of the outside frame (or the left side from inside the room). 6ouvers and awning windows can direct the breeze down into the living space of a room. They need not all be glass, as timber louvers provide shade as well as breeze (and remember to chose from plantation timbers). ii. Cross ventilation 4nce the breeze is inside the house it should be able to flow through to the other side as uninterrupted as possible. $areful planning of rooms is re?uired such as (wherever possible) two windows in each bedroom to provide better cross ventilation. 'ttempt to locate doors ad*acent to each other as this can also assist with cross ventilation. 's air moves upward when heated, ad*ustable fanlights or vents are recommended over internal door openings to remove the hot air accumulating at ceiling level in summer. They also need to be able to be closed to reduce heat loss in winter. 3ents located in flat ceilings in the hallway and kitchen can provide an additional advantage, as long as the roof is ade?uately ventilated. This allows the heat gathered at ceiling level to be e pelled up into the roof space. $eiling vents in +one > - %ub!tropical also need to be sealed in winter to keep the warmth in. iii. Roof space and colour 'n oven perched on top of a house is a reasonable analogy as to what happens inside a roof in summer. Insulation acts as a barrier to prevent hot air from radiating down into the houses habitable spaces. 1eflective foil needs to have a minimum /= millimetre gap between the underside of the roof sheeting to function effectively. 0hen fi ed to the underside of the rafters (e cluding truss rafters) it will normally create a thermal flow for the rising hot air to escape out through the roofs ridge vents. The addition of bulk insulation can also slow down the movement of this heat, but it can only repel a limited amount. 2ffective roof ventilation can remove this heat build up through openings in the roofs eaves and the placement of ridge vents. ;asically, air enters through vents provided in the eaves and heated air rises to the roofs ridge where it can be e pelled through ridge vents. 2aves and soffits should be vented to allow cooler air into the roof space and the vents are to be kept free of any blockages, such as ceiling insulation and foil. 1idge vents remove this heat, with larger roofs re?uiring more than one vent. .ouses that have insufficient eave overhangs and vents are not only penalised by their lack of shaded protection to the walls, but the hot air in the roof space also stays longer, and similarly if there are only ridge vents (as the hot air can not escape effectively). The ridge can be vented in a number of ways. The first is a short gable at the ridge providing ade?uate weathering protection and permanent ventilation. 0hirlybirds are becoming a common roof feature, but a better choice is the fi ed!vent versions that do not have the maintenance<replacement re?uirements of moving parts. The clerestorey design also offers an alternative for ridge venting. The openable venting area can be greatly increased, though the opening should not be located towards the summer sun as that could allow unwanted solar gain. ' solution to this problem when using metal deck roofing is to simply provide a second skin of sheeting at the ridge, close enough to the main roof to prevent rain entering yet sufficient to allow heated air inside to escape. ' light!coloured roof is also a good advantage. 's a bitumen road readily absorbs heat because of its colour, a dark roof does the same. ' light!coloured roof can reflect unwanted heat before it even gets into the roof space. 0hilst it is incorrect to suggest that all roofs should be white, those with a light!coloured roof will reduce the heating capacity of their homes roof space, thereby potentially enhancing comfort levels and minimising energy demands.

