Energy Smart Housing Manual

If you’re building or renovating your home, make the most of your investment by incorporating energy efficiency into the design.

Investing in good design as early as possible will provide a home with increased comfort levels year-round and offer the opportunity to save on water and energy bills now and into the future. The Energy Smart Housing Manual will help you comply with the 6 Star Standard regulations, or exceed minimum standards and reduce construction costs.

Who will find the Energy Smart Housing Manual useful?

This is a resource for prospective home builders, renovators, builders, local councils and students to use as a guide. The manual illustrates sustainable home design – incorporating building practices – and allow users to create a comfortable and high quality home.

Before building or renovating, this manual will equip you with the knowledge to take to builders and designers.

What is the Energy Smart Housing Manual?

The Energy Smart Housing Manual is a comprehensive and easy to read manual that explains six key energy efficiency concepts specific to Victorian regulations and climate conditions, and how incorporating these design guidelines will contribute to greater energy efficiency to maximise comfort levels year-round.

The six key concepts

Sun and climate
Understand how the position of the sun and Victoria’s different climates affect the energy needs and comfort of your home.

Siting
Provides guidelines on siting your home on the block to maximise Winter warmth, regulate Summer heat and improve solar access.

Windows
How window size, position and window coverings affect energy efficiency.

Insulation
Understand the properties of different types of insulation for different parts of the building and best practice installation.

Thermal mass
How thermal mass affects energy efficiency and guidance on how to make best use of thermal mass in a building.

Air leakage and movement
How to control unwanted air leakage and save energy.