Demand for heat-coping approach

Stressed electricity networks that can’t guarantee supply have led to politicians advising people not to go home, but to go to the movies instead. 

We are using airconditioning as a bandaid instead of identifying the cause. But imagine a future where we can reliably depend on our dwellings to help us “keep our cool”. Here’s what we need to consider:

The public should pay more attention to the quality of their house – the roof, walls, windows and floor. 

Many aspects of a home’s design (orientation, eaves, external shading and landscaping) and construction materials (roof colour and coating, insulation, glass and window type) can help control how hot it gets inside. Guides on these design features are available at the government’s Your Home website. 

Managing unwanted heat is possible through clerestory windows, solar chimneys and roof vents, while using the right materials.

An example of better design aspects are seen in the traditional Queenslander architecture, which includes deep eaves, shady verandas, casement windows and louvres with high-performance insulation and tinted low e-glass; dense internal materials such as rammed earth; and night time ventilation. These homes rarely surpass 30 degrees, despite the location.

The star rating of Australian homes is one attempt to communicate the best buildings designed for the heat. It is an indication of how a specific house design and its materials determine internal temperature.

While a good start, the rating system is based on past average weather patterns. Improvements could be made by using current or even future weather data. Knowing the expected temperature of each room in the house would help to find cost effective solutions.

Building regulation is seen as ‘red tape’ rather than consumer protection. Current building requirements, which vary by state and by dwelling type, are inadequate in representing heat proof homes.

Governments have already embarked on several projects including transitioning our electricity market, updating our National Construction Code and refining our disaster management.

(This article was originally published on The Conversation).