iv. Cathedral ceilings $athedral ceilings are angled, with ceiling sheets fi ed to the underside of rafters or scissor trusses. They are ideal in hot climates if they are designed properly. 9nwanted heat from the habitable areas rises away from the occupants as it warms the air and accumulates at the highest point of the ceiling. If the warmed air is not allowed to escape it will eventually fill the room, so it is essential to release the heat gathered at the ridge, either into a ventilated roof space or directly outside through wall openings placed *ust below the highest part of the ceiling. $athedral ceilings often have little or no roof space which would normally assist to reduce heat flows between the roof and the ceiling, so it is also important to provide good roof and ceiling insulation. Proper landscaping, pools or water features and other e ternal shading devices such as verandas, overhangs, awnings and pergolas can also reduce the air temperature before it reaches the house. (& S!ading %hading includes roof eaves (overhangs), window eaves (awnings), as well as significant vegetation, that may reduce direct east and west sunlight penetration into wall(s). 's most e ternal wall systems have a low thermal resistance, shading and<or insulation is re?uired. %hading lowers the houses heating capacity and can minimise the need for air!conditioning. 's the seasons change, so too does the angle of the sun. In +one > - %ub!Tropical, the winter sun passes lower in the northern sky. The house has higher e posure to direct sunlight in the cooler time of the year, as the suns rays can pass under the overhangs and<or awnings, and naturally warm the house. ;y adopting this design feature, the house can achieve a better comfort level and reduce the need for mechanical heating. In the northern parts of Queensland, the sun arcs almost directly over the house throughout the year - slightly to the south in summer and slightly to the north in winter. 2ffective overhangs on the north and south of the house and shielding from the rising and setting sun on the east and west will provide ade?uate shading to the house for most of the year. In addition, there are differences in the amount of shading. 2 tra measures are needed to reduce the amount of heat absorbed on the eastern and western sides at sunrise and sunset. 4pa?ue screens or shutters can act as remedies as they can be fi ed on the outside wall and ad*usted to suit. ' range of varieties are available and include traditional and contemporary designs. 4f particular interest is the ad*ustable shutter, a type often found in Italy, as it can also be hinged within the individual leaves to provide an awning for further ventilation. 1e!locating verandahs and covered balconies to the east or west can also improve shading. %creens, such as curtains inside the window, are not recommended to be used purely as shading devices as air cannot circulate as freely inside as it can outside. The suns rays pass through glass as long!wave radiation and are changed to short!wave radiation once inside. These rays cannot then pass back out through the glass. ' typical e ample of this is when you get into your car when it has been in the sun with all windows wound up. %o, hot air rises inside the house and is trapped in the room, particularly if there is a sliding window with no chance at all for the heat to escape. 'nother way to further overcome the problem is to use plants as a screen, although this cannot supplement a structural screen for the obvious reason that a plant screen may at be removed in the future. 0indow awnings are recommended where there are little or no roof eaves. .owever, it is not sufficient to simply attach an awning the e act width of the window as sunlight often hits the window obli?uely and can heat a large proportion of the glass. 'wnings should be wide enough to shade the window during summer when the angle of the sun is steep and hot, such as the afternoon. )& Insulation .ouses need to be insulated from the heat in summer and, for those areas especially those in +one / - 0arm Temperate, from the cold in winter. Insulation can assist to reduce the effects of these e treme temperatures as it provides greater comfort levels. 's the main sources of heat flow is through glass, roofs and walls, insulation can be installed inside roofs and walls to better regulate this heat flow.

'll insulating materials have an #1!value&, which is a unit of thermal resistance used for comparing insulating values of different materials. The higher the value, the greater its insulation properties. 1!value re?uirements for roofs and walls may differ between climate zones. The final design should achieve an 1!value at least e?uivalent to the ;uilding $ode of 'ustralia (;$') re?uirement for the relevant climate zone. Installing more insulation than is re?uired by the ;$' will provide additional benefits. Add more on insulation from Your Home? *& !ermal 2ass

