(Department of Industry, 2013) Your Home - Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable homes

Prévia do material em texto

Written by architects, designers and builders for Australian 
practitioners and you, this manual is a powerful tool for making 
your home great to live in, affordable to build and efficient to run.
 www.yourhome.gov.au
Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable homes
Australia’s guide to environm
entally sustainable hom
es
5th Edition
5th Edition
Discover how to 
adapt your home 
to changes in 
your lifestyle.
Be inspired! 
Your Home 
showcases 
some of the best 
sustainable homes 
in Australia.
Discover the 
secrets of making 
your home 
healthy, safe and 
sustainable.
Find out how 
to make your 
home work 
with Australian 
conditions.
Understand how 
you can make use 
of orientation, 
ventilation, 
insulation and 
thermal mass.
Explore ways to 
fit your home into 
its neighbourhood 
and community.
Find out how your 
home can avoid 
the problems of 
water shortages 
and increasing 
energy costs.
Learn how your 
home can meet 
the challenge of 
climate change.
Check out how 
green walls, 
bricks and straw 
can all be part 
of your home.
Learn to landscape 
your home for 
biodiversity and 
sustainability.
9 781925 006148 >
ISBN 978-1-925006-14-8
Australian climate zones
Australian climate zones 
The eight climate zones used in Your Home are defined 
by the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Each climate 
zone has distinctly different design and construction 
requirements. Within each main zone are many regional 
sub-zones determined by local geographic features 
including wind patterns and height above sea level. The 
Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme identifies 69 
of these sub-zones, which the BCA addresses and which 
can be called up by postcode.
Source: Australian Building Codes Board 
Zone Description
 1 Hot humid summer, warm winter
 2 Warm humid summer, mild winter
 3 Hot dry summer, warm winter
 4 Hot dry summer, cool winter
 5 Warm temperate
 6 Mild temperate
 7 Cool temperate
 8 Alpine
Latitude 20º So
uth
Wyndham
Tennant Creek
Katherine
Broome
Newman
Yalgoo
Exmouth
Carnarvon
Geraldton
PERTH
Bunbury
Ceduna
Esperance
Albany
Eucla
Whyalla
Albury-Wodonga
Ballarat
Bourke
Broken Hill
Wollongong
SYDNEY
Newcastle
Coffs
Harbour
BRISBANE
CharlevilleMaryborough
Rockhampton
Mackay
Longreach
Townsville
Cairns
Cooktown
Weipa
Tamworth
Coober Pedy
ADELAIDE
CANBERRA
MELBOURNE
Launceston
HOBART
Mildura
Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Warburton
Alice Springs
Mount Isa
DARWIN
Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable homes
5th Edition
ii
Your Home
Department of Industry
 
Your Home is a collaborative project of Australian governments 
and the building and design industries.
The 1st edition was developed in 2001 for the Australian 
Government by the Institute of Sustainable Futures (ISF), University 
of Technology Sydney. Subsequent editions have been updated 
by ISF, other organisations and individual experts on behalf of the 
Australian Government. 
The 5th edition was managed on behalf of the Australian 
Government by the Department of Industry.
1st edition 2001 
2nd edition 2004 
3rd edition 2005 
4th edition 2008 
4th edition 2010 (reprinted with minor updates) 
5th edition 2013
ISBN 978-1-925006-14-8 (print version) 
ISBN 978-1-925006-15-5 (web version)
Copyright
The material in this publication is copyright Commonwealth 
of Australia except as provided below and as indicated in this 
publication. All material is presented in this publication under a 
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 3.0 Australia licence, with 
the exception of:
 ▪ the Commonwealth Coat of Arms 
 ▪ this Department’s logo 
 ▪ content that is specified as being subject to third party 
copyright limitations.
Details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the 
Creative Commons website as is the full legal code for the CC BY 
3.0 Australia licence.
Attribution
You are free to copy, communicate and adapt the Commonwealth 
copyright material in this publication, so long as you attribute the 
Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Industry) and the 
authors in the following manner:
Citation
(Author name/s of relevant section) Department of Industry. 2013. 
Your Home: Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable 
homes, 5th edition.
© Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Industry) 2013
Third party copyright
Wherever a third party holds copyright in material presented in this 
publication, the copyright remains with that party. Their permission 
may be required to use the material.
