Efficient homes
Interview with a designer: cladding in the sub-tropics
Rain and heat mean different cladding and finishing choices in the sub-tropics, says Stephanie Skyring, an architect based in Brisbane. But a focus on sustainable materials is key, no matter the climate.
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Efficient homes
Cladding case study: Charred for a long life
Quentin Irvine has been making and using charred timber cladding since 2015, both on his own house and for clients.
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Efficient homes
Cladding case study: Timber cottage with low-maintenance twist
This house in Willunga, SA, uses timber cladding for a cottage feel, but adds low-maintenance Colorbond and magnesium oxide board for the hard-to-reach areas.
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Efficient homes
Cladding case study: Cladding connections
This home in Melbourne has cladding made from beautiful 1960s timber, reused from the house that stood on the site before, combined with Colorbond and Shadowclad ply.
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Buyers guides
Finding efficiency and quality: An appliance buying guide
When an appliance goes bang we often rush to buy a replacement. But there are important steps to take before you impulse buy. Lance Turner explains what to consider when looking for a new appliance.
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Efficient homes
Considerations when buying and using appliances
Energy efficient expert Alan Pears on what you need to think about to minimise energy use when buying and operating appliances.
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DIY
DIY: Insulating aluminium windows
Many Australian houses feature aluminium-framed windows, which perform poorly thermally. But performance can be greatly improved with a simple DIY project. Glenn Newman explains how his friend Lisa Rime came up with an easy system for DIY double glazing.
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Sustainable tech
A mania for monitoring: Beyond the smart meter
When you build a high-performance house, you want to know that it’s performing as expected. Cameron Munro has monitoring in place to do that—and he’s producing some lovely graphs in the process!
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Efficient homes
Emissions intensity of household electricity vs gas
Switching from gas to electricity for heating, hot water and cooking can favour your hip pocket. But what about emissions?
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Sustainable tech
Going electric with hydronic heating
One year after converting from gas to heat pump hydronic heating, Peter Hormann gives us a full account of the upgrades at his family’s Melbourne home and how they are staying comfy and zero carbon.
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Efficient homes
A winning formula: high-performance house plus EV
Despite the upfront cost premium, opting for a highly efficient, all-electric home with an EV can offer significant economic and environmental benefits. We analyse one example.
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