Cense materials like concrete, brick and other masonry, such as rammed earth, have Dthermal massD i.e. materials that have ability to absorb and store heat during the hottest part of the day so that it can be released at night to create internal warmth. Thermal mass can moderate internal household temperatures by averaging day<night (diurnal) e tremes. Thermal mass can be applied effectively by using8 Tiled or concrete slab floorsE $avity masonry wallsE Interior masonry wallsE or 2 terior masonry walls. $oncrete "slab!on!ground floors provide "thermal coupling, allowing heat to be transferred from inside the house to the ground below the house. 's the temperature of the ground below the surface remains relatively constant throughout the year, its capacity can be used to absorb heat on hot summer days and release heat on cold winter nights. Aor effective heat transfer to occur, concrete slab!on!ground floors should not be covered with carpet as this acts as an insulating layer. .eat conductive materials, such as tiles and vinyl floor coverings, do not interfere with heat transfer to the ground. 'nother means of providing thermal mass is "reverse block construction. Arom the viewpoint of heat transfer, reverse block construction is the opposite design of a conventional brick veneer wall. This techni?ue uses lightweight cladding (like steel sheeting, timber or fibre!cement) on the outside with massive construction materials comprising the inside layer of the wall. 'n intermediate air space (which may contain bulk or reflective foil insulation) isolates the internal massive wall from heat gain or loss to the e ternal environment. In cold temperate climates, massive construction is important for winter comfort. Curing clear winter days, ample sunshine is available to warm the inside of a house (provided that a sufficient north!facing window area is available). 2ven in +one / - 0arm Temperate areas of Queensland, winter temperatures usually rise to a comfortable level in the daytime. The ma*or problem of winter cold discomfort occurs with the on!set of evening through to the early morning (i.e. when no solar energy is available). To keep a house warm at night there must be enough thermal mass to store solar heat during the day so that it can be released at night. This techni?ue can be effective provided there is a sufficient north!facing window area and thermal mass, as well as ade?uate insulation in roofs and walls, to slow the escape of heat. In +one > - %ub!tropical, thermal mass, solar heat entry (via good orientation) and insulation can work together to provide winter comfort. .owever, there is little advantage in *ust having large north!facing windows to collect sunshine if there is insufficient thermal mass to store solar heat when it is needed at night. Thermal mass can cool a house in summer only in regions where summer night!time temperatures are sufficiently lower than summer day!time temperatures (i.e. the diurnal temperature range). :ight!time temperatures must be low enough to remove all of the heat the thermal mass has gained throughout the day, and then be able to cool the wall or floor so that it remains cooler than the internal air temperature for the following day. This process allows the thermal mass to cool the room by absorbing heat from the air. ' large diurnal temperature range in +one , - .ot 'rid areas makes thermal mass an appropriate tool to achieve household comfort as it acts to even out the peaks and troughs of the temperature differences. In +one / - 0arm Temperate, thermal mass can be used to maintain comfortable conditions in summer and winter. The diurnal temperature range in +one 5 - Tropical is generally too small to allow this cooling effect with thermal mass. The re!radiating property of thermal mass at night is a liability and an un!insulated thermal mass wall in

