Carbon is produced as a result of burning of fossil fuels.  Fossil fuels are largely used to fuel power stations.  Less energy used, or energy derived from “green” processes equates to less burning of fossil fuels so less carbon emission.  Therefore the emphasis here is to live in a home with a lower energy requirement or a home which produces or utilizes  “green or clean energy.” i.e solar power.  Companies plant trees and buy the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs ) in order to try and offset their affect on carbon emissions.

The ozone is a layer of gas in the stratosphere which protects the earth against harmful radiation from the sun.  The use of CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons ( i.e air conditioner refrigerants ) depleted the ozone layer.  The net result is the heating up of the earth due to the depletion of the ozone and the production of carbon dioxide which has a green house affect in the Earth’s atmosphere.

An R value is a coefficient of thermal resistance.  Essentially the higher the R value, the more thermal resistance and therefore the lower the ability the element has to change to daily temperature variation.  In other words if it’s hot outside the inside will stay cooler longer and if it’s colder outside the inside will stay warmer for longer.

An index of a building’s thermal performance (i.e. heating and cooling requirements) for residential homes.  The Australian Building Codes Board introduced energy efficiency measures for houses into the Building Code of Australia (BCA) on 1 January 2003.  In May of 2010 this standard reached a 6 star requirement for all new residential dwellings.

This is a term broadly used and claimed.  It actually relates  specifically to:

-disciplines of physiology, evolution, genetics and behaviour and is not synonymous with environment, environmentalism, or environmental science.^. In broad terms it is the interaction between organisms and their surroundings.

Is the capacity to endure.  Sustainability interfaces with economics through the social and ecological consequences of economic activity. Sustainable is the interaction of social, cultural, health-related and monetary/financial aspects are integrated.   Sustainability is a social challenge that encompasses many aspects including  international and national law, urban planning and transport, local and individual lifestyles and ethical consumerism.

More the better.  This is not the case at all. After a wall structure R value of approximately 3 there is little point of additional insulation and its benefits will actually turn  to negatives.  The simple graph below identifies how a home can become eternally uncomfortable due to its reliance on insulation and the creation of a home which is unable to react to diurnal temperature change.   Insulation can create a home which is eternally uncomfortable in Queensland.

The graph below identifies daily temperature changes between 19 and 35 degrees.  The temperature in the home, due to the presence of excessive insulation and poor design and orientation,  provides a home with temperature fluctuations inside the home of between 24 and 31 degrees. It does not have the ability to react to diurnal temperature change and has become potentially eternally uncomfortable

The Government is seeking to decrease the amount of glass and windows, for glass has a low R value and so it transmits heat and cold quickly.  However the reality of this is that homes will become dark and unattractive places to live in .  More over, the important issue is to ensure windows are well placed and are coordinated effectively with eave lengths and orientations.

“ Insulation and diminished windows does not relate to design for climate!!”

In basic terms, what is important is that a home is perfectly orientated and that the structure is carefully planned and executed in order that the home has the ability to react to temperature change.   A home needs to enjoy winter sun, eliminate summer sun, repel western sun and ensure its occupants enjoy congenial temperatures and prevailing breezes.  This will ensure maximum comfort and performance.

The manner in which PLANET HOMES QLD achieves this and much more is described in our extensive procedure guide.  Come, be excited, enlightened and educated,and discuss your requirements with us.

Beware  that the term “green” is largely an unregulated claim.  Environmental marketing is big business, and when you truly evaluate many of the claims, much is vague and meaningless.  Indeed discussing such matters we document with most builders will expose misleading marketing with dubious environmental benefits.