This Department has made all reasonable efforts to:
 ▪ clearly label material where the copyright is owned by a third 
party and identify the owner of such material 
 ▪ ensure that the copyright owner has consented to this material 
being presented on this website.
Using the Commonwealth Coat of Arms
The terms of use for the Coat of Arms are available from the It’s an 
Honour website.
IMPORTANT NOTICE — PLEASE READ
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that 
the contents of this publication are factually correct, the 
Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy 
or completeness of the contents, and expressly disclaims liability 
for any loss or damage whether due to negligence or otherwise 
however caused that may be occasioned directly or indirectly 
through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
Material in this publication is made available on the understanding 
that the Commonwealth is not providing professional advice and 
should not be taken to indicate the Commonwealth’s commitment 
to a particular course of action. Different solutions and outcomes 
may apply in individual circumstances
Before relying on any material contained in this publication, 
readers should obtain appropriate professional advice suitable to 
their particular circumstances.
References to various websites, publications and organisations, 
including commercial organisations and/or particular products 
in this publication are included for the information of the 
reader only and should not in any way be construed as an 
endorsement of any website, publication, organisation or product 
by the Commonwealth. Conversely, the fact that a particular 
website, publication, organisation or product is not mentioned 
in this publication should not be taken as any indication of 
the Commonwealth’s opinion of that website, publication, 
organisation or product. Neither the Department of Industry nor 
the Commonwealth can accept any responsibility for the content 
of any material that may be encountered on the websites or in the 
publications referred to in this publication.
The materials used in this publication were chosen by and based on 
the judgements of the people involved.
Editors: in writing and Department of Industry (5th edition) 
Design concepts, illustration editing, indexing and HTML 
conversion: Biotext, Canberra
Design production: Biotext and Papercut, Canberra
Cover illustrations: Kirsten Duncan (front), Tony Law (back)
Printing: Canprint Communications, Canberra
Acknowledgements
iii
Your Home
Preface
Welcome to the fifth edition of Your Home—Australia’s 
most comprehensive guide to environmentally 
sustainable homes. This publication continues a long-
standing effort by the Australian Government, in 
partnership with the building and design industry, to give 
everyone interested in building homes for a sustainable 
future, comprehensive, expert and independent advice.
As a resource for people aiming to build, buy or renovate 
a sustainable home, Your Home has proven its value 
time and time again. As energy and water costs have 
increased, along with community awarenessof climate 
change and the need to protect our environment, it has 
become more and more relevant.
Your Home was originally published as a technical 
manual in 2001. It was the first Australian publication of 
information on sustainable building practices aimed at 
ordinary householders as well as building professionals. 
From the outset, the printed version was published 
in parallel with a website that made material readily 
available to people who don’t need or want the full 
printed version.
The intent has always been to keep Your Home 
up-to-date, to match significant changes in the building 
industry. For example, building energy efficiency 
standards were added to the Building Code of Australia 
for the first time in 2003 and have been progressively 
increased over time; water efficiency requirements have 
been introduced in a number of jurisdictions. 
Changes in this edition of Your Home respond to user 
feedback and reviews of previous editions. The major 
change is that a single publication incorporates the 
previous technical manual, buyer’s guide and renovator’s 
guide. The revised structure brings the information 
needs of home buyers and renovators up-front, 
and moves some more general topics on housing 
development to the end of the publication.
The text and diagrams in all sections of Your Home have 
been checked for currency and accuracy and updated 
where necessary, and references to other documents 
and websites have been updated. The principal and 
updating authors are listed at the end of each article.
A new, smaller, set of case studies shows examples of 
sustainable houses in a variety of climate zones. The 
need for case studies has lessened with the recent rise 
of home magazines that contain articles on individual 
houses and renovations. 
Your Home combines the efforts of a large number of 
committed people over a considerable time. Industry 
and cross-sectoral support for its development has been 
part of the project since its inception and crucial to its 
success. The people include principal and contributing 
authors, and photographers, many who have given input 
as members of advisory committees, technical advisers, 
industry and community representatives, and reviewers 
of articles.
The residential building industry has openly embraced 
the idea of ‘green buildings’ and a number of industry 
programs now promote sustainable approaches 
to building; however, the need for clear and 
comprehensive information on design and construction 
options for householders, builders and design 
professionals remains undiminished. The authors hope 
that you find Your Home useful in creating your own 
sustainable home.