direct sun is likely to begin radiating heat into the house well before sun!set. If used, thermal mass should be insulated and totally shaded to reduce the amount of heat it absorbs during the day. Insulation on the inside of the wall will reduce the heat radiated into the house. Providing ventilation within and around thermal mass can help to decrease heat gain and radiation. 6ightweight construction is a valid approach to achieve summer comfort in both +one 5 - Tropical and +one > %ub!tropical areas, as lightweight materials cool down ?uickly. They also offer a simple, low!cost solution to deal with steep sloping sites, unstable soils, and sites inaccessible to transport heavy materials. 'nother feature that can be used in lightweight construction is a "suspended floor, which is simply a floor raised above the ground and suspended. The main benefit of suspended floors is that the house may be elevated into less interrupted breeze paths, however this significantly depends on the topology, surrounding vegetation, and pro imity of ad*acent buildings. In domestic construction a suspended floor is usually associated with *oist and bearer construction (either steel or timber), but non slab!on!ground floors are also called #suspended& (it is actually more usual to refer to the term #suspended& in con*unction with #concrete&E timber and steel!framed floors are usually *ust called timber or steel!framed floors). %uspended concrete floors are occasionally used in houses. It is recognised that slab!on!ground is the one piece of thermal mass that works well in the tropics. The ground a house sits on is usually much cooler than the air circulating around it, effectively taking advantage of the thermal mass of the soil beneath the house. +& 2aterials ' range of energy!efficient materials can be used to assist thermal comfort and natural lighting, including8 i. External Walls 2 ternal walls are re?uired to achieve minimum energy efficiency through its 1!value (refer %ection B). The re?uired 1!value for e ternal walls can be achieved through a composite layering of materials. %ome manufacturers concertina the reflective foils to automatically provide for ;$' re?uirements. The gap with the concertina is essential to allow thermal resistance. ' vertical air gap itself provides an 1!value of =.5F, allowing the air to rise as it is heated and be released at the top into the roof space, provided the roof insulation does not cover it. The vents in the roof will remove the heat and promote the air in the cavity to rise as convection currents are established. 'erated autoclaved concrete at >== millimetres thick will give an 1!value of 5./. 'n additional render will provide a further resistance to heat transfer. $oncrete blocks with e ternal foam insulation give an 1!value of 5./. Internal brickwork (or concrete blocks) and a lightweight e ternal skin, referred to as reverse bric veneer has the advantage in cooler climates of providing an internal thermal mass to soak up the heat produced inside the house during the day, to radiate back into the room at night. 4ther alternative construction options are #rammed earth walls& or #straw bale walls&. The $%I14 has recently established that rammed earth does not perform particularly well as an insulating material (as it has a low 1!value). .owever, it is an e cellent source of thermal mass when inside the house, and near a north!facing window for that low winter sun in southern Queensland. %traw bale construction provides an e tremely high 1!value and has been used throughout 'ustralia. It not only has good insulation properties, but is also one of the cheapest and most sustainable alternative building products. ii. Windows/Glass 0indow size, location, glass (glazing) and frame type can significantly affect household heat loss and gain. Good window selection can optimise the combination of natural lighting, ventilation, noise control, security and visual amenity connecting interior and e terior spaces. :ormal glass has low insulation properties, hence the need for shading devices. %ingle glazing without curtains achieves an 1!value of =.5H. Couble!glazing with a 5>mm air space between the panes has an 1!value of =.,B. %ome manufacturers are now producing insulating glass. 'lternatives to standard clear glass windows, such as #low!e& glass, reflective tinting or double!glazing with insulated window frames, are worth considering as they are becoming more affordable and do not allow as much heat transfer into the room(s).

The 0indow 2nergy 1ating %cheme (021%) is a system that rates both the glass and frame performance of windows. Aor more information on 021% and how to select the most energy!efficient windows for your house and climate go to8 www.wers.net iii. Skylights %kylights can improve indoor lighting by allowing natural sunlight to enter the house through the roof, thereby reducing the need for artificial lighting and electricity. ' skylight can be used in darker rooms and darker parts of large rooms. %kylights should be well sized and located so as not to allow too much bright light to penetrate through the roof, and also not to overe pose householders to direct indoor summer sun. $an these be retro!fitted I 1ayJ 'nother new product being used for skylights is an acrylic sheet with laser!cut striations that allow a smaller amount of heat and light through the acrylic panels in the middle part of the day when traditional skylights, if poorly located, can allow too much heat and light into a room. iv. Solar pergolas

