During the hottest summer months, many homes in Australia expend a significant amount of energy for their indoor cooling needs. This is understandable; after all, no-one wants to swelter inside their homes for months on end. For this reason, many homeowners carry out split system installation to improve their indoor comfort levels. This is a significant investment, but we often rely on our AC systems too much, and if we embrace a new home design ethos, we can limit our air conditioning use to a more acceptable level. This will reduce the strain on our air conditioning systems and lower our energy bills without compromising on comfort.
Lazy New Home Design
Some people may have noticed that home design seems to be quite generic and many homes are incredibly similar. No matter where you go, a new housing construction project will probably have an identical design with a one size fits all underlying philosophy. This is quite a lazy way to design a home, and this will affect how well the house can handle extreme temperatures.
The layout of any home will play a significant role in how the house is heated and cooled throughout the year. Many builders don’t plan a home with the local climate in mind, and they have an over reliance on AC systems to make their designs livable. In a recent interview, Professor Tonkinwise from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Design said “The air conditioner allows architects to be lazy” he then added, “We don't have to think about making buildings work, because you can just buy a box.”
So, if you’re in the market for a new home, it’s worth finding out if the house is designed for a certain amount of passive cooling. Find out how this home would handle temperature extremes without using air conditioning every day.
Better New Home Design
When home designers have an over reliance on electrically powered air conditioning systems, it’s a missed opportunity to take advantage of efficiencies that could be achieved through a well thought out residential home design. A building that’s designed with cross ventilation and a dehumidifier will be cooler in hotter and more humid climates. The air conditioning would only be needed on extremely hot days, and this would reduce the energy bills.
More Effective Cooling for Existing Homes
Many homeowners are already in homes that have not been designed with a layout that promotes some passive cooling. Dramatically altering the design and layout at this stage would be virtually impossible without start an extensive renovation project. However, there are some things that you can do if you want to reduce your reliance on your AC system. Improving insulation levels, adding blinds or window treatments and providing better ventilation will all contribute to passive cooling for your home.
If you’re looking for a split system installation in Perth, get in touch with us at Air Spares for a no obligation quote today.