Homeowners pay hundreds of dollars more than they need to each year in heating and/or cooling bills because they are not taking advantage of free heating and cooling from energy efficient building design and using energy efficiently.
Energy efficient design is all about the creation of homes that are comfortable for people to live in all year round. That is, naturally cool in summer and warm in winter without the need to use costly and time consuming energy sources. Temperature and light are maintained at comfortable levels with a minimum requirement for active systems such as heaters, air conditioners and daytime lighting.
Using energy efficiently is the best way to reduce energy bills and environmental impacts while maintaining or even improving comfort levels. Some solutions cost nothing at all. Most investments in energy efficiency will pay for themselves through lower energy bills.
Energy efficiency has many benefits for home owners:
In April 2001 Hobart City Council launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging energy efficient new houses and home extensions.
A set of guidelines is available for prospective home builders and designers. The guidelines cover the range of considerations from an analysis of the site and the opportunities it presents for energy efficient design, through to building orientation and layout, ventilation/cooling, insulation and landscaping.
The guidelines identify the key principles in using the sun's energy and are intended to promote understanding of how to use the sun's energy during the building design stage to achieve energy efficiency. The practice of energy efficient design will help reduce demand on non-renewable energy resources consumed by the heating and cooling of buildings.
Printed guidelines are also available (at no cost) from the customer counter of the Hobart Council Centre, on the corner of Elizabeth and Davey Streets.
With the increasing demand for environmentally sustainable energy options, and the introduction of the Council's financial incentives, there has been a corresponding increase in planning applications and enquiries involving the installation of solar panels etc. on heritage-listed places.
Simple 3-page guidelines in respect of the installalation of solar panels on heritage buildings have been documented on an interim basis, to assist members of the public.
More detailed advice incorporating some technical information is currently being finalised.
If you are contemplating the installation of solar technology you are urged to read the guidelines and to seek informal advice before committing to a particular siting and design proposal.
To encourage existing home owners and home builders to pursue energy efficient options, Hobart City Council offers the following rebate schemes:
By continuing to offer such incentives, the Hobart City Council is maintaining its active and leading role in tackling the effects of Global Climate Change at a local level in Tasmania by promoting the use of more efficient design, systems and renewable energy for domestic hot water heating.