%olar pergolas are shade structures that have angled blades, which prevent summer sun penetration (i.e. roofs that are not waterproof), but can allow the low!angled winter light and warmth to enter between the blades. 3ariations on the traditional solar pergola that allow the blades to be ad*usted to the point of closing them completely can provide an (almost) waterproof roof. They can be an invaluable feature to a house in the sub!tropics and are ideal for the change in seasons.
Passive Design and its 5enefits The incorporation of passive design elements into a new or e isting house can create a more comfortable home to live in, save on its operating costs, as well as reduce its energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. ' passively designed house looks like a conventional home - it *ust performs better. Given that an average house lasts for more than F= years, the integration of passive design is a wise investment choice as part of future!proofing your home and making it perform more sustainably as it can effectively respond to a sites prevailing climatic conditions. Passive design traditionally aims to maintain a houses thermal comfort without mechanical heating or cooling by using natural energy flows - designing more with nature, not against it. ' houses "building envelope - its roof, walls, windows and floors - fundamentally controls its heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. 9sing passive design to filter or modify a houses building envelope to design for climate can significantly improve its thermal performance. ' well!designed building envelope will ma imise cooling air movement and e clude sun in summerE and, in winter, trap and store heat from the sun to minimise heat loss. ' passively designed house is well!orientated with good room zoning, ma imises breezes for ventilation, is effectively shaded and insulated, uses appropriate materials for energy!efficiency and optimises natural lighting .refer to $igure % 6 p) Passive Design Diagram/ . It can be built to be thermally comfortable on all but a handful of days throughout the year, thereby minimising the need for artificial cooling or heating. The benefits for owners of homes with passive design include lower energy costs and gaining a greater en*oyment of Queenslands climate when compared with residents of conventional houses. 0hilst a house that incorporates passive design features may cost slightly more upfront, it will become cost!effective over time through annual operational savings, and therefore be more affordable in the longer!term. .omeowners do not need to pay hundreds of dollars every year on heating and<or cooling costs if they take easy opportunities to access passive design .refer to $igure ' & p+ Insulation and 4entilation at 7esearc! House/ . 2ven where ideal conditions are not possible, such as being able to gain good orientation, significant levels of improved comfort and energy efficiency can still be obtained by incorporating other passive design principles. .omeowners also have peace of mind given that their home has greater energy efficiencies, it will have a lower greenhouse gas contribution through the reduction in burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation as it performs more responsively to its prevailing climate. 1!at are "Climate Zones for Housing8

$limate zones assist in determining design and materials relevant to a defined regions weather conditions to improve a houses thermal performance for comfort and energy efficiency. $limate zones are defined by the ;uilding $ode of 'ustralia (;$') and administered through the 'ustralian ;uilding $odes ;oard (';$;). They are spatially categorised using local government areas. Queensland has four climate zones, these being .refer to a9le % and $igure %/8 +one 5 - Tropical +one > - %ub!tropical +one , - .ot 'rid +one B - Temperate (:; does not e ist in Queensland) +one / - 0arm Temperate :ocal Climatic Conditions 6ocal climatic conditions (i.e. microclimate) differ within each defined climate zone. Aor e ample, properties located in coastal areas can have different seasonal temperature, humidity and wind differences (prevailing direction and speed) from those located even less than /= kilometres away in the hinterland. 't a site level, passive design responses need to account for this local climatic variation. 1esearch into local climate is recommended if undertaking passive design and this should include average8 ! temperature ranges (both seasonal and diurnal (daily))E ! humidity levelsE and ! prevailing wind direction and speed. The ;ureau of 7eteorology records and monitors this local climatic data across its local weather stations throughout Queensland (refer to #1eferences& below for this website to access data in your local area). There is increasing evidence that global warming is already affecting annual averages in weather, such as temperature and rainfall (for e ample, the total average annual rainfall has decreased by around >=K in the last ,= years for Perth). Passive design measures are recommended to appropriately reflect the significance of these climatic changes to future!proof your house (refer to "Cesign for Global 0arming below). Site Conte;t 4ther local site elements such as lot size, configuration and orientation, topography (slope), vegetation and soil type, will also fundamentally contribute to housing design, costs and operation. $onsider how your plan interacts with ad*oining properties in terms of potential impacts, including the pro imity of neighbouring buildings and<or vegetation upon the sites microclimate. Aor e ample, is the site located upslope or downslopeE what is the solar access<shading patterns (summer and winter)E and how does stormwater flow across the site etcJ Site and $loor Plan Connections The connection between the site and the floor plan needs to be carefully considered, as good indoor<outdoor relationships are important in taking advantage of Queenslands favourable outdoor lifestyle. Aor instance, avoid having windows and outdoor living areas directly facing the same aspect of the neighbouring property. This will minimise the impacts on solar access, visual and acoustic privacy, and allow interaction with your neighbours when you want it. House Si<e and Costs The size of your house is the most important element in controlling its costs and environmental impact. 2ach s?uare metre of your floor plan will cost on average around L5>== to design and build, and every year thereafter directly affect how much you spend on heating and cooling re?uirements. 2ssentially, buy or build your home to meet your needs now and into the future. ,t!er $eatures of Sustaina9le Housing Design

