WHAT IS PASSIVE BUILDING DESIGN?

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At Ah Drafting and Design we focus on Passive Building Design giving our clients a home that will make full use of the land by maximizing breezes and solar access. 

Before we start the new home design process we will meet on-site and prepare a Site Analysis Diagram, checking the climate zone, topography, vegetation and views.  

The Orientation of your new home is vital as this will reduce the need for additional heating and cooling your home saving you money for the life of the building. Heating and cooling your home can be up to 40% of your energy consumption. Zonal design of your home places the living areas and sleeping areas facing north to maximise daylight and the cooling breezes in the late afternoon/evening during summer. Living areas, Kitchens and Dining are positioned on the North and East side of the property maximising the year-round solar access & increasing the owner’s thermal comfort. Garages & utility rooms are located on the west, if possible, to provide shelter from the westerly afternoon sun. 

We encourage and recommend the use of energy efficient building materials, sourced locally in Queensland or Australia with a low embodied energy. Ah Drafting and Design have researched low embodied materials, the life cycle assessment is a comprehensive system for measuring the environmental impacts on the planet considering; production, distribution, how the product performs, all the way until the recycling or disposal of the material at end of life.

Choosing the more energy efficient products increases Thermal comfort. Recommending solar hot water heaters, solar electricity, a lightweight timber framed construction endorsed by a Forest Certification Scheme all impact the environment in a positive way giving the homeowner peace of mind that they are minimizing the impact on energy resources, forests, native wildlife and humans. 

Insulation to the roof, roof space and external walls is imperative to Passive Design as it creates a barrier for the summer heat keeping the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter, clever design changes now can be useful as the climate changes in the next 20 - 30 years