Passive systems

Passive systems are the features that make a huge difference to your home's performance - the Passive systems that you don't have to worry about turning on and off. Considerations include:

• The amount of insulation appropriate for the location
• Using double or triple glazing
• If ceramic tiles or a timber-on-concrete floor are an option.

Insulation

Thermal insulation products used to line the walls, floors and ceilings of your home are a passive method of retaining as much of the building's heat as possible. Using the right insulation products for your particular location can make a huge difference to keeping the heat where you need it - inside your home.

Ensure that your insulation levels are higher than the minimum required by the Building Code. The higher the R-value of the insulation, the greater the insulation level.   

Find out more about insulation for your home.

Light shafts, light shelves or celestory windows

It's important when building a new house or renovating an existing building to consider how you can maximise the amount of light and sun that flows into every room.

If you’re able to harness as much of these renewable and free energy sources as possible, you could end up with a warmer and more energy efficient home.

In areas of a home design where no natural light occurs, a passive method of increasing the light and potentially natural heat in these areas is through the use of light shafts, light shelves or celestory windows, which essentially filter more light into your home.

Double glazing

Using advanced glazing products - such as double or even triple glazing - can help to trap the heat of the sun's rays and keep your home warm and toasty long under the sun has gone down.