Yes.

If it is possible, then of course!... but as macymacmaples said, we can't forget "the difficulty of getting a block with suitable orientation"... in an ideal world, everyone would have a house/block with a north (or south) aspect... but in real life (particularly in developed suburbs) that is not always possible :/

The display houses are not transferable to every block and the building companies need smarter sales folk to encourage passive solar orientation principles to the buyers! I think local councils should be critiquing every plan submitted for approval and encouraging home builders to orientate the living areas to face north as well as installing high R-rated insulation.

Even a little bit of architectural advice can go a long, long way. Consider meeting with an architect to discuss the possibilities. If you're talking to display house companies and building companies about how to incorporate passive solar design that suits the way YOU want to live, you're talking to the wrong people.

I agree, most display houses/builders are not flexible and can't be customized anyway, and therefore not applicable to this discussion... we're doing a custom build, we did get a bit of prof advice and despite our attempts at a north orientation we had to settle for a western aspect, the 2 major dilemmas being...

1. Garage had to be on northern boundary... moving the crossover not a problem, but moving an electrical pole big problem and big $$

2. We're one block from the corner and the two houses backing on the north boundary which also sit on higher ground woul have direct line of sight into any living areas with a north aspect

All I'm saying is as much as one wants a north orientation it's not always possible particularly in the burbs... but we're happy enough with our west/north-west orientation, especially with sunset views over the treetops from the balcony :)

Should I ever have the opportunity to build a house, yes!

Essential consideration in any house design in my opinion

Built my first solar passive house in 1991 which was the first house based on this concept in my rural town. The builder told me that I had got the design wrong until we go to the final fit out . . . when he admitted he had changed his mind!

I designed it myself and though I could have done some things better; overall we were very happy with it. (the floor plan is at this link http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/01/starting-house-design-3/)

You will find a lot of what I have learn't having 2 solar passive houses built (one designed by me, one a project home modified by me) and then living in them on my blog at http://www.anewhouse.com.au/category/sustainability/passive-solar/

[lombardsresidence[(https://www.houzz.com.au/user/lombardsresidence). get in touch with the Alternative Technology Association and get along to their next Speed Date a Sustainable Designer; they'll put you on the right track

One should always design for passive solar because it is the most responsible climate-responsive first principle element to good house design. We have lived in a climate responsive house for the last 16 years in northern NSW and ocassionally use a small gas heater in winter for a couple of hours and ceiling fans in summer when there is no breeze. Other than that we utilise the natural elements for a very comfortable living environment that puts power back into the grid and doesn't use much electricity at night through efficient lighting.

So, we are going to do it again on the vacant land beside our current house. This time we will build off-site (prefab) to minimise waste and use all ecologically sustainable materials with low embodied energy. For thermal mass we will use an insulated timber floor design that allows for transportability. All rooms will have northern solar access and natural breezeways and the finishes will be low or no VOC types.
We are not forgetting the harvesting of rainwater with the use of rainwater tanks to store roof water and use it for toilet, laundry and gardens. (We would do more but our local council won't permit it.)
If anyone is interested, I am happy to provide more details.

Don. Are your local Council actually preventing you from using rainwater for consumptive uses or just 'encouraging' you not to?

Yep, good old 'green' Byron council. They will only let you hook it up to non consumptive fittings. We filter their town water anyway so I don't see the problem with hooking up to all taps but there it is.

Just looked at your website. Liked your Neutral Bay house. I lived in Neutral Bay for 6 years quite some time ago and really enjoyed the area.

On a day that was 45 degrees in Sydney, inside our hebel house, with eaves that block sun in summer, it was 28 degrees with doors and windows closed, no airconditioning!

SK

We built a Passive Solar house in West Gippsland about 33 years ago, I had small children, babies crawling on floor no window dressing. We had a fired box that heated water in winter time and a huge open fireplace other end of the house. the man that built that chimney was an expert the heat from that fire place was massive some times in mid winter we'd open upstairs windows to let the heat out. Summer time the house was cool basically I lived in shorts 12 months of the years inside the house. For those that don't know Gippsland where we lived it was COLD and rainy and cold . Our hot water bill for a year was $1.05 there were 2 babies in material nappies. lots of hot washes . I also planted trees around the house to shade in summer bare of leaves in Winter.

If I had the funds I would love to build one more house another passive solar with all the mod cons.

Hey there Cazzz. I'm always collecting info for the day that I get to have my own house. You have me fascinated by your story above. Passive solar is sooooo important. I tried to message you but I couldn't find messages on your profile. Now i'm just your follower. Love to know more detail. Feel free to message me.

did message you will look up why no contact on my page I'd say I missed that bit setting up..sorry

Sounds perfect Cazz, and how it should be!!