W
elcom
e to 
Your H
om
e
v
Welcome to Your Home
Welcome to Your Home
Your Home is your guide to building, buying 
or renovating a home. It shows how to create 
a comfortable home with low impact on the 
environment — economical to run, healthier to live in 
and adaptable to your changing needs. 
Your home is important in so many ways. It’s a place 
to unwind, relax and spend quality time with family 
and friends. It’s also likely to be the biggest investment 
you make. Your decisions about your home have 
consequences for your future living costs and quality of 
life. Collectively, such decisions contribute to the bigger 
picture and can help to create more vibrant, connected 
and sustainable towns and cities. 
In such rapidly changing times, smart investment 
decisions demand smart thinking about new issues. 
When you’re planning your renovation or building 
project it’s easy to focus on the short term, but features 
that enhance resale value, improve comfort and reduce 
bills are worth paying for. 
Your Home is a comprehensive guide to the design 
principles and features that add value to your home and 
reduce its environmental impact. Many of them come at 
no additional cost. They just require the right ‘know how’ 
at the right stage of your renovation or building project. 
Others may add cost but also add lasting value and help 
to ‘future-proof’ your home against rising energy and 
water costs.
Your Home is a comprehensive guide to 
the design principles and features that 
add value to your home and reduce its 
environmental impact.
Each section in Your Home covers a particular 
sustainability theme, such as passive design or energy. A 
sustainable home needs to address all of these themes 
in tandem. The principles and ideas in each section can 
be applied to any home. The articles in each section 
contain advice on practical solutions you can adapt 
to your budget, climate and lifestyle. As sustainable 
housing technologies and approaches are evolving all 
the time, Your Home is periodically updated to keep the 
information current. Photo: G. Smith
vi
Welcome to Your Home
Who is Your Home for?
Your Home was written to make the 
process of creating sustainable homes and 
renovations easier for a range of different 
groups. Its content and design were 
informed by research with homeowners, 
architects, designers and builders to find 
out what information they needed most 
and how they wanted it presented. The 
starting point for creating Your Home was 
to ask them what they most needed to 
know to make the process of creating a 
sustainable home easier. 
For homeowners, Your Home helps 
explain the process of renovating and 
building sustainably. Whether you want 
a general overview or detail on a specific 
topic, Your Home is designed to help you 
create a sustainable home in the most cost 
effective way.
For architects and designers, Your Home’s 
comprehensive overview of sustainable 
design principles and strategies includes 
detailed information on a range of different 
topics. Use it as a refresher and a design 
support tool; give it to clients to familiarise 
them with the options available.
For builders, especially the many who play 
a role in design as well as construction, 
Your Home has relevant design advice. 
It is also full of useful detail on 
procurement of materials and products, 
waste management, and installation of 
various sustainability products and 
technologies. Give it to clients to familiarise 
them with the options available. 
Photo: G. Smith Photo: G. Smith
vii
Welcome to Your Home
Why sustainable design?
Over long periods of time, by trial and error, vernacular 
building solutions (buildings based on local conditions) 
evolved, and they all contain elements of sustainable 
design. We build today for more or less the reason we 
have always built — to make safe, healthy shelters that 
protect us from the elements and keep us comfortable. 
However, cheap accessible fossil energy sources and 
the proliferation of technology and new materials have 
encouraged us to solve building problems differently 
in recent times. Unfortunately, some of these methods 
may be compromising the ability of our planet to sustain 
us in the long or even medium term. The new challenge 
is to use our technology to minimise environmental 
impact, while continuing to improve the comfort and 
performance of the homes we create.
Most Australians live in homes that work 
against the climate, not with it. 
A great majority of Australians currently live in homes 
that work against the climate, not with it. These homes 
are too cold or too hot, waste energy and are 
comparatively expensive to run. Most homes use far 
more water than necessary, and can be made of 
materials that damage our health and the environment. 
Using good design principles can save energy, water and 
money, while creating a more enjoyable and 
comfortable home. 
How is housing changing?
Housing of the future will need to be adaptable and 
resilient, helping us to respond to both predicted and 
unexpected change. It will also need to suit significantlychanged demographic patterns and lifestyles, and have 
minimal environmental impact. Many of the homes 
we build today will still be in use in 50 years’ time, 
when climate change, population growth and resource 
depletion will have created a very different picture. 