%ustainable technology fittings, such as solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks and photovoltaic (solar) energy supply, can significantly complement a passively designed house. 'll of these features are recommended to be included as part of an integrated design response as they can collectively improve the efficiencies and performance of a more sustainable house. ' more sustainable home can incorporate a range of features to account for energy and water supply and consumptionE accessibilityE greywater and blackwater systemsE stormwater management (minimising cut and fill on!site to maintain natural drainage patterns and detention basins, and preventing soil erosion<sediment and nutrient run!off to our waterways)E and biodiversity (through maintaining significant trees, as well as understory retention to assist in preserving ecological values). Designing for Glo9al 1arming .Climate C!ange/ The $%I14 predict that 'ustralia will be hotter and drier in the coming decades due to global warming. Increasingly warmer conditions are e pected to produce more e tremely hot days and fewer cold days. 'nnual average temperatures are e pected to rise, however this warming wonNt be the same everywhere. Queensland can generally e pect decreases in rainfall, but with more short and intense storms. $hanges in rainfall patterns are e pected to lead to drier conditions across the continent. It is also predicted that there will be increases in wind speed, occurrences of heatwaves and landslips. Planning and adapting to climate change is more important than ever. Given the lifespan of our housing, it is increasingly important to practically factor in these global warming issues when passively designing a house. This includes building well above historic flood levelsE designing stormwater management systems for more intense rainfallE appropriate location and foundations if building on sloping sitesE using vegetation well adapted to drought<water!limited durationsE and generally to incorporate passive design features and materials to endure warmer and more e treme weather conditions, including intense storm events. Passive Design and Air=Conditioners 0ith the decreasing cost of air!conditioners and their growing popularity, it is becoming realistic to e pect that at some stage most homeowners will install an air!conditioner, if only to deal with the e tremes of uncomfortably hot summer days. Cecide early in the design stages if an air!conditioner is going to be used for such purposes, as a different approach is re?uired for passive design with an air!conditioner in order to ma imise energy efficiency. ' well!considered passive designed house may include targeting ma*or habitable room(s) that can be efficiently air! conditioned, and whose function is fle ible enough to accommodate a range of future uses. It can be beneficial to record these adaptable design features to pass on to future owners to improve the houses re!sale value. ' passively designed house can promotes energy efficiency by reducing the need for air!conditioning. The house will be more comfortable throughout the year and the number of days when air conditioning is re?uired will be reduced. %elected room(s) can be created that are easy to mechanically cool. 'n air!conditioned room should have8 ! insulated at the walls (internal and e ternal), ceiling and floorE and ! sealable windows, doors and vents to restrict air escaping outside or to parts of the house that are not directly sub*ect to air!conditioning. %un e posure and internal heat transfer through standard clear glass can also be significant, so care should be taken when designing air!conditioned spaces with window location, glass types and not to use more window area than is necessary to create well!ventilated room(s) when an air!conditioner is switched off. 'lternatives to standard clear glass windows, such as #low!e& glass, reflective tinting or double!glazing with insulated window frames, are worth considering as they are becoming more affordable and do not allow as much heat transfer into the room(s). In cooler parts of Queensland, the principles for designing more efficient air!conditioned spaces also apply to room(s) that may be heated. Passive Design and Ceiling $ans

'lthough not strictly a passive design measure, all houses in Queensland are recommended to have ceiling fans or a similar energy!efficient method of circulating air. $eiling fans to all living and bedroom areas in a lightweight house in ;risbane can typically turn a ,!star energy rated house into a /!star energy rated house, and can effectively cut cooling costs by up to /=K. The cooling effect of air movement can greatly improve room comfort, potentially avoiding the need to install or switch on an air!conditioner. 9sed together, a ceiling fan can allow an air!conditioner to run at more energy! efficient levels e.g. by setting the air!conditioner temperature at >B =$ instead of more energy consuming 5M =$, homeowners can save up to L5/= a year on their electricity bills (or alternately, every 5 =$ higher can save 5=K on operating costs). 'dditionally, ceiling fans cost less than air!conditioners to purchase and they generally only use less than 5=K of the energy re?uired to operate, thereby making them much cheaper to run. $eiling fans with a reverse function option can similarly improve the efficiency of mechanical heating systems. 7ost new ceiling fans have this reverse function option. Passive Design 7esponses for Queenslands Climatic Zones Table 5 presents Queenslands four climate zones and type, their prevailing weather characteristics and design responses appropriate for each zone. %elected local government areas are also shown for each climate zone.

