One
of the key qualities of passive home designs, which the government
recommends for new housing, is that it adapts to the local climate.
Perth's Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters,
means the priority is on cooling the home, instead of heating or
both. Lighting will not be much of a problem since, literally
speaking, Perth is a sunny place; however, the technical details go
way deeper. Here are the characteristics of a typical home in Perth
based on data collated by Think Brick Australia via their Designing
for Climate initiative.
Insulation
Everywhere
Some
may think that insulation is only necessary in cold climates, but it
also works well in hot climate areas. If insulation isn't busy
keeping the warmth in during the winter, it's keeping the warmth out
during the summer. Perth homes must have insulation with an R-value
of between 1.5 and 3.0, with the ceiling at 3.5. The thickness
required to achieve these values depends on the insulator. Thickness
of some insulation material based on R = 3.5 are as follows:
-
160-220 mm polyester batt
-
160-230 mm sheep's wool batt
-
130 mm rockwool batt
-
140 mm cellulose fibre
Go
for a Skillion Roof
A
skillion roof enhances runoff by placing it at a steep angle and
focusing it to a single direction, reducing the gutter’s overall
length. Perth's wet winter is a chance for residents to harvest as
much runoff as possible before the dry summer. Connect the downspout
to a tank or rainwater system.
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