My Efficient Electric Home on the Central Coast

What should I Insulate First?

1. Roof: 

Contributes 25-35% of the roofs total heat loss or gain. Look at adding ceiling insulation and sarking, bunnings now provides R6 insulation which is fantastic or get a professional to install it as below. If you install it yourself, ensure that all power is off in the house as there is an unfortunate history of fatalities caused by amateur roof insulators.

If you can only insulate one thing - insulate the roof first.

2. Walls, including windows: 

Contributes 15-25% of the roofs total heat loss or gain. Walls, even brick walls can have insulation pumped into them to create better insulation. If you are installing pump in insulation it is good to get the electrician in to do all the electric work first unless they want to be showered in insulation. Also any gaps will need to be sealed first.

3. Floor:

Contributes 10-20% of the roofs total heat loss or gain. Make sure the material is hydrophobic and as high in R value as possible.

Installers that retrofit insulation on the Central Coast:

4 Seasons Home Insulation

Windows - should I replace everything with double glazing?

If you can afford to go right ahead, if the budget is a bit tighter, here are some alternatives:

• External Shutters

• Internal double celled honecomb blinds

• Install a pelmet (a cover above your exsiting curtains or blinds that traps the heat in).

• Install a film on the windows that makes them more thermally efficient

• Install another set of windows to make your own double glazing.

Double Glazing - What should I look for?

You want a lower U-value with a thermally broken frame, timber frame or UVPC frame. Here is a guide to selecting windows.

Heating and Cooling - what is the best Option?

Generally a reverse cycle air conditioner is the best option for keeping a room cool or warm in terms of energy efficiency, this should be helped by fans in each room that can help cool or heat it. If you can install underfloor air conditioning it is generally more efficient.

Hot Water Heaters

Look for Heat Pump Hot Water Heaters and set them to heat water when you are generating solar power.

Lighting

Replace lighting with LED lighting as it is more energy efficient, look for lighting with a CRI of above 95 if possible (as close to natural sunlight as possible). Here is a guide to selecting lighting.

Orientation

When you are looking at houses, a very basic thing to get right is to find a North Facing House, here is a guide.