#Off grid homes full
#Off grid homes windows

It’s important to note though that thermal mass does not provide an alternative for insulation. A materials ability to absorb and store heat is measured by its thermal mass, with high density materials, such as concrete, able to store and then slowly release heat. Good use of thermal mass moderates indoor temperatures by averaging temperature extremes, so it is particularly beneficial where there is a big difference between day and night outdoor temperatures. To help reduce energy expenditure, materials can be used throughout your house to repel heat or trap heat.

#Off grid homes windows

The size and placement of doors and windows must always be carefully considered to induce airflow and regulate temperature, air quality and humidity. Good ventilation depends on the careful design of spaces, how they interact with one another, and how they avail themselves of local air currents and conditions. Natural ventilationĪir quality and flow have always been crucially important to the health of a home and its inhabitants.

West-facing rooms have good afternoon daylight, but can overheat throughout the year. Bedrooms should also face east, making for more comfortable summer sleeping. This offers good light and solar gain in the morning, and cool afternoons during meal preparation times. For kitchen and breakfast areas, east-facing rooms are ideal. These areas may require horizontal shading to prevent overheating in summer, but such positioning does allow solar gain in winter which is an important consideration. While there are eight distinct climates in Australia that require different design responses, it is most often the case that main living areas (such as living, dining and family room) should face north and have all day sun. Each of these elements feed into the design response, with the concept of passive design providing a focus on renewable sources of energy such as the sun and wind to provide household heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting.

Once you have chosen your site, many specific characteristics come into play including the climate, orientation and features of the land. Passive design for an energy efficient home In either case, finding land that suits your needs, with the appropriate planning permits is a must. If, however, you are wanting a metropolitan lifestyle with as many green options as possible you might have to think about the latest energy harvesting and storage techniques. If you plan to live remotely, or build a holiday house off the beaten track, you will need enough land to generate your own power and store your own water. See: Creating eco sustainable homes that don’t cost the earth As the sky is now the limit when planning for an off-the-grid home, it pays to align your values with your aspirations so that you can plan accordingly, not to mention selecting the right design team for your future sustainable home! While for many, it is that sense of freedom that comes with being totally independent. For others, it is about lessening their reliance of fossil fuels. The first step in planning an off-the-grid home is to identify the exact reasons as to why you want to do it in the first place. Taken further, off-the-grid housing can not only produce its own energy but will also find ways to maintain its own water needs, deal with its waste in a responsible manner and potentially produce its own food – all without a reduction in the level of comfort! The end result being that many modern houses can boast being carbon neutral or even carbon positive – not only reducing their environmental footprint, but delivering a positive ecological impact.

#Off grid homes full

And while off-the-grid living was once the purview of a brave few, the concept has now come full circle and become an ideal in contemporary house plans across Australia.Įssentially, off-the-grid houses are those that have become self-sufficient from mains services and use a combination of passive design, materials and technologies to not only save the environment, but also save a great deal of money. With the early effects of climate change being experienced world-wide and the cost of energy increasing every year, many eco-friendly designers and custom builders have begun efforts to further refine energy efficient and sustainable homes.