I NDULGE / HOME S
FORWARD PLANNING BY SEASON By BROOKE DUNLOP
FOR SUMMER Install energy-efficient ceiling fans. This will promote air circulation and reduce reliance on air conditioning. Consider shade options. Window films, window hoods, external battens or internal shades can block out excessive heat from the sun. Plant trees and build pergolas. Shade trees and pergolas can provide natural shade and reduce the cooling load on your home. Install security screens. These will enable you to safely and securely leave your doors open day and night, to encourage natural ventilation and passive cooling, reducing energy bills. FOR WINTER Improve insulation and seal leaks. Draughts or leaks can lead to up to 25% of heat loss from a home in winter. Insulation in walls, floors and the roof cavity will minimise heat loss – as will sealing air leaks around windows and doors. Use programmable thermostats. Do this to regulate temperatures and optimise energy usage, ensuring efficient heating in the colder months. Reduce heated areas. If you create flexible spaces that can be reduced in scale – for example by closing bi-folding doors – this reduces the volume of space you need to heat. Rearrange furniture. This is one I learned from my grandmother! Not all houses can have the optimal orientation or ways to maximise breezes, so watch and monitor parts of your house that get more sunlight around winter, see which spaces make the best use of cross ventilation and rearrange your furniture accordingly.
This renovated bedroom by Matt Woods has VOC-free finishes, sustainable timbers and a reduced use of chrome and cement.
6. HIRE THE RIGHT TEAM Construction teams who aren’t
7. CHOOSE THE BEST PAINT Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint or zero-VOC paints and finishes can reduce indoor air pollution and improve indoor air quality – because these products have lower levels of harmful chemicals. “The colour you paint your house inside and out can also drastically affect energy requirements, both for cooling and heating, but also for natural light levels and the quality of your living environment,” explains Brooke.
familiar with sustainable options or the differences between products and materials may charge you a premium, so look for builders or tradespeople who have experience in sustainable builds. “It’s evident across the industry that sustainability is still a fringe consideration rather than the key driving principle behind the things we build,” says Matt. “That said, it’s getting better – and if you’re willing to look you should find it pretty easy to find a building team who can take a more sustainable approach.”
Protect your precious home and its contents with Seniors Home & Contents Insurance . Call 1300 611 384 or go to seniors.com.au
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DARE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023
SENIORS.COM.AU
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