Sustainable house design is probably high on your list when choosing a builder for your first home in Perth. In the heat of summer, you may be wondering how you can use less energy to cool your home. So, how can your first home perform better and help you break free from high energy bills in the longer term? In this article, we will cover 5 ways to invest in your future and improve the sustainability of your new Perth home.
Choosing the best orientation and windows, adding solar panels to your roof and installing lighting that uses less electricity are some of the ways you can make your new home more affordable in the longer term. These inclusions can reduce your monthly electricity bill by 20% or more. By planning ahead, you can take advantage of a more cost-effective installation of your eco upgrades compared to retrofitting the same upgrades later. And that’s not all – choosing a sustainable house design also increases the value of your property.
Correct orientation and passive design
Ask us about ‘passive design’ for your new home. Passive design means that you can reduce or even eliminate the need for heating and cooling in your home. We will work with you to position your house in the right way on your block so that you make the best use of the sun. For maximum benefit, we’ll also optimise the design for your house structure – including the roof, walls, windows and floors of your new home. Your roof design will improve environmental performance – we’ll advise you on the optimal colour and make sure your new home has space for solar panels. Including insulation in the walls will help to keep the temperature comfortable inside your home.
While living in Western Australia, passive design will keep heat inside during winter months and the air cool during summer months. It also reduces the need for additional heating and cooling appliances.
Choose low-emittance (Low-E) glass
Enjoy the benefits of windows and a comfortable room temperature when you choose Low-E glass for your windows. We’ll work with you to strategically place windows to ensure that you will get the maximum benefit from the sun. When you choose Low-E glass, you get bang for your buck and may not even require any extra heating and cooling for your new home!
Install a solar system
You’ll be in control of your energy bills when you opt-in to a solar system for your new home. You’ll harness free energy from the sun which is stored and ready to use throughout your home. Together with our supplier, Habitat Air, we can design and install a solar energy system so that you don’t have to worry about big energy bills for your new home.
Install energy-efficient lighting
You can reduce your monthly electricity bill by up to 30% by installing efficient lighting throughout your house. These lights use less energy than traditional bulbs. They’re also more durable and last longer, reducing your energy usage. Energy-efficient lighting is already included as standard in all DreamStart Homes new home designs.
Install an EV charging point in the garage
Don’t forget to future-proof your home by adding an EV charging point in your new garage. An EV charging point will add value to your home and will become a ‘must-have’ feature for any home in the future. It’s much cheaper to install an EV point during your build compared to getting one installed later – so including one in your sustainable house design is the way to go!
DreamStart Eco Upgrade
Add these extras to your home design to save money over retrofitting later;
- Passive design
- Low-E glass
- Solar system
- Water tank provisioning
- EV charging point in the garage
To find out more about DreamStart’s Green Eco Upgrade options, simply send us a message and one of our expert Design Consultants will be in touch to get you started with the best sustainability inclusions for your new home!
Contact sales@dreamstarthomes.com.au today!
