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An environmentally friendly home without air conditioners

Written by: Libe Chacos

Article Overview: 4 elements can help create an environmentally friendly home that doesn’t need an air conditioner – and understanding these will help you with reducing your heating in winter as well.

An environmentally friendly home without air conditioners

There are homes in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane that don’t need air conditioners to be comfortable in summer.

4 elements can help create an environmentally friendly home that doesn’t need an air conditioner – and understanding these will help you with reducing your heating in winter as well.

But its not enough to know these 4 elements – its knowing how to apply each one that makes the difference. They are: ventilation, windows and double glazing, shading and insulation.

But what about just undertaking a minor renovation? How do we get these elements to work and make an environmentally friendly home? Its easier than you might think.

Lets look at shading first. To avoid turning air conditioners on, keep the heat out of your home by protecting your roof, walls and windows from the radiant heat of the sun. Use shade cloth, awnings, pergolas, landscaping or other solid barriers that stop the heat getting you’re your windows and rest of the house. The greatest source of heat gain in your home is through radiant heat. But will double glazing your windows help?

Double glazing your windows is more effective in winter, but in summer can still stop up to 30% of the heat coming in; but the key is still shading. And of course double glazing is less effective if your windows are open to let a breeze in to assist help ventilation. Ventilation works in two ways, the first is simply by creating a breeze that helps cool you down. This can be aided with ceiling or room fans. The second is by using ventilation to draw cool air in from under your home or perhaps from the cool south side of your home and spread the fresh cool air around to avoid the use of air conditioners.

Bulk insulation isn’t as effective in summer as winter. To make your home environmentally friendly, use reflective foil insulation to repel up to 93% of that hot summer radiant heat. That’s what is really effective in the roof and ceiling to avoid using air conditioners.

By combining ventilation, protecting windows and using double glazing it is simple to make your existing home environmentally friendly and comfortable, or create a new environmentally friendly home.

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Article Tags: air conditioner, air conditioners, awnings, brisbane, canberra, cool air, elements, heat gain, heat of the sun, hot summer, melbourne, minor renovation, radiant heat, reflective foil insulation, shade cloth, shading, sydney, two ways, ventilation, walls and windows



Related Forum Posts
How would you segment "Green Consumer"? - I am working on a small marketing communication strategy for environmentally friendly cleaning products, which are already available in the GTA. They are sold at major retailers like Sobey's and Canadian Tire currently. I am having a difficulty coming up with the characteristics of the "green consumer". Typical demographic factors (age, income etc) seem too general for this category. How would you segment different groups of environmentally friendly consumers? Ryann
Re: How would you segment "Green Consumer"? - Hi Ryann, Rather than trying to market your environmentally friendly cleaning products to individuals, why not target corporations instead? Most large businesses want to be seen as "going green", and they can buy/consume more of your product than regular households. Truthfully, I only know of 1 person in my entire network of family and friends who I'd classify as a "green consumer". People will often say they care about being environmentally friendly... but when it comes down to it, "going green" isn't convenient and we're all guilty of being lazy (it's already a pain to separate the food waste from the other garbage). For example, hybrid/electric cars are still quite expensive to buy and people could easily get more value buying a gas powered car. Moreover, after about 7 years the battery needs to be replaced in a hybrid/electric car, and no one in their right mind would want to spend another $5000 for that (and that's why used hybrid/electric cars have no re-sale value).
Re: How would you segment "Green Consumer"? - [quote="Ryann":1p5rd7n4]I am having a difficulty coming up with the characteristics of the "green consumer". Typical demographic factors (age, income etc) seem too general for this category. How would you segment different groups of environmentally friendly consumers? Ryann[/quote:1p5rd7n4] I don't know for sure, but I think one segment of the "green consumer" is: 1.) A mom. 2.) With children or pets who doesn't want them to accidentally get poisoned from being exposed to harmful chemical products. 3.) Middle class or higher income, since "going green" isn't about picking cheaper alternatives. It's about picking socially conscious choices. 4.) Probably ages 25-35 (i.e. young). Baby boomers are pretty set in their ways and brand loyal... so I can't imagine them switching to a green product. The other segment I would consider are young female business professionals who want the social status of being "environmentally friendly". These women want to be viewed as people who are making a difference and they'd likely have point no. 3 & 4 as well. But maybe I'm way off.
Re: Hello all. - An "eco preneur" is an entrepreneur whose main purpose is to put forth businesses and products that are environmentally friendly or will promote awareness to certain environmental causes. My goal is to somehow start a grass roots movement in aspiring entrepreneurs to motivate them enter the green niche market.
Re: How to be green? - Hi Evan It’s a great topic especially when it comes to going green and saving our planet. We all have a role to play and we are happy about the fact that we are into it. We have recently made our workplace greener and in the process the following changes have been implemented – 1. We provide paper invoices only if customers ask for them. Otherwise, all our invoicing is done electronically (a PDF via e-mail). 2. We have replaced the Paper Cups at our Cafeteria with Mugs for not only our in-house requirements but also for our clients. 3. We have also made it a Company policy to use only eco-friendly electronic appliances and that includes bulbs, air conditioners. 4. We are in the process of putting it into the Policy that the Employees will have to take to other transportation media – other than their personal vehicles – on at least a day per week to office. Hope we are on the right track. Regards,


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