The move towards ‘positive’ development that has a net 
positive ecological and social impact might seem like 
an ambitious goal today. However, progressive parts of 
the housing industry are working towards this goal and 
it must be the norm in any scenario for a sustainable 
future. 
Author 
Caitlin McGee, 2013
Photo: G. SmithPhoto: G. Smith
Contents
ix
Contents
Contents
Quick reference
Welcome to Your Home iv
How to use Your Home xii
Before you begin 4
Passive design 86
Materials 200
Energy 308
Water 404
Housing of the future 438
Case studies 470
Appendices 504
Abbreviations 538
Glossary and tools 542
Index 556
 v
 1
 5
 87
 201
 309
 405
 439
 471
 505
 539
 543
 557
x
List of articles
Before you begin
Before you begin 5
Preliminary research 8
The design process 15
The construction process 22
Buying a home off the plan 27
Buying and renovating an apartment 37
Buying an existing home 47
Planning home improvements 51
Repairs and maintenance 59
Renovations and additions 63
Choosing a site 73
Challenging sites 80
Passive design
Passive design 87
Design for climate 90
Orientation 104
Shading 116
Passive solar heating 125
Passive cooling 135
Sealing your home 149
Insulation 160
Insulation installation 169
Thermal mass 178
Glazing 188
Skylights 196
Materials
Materials 201
Embodied energy 205
Waste minimisation 210
Construction systems 216
Lightweight framing 226
Brickwork and blockwork 237
Cladding systems 245
Concrete slab floors 254
Insulating concrete forms 261
Autoclaved aerated concrete 265
Precast concrete 270
Mud brick 279
Rammed earth 284
Straw bale 289
Green roofs and walls 299
Energy
Energy 309
Heating and cooling 312
Hot water service 324
Lighting 337
Appliances 347
Home entertainment and 
office equipment 355
Home automation 363
Renewable energy 369
Photovoltaic systems 375
Wind systems 381
Batteries and inverters 388
Smart meters, displays and appliances 393
Transport 399
Contents
xi
Water
Water 405
Reducing water demand 408
Rainwater 412
Wastewater reuse 419
Stormwater 425
Outdoor water use 429
Waterless toilets 434
Housing of the future
Housing of the future 439
Adapting to climate change 442
Carbon zero, carbon positive 448
The livable and adaptable house 455
Affordability 461
Case studies
Curtin, Australian Capital Territory 471
Sydney North Shore, New South Wales 475
Darwin River, Northern Territory 480
Caloundra, Queensland 485
Parkside, South Australia 490
Fitzroy North, Victoria 494
Perth, Western Australia 499
Appendices
The healthy home 505
Safety and security 512
Streetscape 516
Landscaping and garden design 520
Sediment control 526
Noise control 530
Contents
H
ow
 to use 
Your H
om
e
1
How to use Your Home
How to use Your Home
Finding the information you need 
in Your Home
Every journey to a sustainable home is unique and Your 
Home has been designed to help you find the right 
information at the time you need it most. 
Every Your Home section needs to be taken into account 
to create a truly sustainable home. Some articles will be 
more relevant to your project than others. Each article 
links to complementary Your Home articles and to 
useful external sources of information. 
Case studies from around Australia demonstrate 
practical examples of how the concepts in Your Home 
can be applied. 
Search Your Home for information in two ways:
1. By theme or topic. Use the table of contents, 
arranged by sections, to find a particular theme or 
topic; or use the index, arranged alphabetically, to 
search by keyword. 
2. By the stage you have reached in the process 
of choosing, renovating or building. Different 
information is ‘top of mind’ during different parts 
of the process of choosing, renovating and building 
a home. The following section highlights the most 
important ‘must read’ articles for each stage in 
the process plus the articles that would be useful 
background reading at that point.
Regardless of the information-finding 
path you choose, Your Home guides you 
to a comfortable, affordable home that is 
cheaper to run, kinder to the environment 
and ‘future-proofed’ as an investment.
The process of renovating or 
building a home
The process of choosing, renovating or building a home 
can be daunting, particularly if you haven’t been through 
it before. Having the right information and making the 
right decisions early on in the process is critical for 
achieving a home that meets your sustainability goals in 
the most cost effective way. Every process is unique, but 
most renovation and building projects typically fall into 
these general stages, though not every point may be 
relevant. Remember, it’s not an entirely linear process — 
keep revisiting and refining ideas in more detail as you 
go along.
