Efficient homes
Getting off gas FAQs
Do heat pumps work well in Australian conditions? Rachel Goldlust explains.
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Efficient homes
Air conditioner vs hydronic heating
Heat pumps can provide air conditioning or hydronic heating. But which is more efficient, and which more comfortable? Cameron Munro tells us what he learned by trying both in his super-insulated home.
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Cooling
Underground cool
Architect Alvyn Williams describes why and how you might want to take advantage of the more stable temperatures underground to improve passive cooling, heating and ventilation.
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Cooling
Keeping cool – case studies
Case studies from our members' experiences with cooling.
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Buyers guides
Cooling buyers guide: active cooling
Renew magazine's cooling buyers guide gives you all the info on effective shading, ventilation, fans and efficient air conditioning.
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Solar & batteries
Desert Rose
An Aussie net-zero energy house takes on the competition in Dubai, bringing home an impressive second place overall in the 2018 Solar Decathlon.
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Buyers guides
Keep your cool: External shading buyers guide
With summers getting hotter in many parts of Australia, keeping the sun off your windows and out of your home is becoming even more important. Anna Cumming looks at the options for external shading, for both new builds and retrofits.
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Efficient homes
It’s in the Stars: The importance of efficiency ratings
With household appliances the main contributors to a home's energy use, it makes sense to 'buy smart' and 'use smart'. Eva Matthews investigates how to achieve savings and help save the planet.
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Cooling
Reducing air conditioner impacts: The state of solar cooling
It's the holy grail of cooling – using the sun to power your cooling system. Mike Dennis from ANU takes us on a tour of the solar cooling market and where it's headed.
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Thermal mass
Mass effect:
The messy realities of mass
Mass in buildings can help moderate internal temperatures, but it can also be tricky to control its effects. Alan Pears examines when and where thermal mass works well – and when it doesn't.
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Cooling
Solar cooling options available to households now
Solar cooling is possible at home writes Lance Turner.
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