a9le %- Passive Design 7esponses for Queenslands Climatic Zones Climate Zone % % Climate ype Prevailing 1eat!er C!aracteristics
high humidity with a degree of "dry season high temperatures year round minimal seasonal temperature variation low diurnal (day<night) temperature range

Design 7esponses '

Selected :ocal Government Areas

(P ma*or township) $airns Townsville Thuringowa ;owen ;urdekin ('yr) Couglas (7ossman) 'therton $ook (0eipa P $ooktown) .inchinbrook (Ingham) Qohnstone (Innisfail) 7ornington Island

ropical hot, humid !ear round

'

Su9=tropical>

high humidity with a

northern orientation site house<rooms to ma imise e posure to local breezes elevate building to permit airflow beneath floors minimise building width for cross ventilation high or raked ceilings use fully openable windows (louvres or casements) to ma imise breezes provide operable ceiling vents to all rooms ventilate roof spaces (pop! vents or slotted eaves with fi ed roof vents) shade windows and walls (eaves) for summer and winter use reflective insulation and vapour barriers preferably use lightweight construction (low thermal mass) light coloured roof and wall materials screen and shade outdoor living areas design and build for cyclonic conditions northern orientation

;risbane region

5=

Climate Zone %

Climate ype

Prevailing 1eat!er C!aracteristics

definite "dry season hot summer, mild winter distinct seasonal temperature variation moderate to low diurnal temperature range, but varies between coastal and inland areas summer afternoon breezes in coastal areas

Design 7esponses '

Selected :ocal Government Areas

(P ma*or township)

coastal "arm humid summer, mild "inter

Hot Arid hot dr! summer, "arm "inter

low rainfall and low humidity very hot summer no e treme cold, but cool in winter significant diurnal temperature range hot, dry summer winds

site house<rooms to ma imise e posure to local breezes allow passive solar access in winter only minimise building width for cross ventilation ventilate roof spaces (use convective (stack) ventilation, slotted eaves with fi ed roof vents) use fully openable windows (louvres or casements) to ma imise breezes provide operable ceiling vents to all rooms shade windows and walls (eaves) for summer shade east and west walls and glass year round (eaves) use reflective insulation and bulk insulation use lightweight construction where diurnal range is lowE include thermal mass where diurnal range is significant light coloured roof and wall materials screen and shade outdoor living northern orientation site house for solar access and e posure to cooling breezes ma imise cross ventilation use fully openable windows (louvres or casements) to ma imise breezes provide operable ceiling vents to all rooms ventilate roof spaces (use convective (stack) ventilation, slotted eaves with fi ed roof vents) shade east and west walls and glass in summer (eaves) use reflective insulation and bulk insulation in ceilings and walls use passive design with insulated thermal mass light coloured roof and wall materials

%unshine $oast region Gold $oast region Ipswich ;eaudesert 7aryborough .ervey ;ay ;undaberg Gladstone 1ockhampton 6ivingstone (Reppoon) 7ackay Aitzroy (Gracemere) :ebo

2merald 6ongreach $harters Towers 7ount Isa 1oma 7urweh ($harleville) ;anana (;iloela) ;arcaldine ;auhinia (%pringsure) ;elyando (7oranbah) ;ooringa (7itchell) $hinchilla 7undubbera 7urgon Perry (7ount Perry)

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Climate Zone %

Climate ype

Prevailing 1eat!er C!aracteristics

Design 7esponses '