Stage 1: Getting started
At the start decide what you want from your new home 
or renovation, and plan a course of action to achieve 
it. Now is a good time to gather information from 
sustainable housing magazines and internet searches, 
talk to friends who’ve built or renovated, visit home 
ideas centres and seek professional advice. Consider:
 ▪ where you want to live and why
 ▪ future trends in housing, and why you might want to 
build a sustainable home
 ▪ what’s involved in the process of designing and 
building
 ▪ whether you’ll build a new home, renovate or buy off 
the plan
 ▪ likely sources of professional advice 
 ▪ what you can learn from analysing your current 
home and lifestyle
 ▪ goals and sustainability targets for your new home or 
renovation
 ▪ a prioritised checklist that includes your needs and 
‘wish list’
 ▪ your baseline budget
 ▪ building regulations, including sustainability 
requirements.
2
How to use Your Home
Stage 2: Concept design
Good design doesn’t cost the earth — poor 
design does. Careful planning and expert 
advice at this stage pays a huge dividend.
This is a stage of great opportunity, the time to lock in 
the outcomes you really want in the most cost effective 
way. At concept design stage the floor plan and building 
form is determined, and often the construction system. 
It’s the time to create a design that suits your site and 
works with your climate, not against it, and ensures your 
home is comfortable without the need for expensive 
heating or cooling. It’s time to:
 ▪ engage a designer with a track record in sustainable 
housing
 ▪ seek other professional advice as required (e.g. 
thermal performance expert)
 ▪ create a detailed design brief, based on your checklist 
from Stage 1: Getting started
 ▪ design the floor plan and overall building form
 ▪ ensure your design makes the most of your local 
climate and site
 ▪ choose construction systems and materials 
 ▪ select energy and water saving features, locate 
rainwater tanks
 ▪ ensure the design allows suitable roof space for solar 
hot water and solar electricity panels.
Stage 3: Detailed design
During this stage your design is developed to the level 
of detail necessary to gain building approval and be 
construction-ready. You’ll further develop the building 
envelope and interiors, and specify all materials and 
products in detail. It’s time to prepare:
 ▪ detailed building envelope design (the ‘shell’ — walls, 
floor and roof)
 ▪ interiordesign (also called ‘fitout’ design)
 ▪ detailed specification of all products, materials and 
systems
 ▪ documentation for approval by local authorities
 ▪ documentation for the construction tendering 
process.
Stage 4: Construction
At this stage you’ll engage a builder and/or tradespeople 
to construct the home or renovation. The steps at this 
stage include:
 ▪ tender assessment and appointment of a builder
 ▪ construction supervision (usually the designer or 
builder manages the process)
 ▪ siteworks and drainage
 ▪ construction of the building shell (or extensions/
refurbishments to it)
 ▪ ‘rough in’ of electrical cables and plumbing
 ▪ fitout, including installation of appliances, joinery and 
finishes
 ▪ certification of the final works by the local authority
 ▪ landscaping (if part of the contract)
 ▪ handover to owner.
Stage 5: Living in your new home
Having a sustainable home doesn’t stop at construction. 
A home’s environmental impact is significantly 
influenced by the behaviour of the occupants. Find out 
more in the section Energy where the articles have many 
helpful hints, and visit www.livinggreener.gov.au.
Author
Caitlin McGee, 2013
 • Detailed design
Check that your design:
 ▪ meets your brief, including any sustainability 
goals and targets 
 ▪ meets all applicable regulations
 ▪ suits your climate and your site
 ▪ creates comfortable and healthy interiors
 ▪ has a minimal environmental footprint — 
consider all the Your Home sections. 
 • Construction
When engaging a builder, ensure that:
 ▪ they know sustainability is a priority and are 
committed to delivering it
 ▪ they have past experience with sustainable 
housing
 ▪ your tender documents, including drawings 
and specifications, clearly specify all 
sustainability requirements
 ▪ your contract requires approval by you or 
your designer for any changes or product 
substitutions.
 • Detailed design
Check that your design:
 ▪ meets your brief, including any sustainability 
goals and targets 
 ▪ meets all applicable regulations
 ▪ suits your climate and your site
 ▪ creates comfortable and healthy interiors