There’s no shortage of ideas from ReNew readers when it comes to cooling the home. Last issue we invited readers to tell us, briefly, what they will be doing to prepare their dwelling for the heat in coming months.
The winner of a $495 Solar Whiz from Global Export Solutions is Jim Cherry.
He says: “We have lived eight years in our 1980s two bedroom brick veneer house. It has a cement tiled and simple gabled roof, is north-west facing with a front veranda.
Starting four years ago we planted three grapevines on a vertical trellis for summer shade and winter sun on the north-west veranda, then added two more grape and passionfruit vines plus a horizontal trellis.
Our summer project is to add horizontal trellises to the north-east and south-west facing walls and to plant another passion and kiwi vine. We’ll also build adjustable wooden louvre ventilation for the ceiling cavity and cover the existing R1.2 batts with R3.6 batts.”
It sounds like Jim has some simple but effective plans to bring down the indoor temperature.
The Solar Whiz ventilates roof spaces, helping to keep homes cool. Thanks to Global Export Solutions for supporting the competition. To find out more about the Solar Whiz visit www.solarwhiz.com.au.
Here are some other entries to the competition including a poem from David and Rosie Harvest
Low energy summer, here we come
first of all we’ll be cooking with the sun.
Parabolic cooker and a hot box as well
means coffee, tea, cooking will be ‘free’, that’s swell.
Next of course, hot water will be free
heated with the sun as you can see.
No electricity for showers or washing at all
again low energy , we’re having a ball.
Electricity of course will be made with PV
so the fridge and lights are covered you see.
Only thing we’re missing is cooling from the sun
and I think you’ve got the answer to that one.
Alexander MacKenzie’s entry
Our summer heat issues are the mezzanine areas (study and bedroom) and the kitchen getting too hot.
I’d like to help cool the kitchen zone by installing a solar powered extraction fan on the roof ridgeline and additional vents in the fascia board.
For the bedroom I’m planning to supplement the large louvre window by installing a roofline fan and vent that blows cool evening air down into the sleeping area.
For the study I plan to complete lining and insulating the roof space and investigate the possibility of opening the old chimney to let out hot air.
Jenny Russell’s entry
The Solar Whiz is one of the items on our summer project list (TRUE!). Other projects include extending a deciduous vine covered pergola on our western wall, installing solar power and completing a seperate “extreme weather”/guest room (read goat shed renovation) which will have a small, high efficiency reverse cycle air conditioner installed as a solution to my new problem of daycare children needing to be in and out the exterior doors of our two-bedroom home – cooling one room instead of the whole house makes sense to us.
Glenn Lawson’s entry
Our family will be growing more deciduous fruit trees against our northern windows and add retractable outdoor blinds to those 2 windows. We are also going to install a roof ventilation system to reduce the load on our air-conditioning system on those really hot days.
This entry was posted on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 3:20 pm