Selected :ocal Government Areas

(P ma*or township)

*
(note8 climate zone B does not appear in Queensland)

1arm emperate hot humid summer, cool "inter

four distinct seasons low diurnal temperature range in coastal areasE high diurnal range inland mild to cool winter and low humidity hot to very hot summer with moderate humidity

include e ternal masonry wall to provide enclosed courtyard, protecting house from hot!dry prevailing winds shaded outdoor living areas use garden ponds<water feature for evaporative cooling northern orientation ma imise north facing walls and glass, especially living areas site house for solar access, cooling breezes and protection from cold winds minimise e ternal wall areas, especially east and west use cross ventilation and passive cooling in summer use fully openable windows (louvres or casements) to ma imise breezes provide operable ceiling vents to ma*or habited rooms ventilate roof spaces (use convective (stack) ventilation, slotted eaves with fi ed roof vents) minimise all east and west glazing, and use ad*ustable shading (eaves) use passive solar access with high thermal mass, and bulk and reflective insulation light coloured roof and wall materials use heavy drapes with sealed pelmets use draught seal and entry blocks

Toowoomba 0arwick %tanthorpe Singaroy

otes! current climate zones for local government areas as categorised under the ;uilding $odes of 'ustralia (;$') and administered through the 'ustralian ;uilding $odes ;oard. These categories are sub*ect to periodic review. as adopted from #Your Home# $esign for %ifest!le and the &uture ' Technical Manual & (>nd edition), 'ustralian Greenhouse 4ffice, >==B.

'

5>

$urt!er information It is recommended that you access specific information relevant to your local site and climate for design concepts and costs if you intend to build a new house or renovate<re!fit your e isting home. Aor e ample, refer to the #Rour .ome Technical 7anual& and<or %mart .ousing publications, and discuss relevant passive design and materials re?uired with a local architect or building designer. It is also recommended that you check proposed passive design drawings with relevant local council planning and building provisions or developers covenants in order to satisfy relevant re?uirements for issues such as sub!division, re!configuration, renovation<e tensions, easements, boundary setbacks, height levels, character re?uirements, fittings etc. "our #o$e %echnical &anual8 www.greenhouse.gov.au<yourhome<technical<inde .htm 'ureau of &eteorology8 www.bom.gov.au<climate<averages S$art #ousing (esign O)*ectives8 www.housing.?ld.gov.au<builders<smart@housing<pdf<design@ob*ectives.pdf S$art #ousing Cost+efficiency 'ooklet8 www.housing.?ld.gov.au<builders<smart@housing<ce@booklet<inde .htm Sustaina)le #ousing ,act Sheet8 www.epa.?ld.gov.au<publications<p=5/H>aa.pdf<%ustainable@housing CS-RO.s Glo)al War$ing /redictions8 www.dar.csiro.au<publications<gh@fa?.htmTgh>> Window Energy Rating Syste$8 www.wers.net EcoSpecifier8 www.

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Glossary 0ightweight Construction %her$al &ass /hotovoltaic 1Solar2 Energy Supply

5B

Queenslands Climate Zones

Queensland contains four climate zones that are depicted in Aigure 5. Passive design features differ across each of these zones to account for the prevailing climatic conditions. 1egulations are also applied at the particular local government level through the ;uilding $ode of 'ustralia. $igure %- Queenslands Climate Zones for !ermal Housing Design

Ma( re(roduced "ith ind (ermission of Australian )uilding *odes )oard

-nsert 3'C' 0ogo ote! This map is derived from the current reference map used to apply the ;$' (as at >==/). $lassifications for local government areas are sub*ect to periodic review by the 'ustralian ;uilding $odes ;oard and may alter with updated information. Aor further information go to8 www.abcb.gov.au

5/

CI%T1I;9TI4: 6I%T 1ay Qones $raig Ingram %ue $rozier Camian Cewar 1oss 7ehrten 0ayne Petrie 'ndrew 'itken Cavid 7ills %hawn Godwin Qohn 7oynihan

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