I hope the new year brings forth more affordable & accessible quality solar passive design to the mainstream architecture & home building but unfortunately you are the exception to the rule Cazz45.

@7weed1 you must make it a mission since you are so passionate & good luck!

Thanks Louie, Solar panels are to be covering the North and Western sides of my house this time next week ..WOOHOOO Although this house is 80-90 years old and many things too costly to alter I'm working it..how be it ever so slowly. Rome wasn't built in a day they tell me... :D

That's what my mum told me too, time & time again!

Your enthusiasm shows and who knows it might take off!!!

What company did you choose as I too would love solar but scared off by all the bad press from media etc. & cheap imports not built to last??

I have often wondered why solar is not more widely installed from day 1 as part of the construction costs, another point to ponder.....are there any studies investigating if there is any insulation effect on the roof where the panels are? I believe there is window glass available in Germany with barely visible solar collectors acting as part of the solar power system. Imagine the the household energy savings--we had 14 panels facing North installed about 4 and half years ago, the only gas we use is for the Rinnai Infinity hot water. The annual power bill is around $500 maximum while the gas is about $300!

Louie if you wait until everything is right the boat will have left long ago , don't mean to sound mean.

My dad told me as a kid aim high buy the best you can afford, I often go without for awhile so I get what I want. He taught me how to do so many things I credit him for teaching me to have a good eye, how to see colour. how to laugh. Unfortunately for me that boat I mentioned left the shore without me and I had to paddle my own canoe to catch it, we went down a few rapids along the way. It makes you who you are in the end.

What Solar Company you ask - I didn't, I had a number of Solar people come and 'sell' me the goods. I went with a local guy who didn't assume I didn't know about them, as I had researched prior I knew I wanted German made panels. I just didn't let on I knew what I wanted. This guy was the only one that spoke about them offered other brands. I picked his brain too by the way, on lots of things he is an Electrician so he will get more work from me. He also understands in time I want to have a battery bank but the pricing here is too high still.

Have fun with life Louie

All good Cazz, I asked a couple of electricians too & they were just as in the dark yaying & naying.

In the end the one we had for a reno took a 'deal' around Christmas last year. I do know I too want German made but the other equation was the cost versus the savings which you have kindly given example of.

I'm off to look again for maybe next year I will catch the boat, cheers for that Cazz ;)

RE trees, just look into the root system Plane trees large but deep roots Silver birches fine roots that are shallow frankly if just a fence it won't really matter. If you have a fire place try to have the stack in the house not on the side like most do as when you light the fire stack stays warm for ages hence it will warm the house as well. Sounds like you will have a lovely home..

Dani. It will depend on the tint you choose (there are many); one that prevents others from looking in tends to reflect a lot of heat too so would negatively impact on winter heat gain.

Depending on the use of the room (bedroom, living...) you may find that curtains or honeycomb blinds will give a better result.

How your local politician votes on solar

http://solarscorecard.org.au

Once you've experienced living in a passive solar design ,its hard to go back to compromising and living in less than ideal comfort environments .

It can also be really good to consider integrated landscape design fairly early on in a project. Good landscape design can enhance passive solar building design and ill considered landscape design can easily reduce the benefits. Great post. Thanks

After I had finished my Archi Masters I was working for an architecture firm who also did a small amount of work for a volume builder. They were actually a pretty good quality builder and at least got the orientation of their 'pre-designed' plans correct. We had the ability to make minor changes to every job and it pained me to see so many simple to implement passive options not being incorporated. Had most of their clients known that they would be saving MONEY over the longterm by making a few minor changes to suit their site, they all would have done it. The problem is unless someone can sell this idea to them as a financial/lifestyle choice, many just think it is about saving the world.

It is a no-brainer if you have in interest in it, but for those who don't know, there is no-one there selling it to them, especially on the lower end of the market.

Agree DIMA, most of their clients seem more interested in fitting the 'dream' house on their block....orientation is disregarded by all parties especially the builder who should be pointing the concept out to their client. Money gets in the way but medium to long term the difference in the household bills is considerable to say nothing of the comfort of being able to find a winter sunny spot to relax!

Absolutely. It is a shame that if had someone sold it, everyone would be better off. The client would be happier with their house & would have more money in their pocket. They would rave about their builder, and the architect/drafty wouldn't have that sick feeling while doing working drawings.

unfortunately often even streets are not aligned well to accommodate, passive solar houses!!