|
Think of brick as an energy saver:
Brickwork’s thermal mass can help reduce our energy dependency.
Heating and cooling is the largest energy component in an average Australian house. Reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling by harnessing natural energy, through incorporating thermal mass into your sustainable design.
Image Source: Your Home, Technical Manual,
sec 4.0, Australian Greenhouse Office, |
|
Thermal mass is an essential part of passive design, the proven technique that harnesses natural energy to help reduce the dependence on artificial means of heating and cooling.
 |
The following passive design principles work together to naturally heat and cool a home:
• Orientation
• Ventilation
• Insulation, and
• Thermal Mass
The interconnected principles of passive design act to maintain a level of thermal comfort naturally. A building designed with these sustainable principles (tailored to the climate zone) should be less reliant on artificial forms of heating and cooling and thereby reduce the impact of the home in the long term.
Materials with thermal mass act to naturally moderate temperatures by their ability to act as a thermal battery. Recent Australian research has demonstrated the ability of thermal mass to moderate temperatures to a range more consistent with the human comfort zone. |
For further information please refer to the following brochures:
For more information on Sustainable Building please use the links below:
