Designing homes that work with nature, not against it.
Passive solar construction combines intelligent design principles to harmonise your home with its natural surroundings. The result is a highly energy-efficient home that maintains comfortable indoor living all year round.
At LG Builders, we specialise in creating homes tailored to the unique and diverse climate of Central Victoria. We carefully design each home to suit its specific environment—maximising natural light, airflow, and thermal performance.
Our range of thoughtfully developed standard designs can be adapted to different climate conditions, making the journey from planning to construction smooth and efficient.
11 Principles for Climate Adaptive Passive Solar Homes
Design for climate
Australia has 8 main climate zones (as specified by the National Construction Code), and it is important to make sure your home is designed to suit your climate zone, in Central Victoria we’re in two main climate zones, Cool and Mild temparate, this is where we foucus out attention .
Passive heating
solar heating lets in winter sun into your home and ensures that the building envelope keeps heat inside. It must be matched by careful designing and management of summer heat, “keeping it out”.
Passive cooling
techniques cool both the house and the people in it, using elements such as air movement, evaporative cooling and thermal mass.
Orientation
is the way you place your home on its site to take advantage of the sun and the prevailing winds in your location. Good orientation can significantly improve comfort and reduce your heating and cooling needs.
Thermal mass
is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat energy. Appropriate use of thermal mass in your home can save significantly on heating and cooling costs.
Insulation
acts as a barrier to heat flow and is essential for keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Some types of insulation can also help with weatherproofing and soundproofing.
Glazing
windows and doors have a significant effect on your home’s thermal performance – up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87% gained through glazing. Choose the right glazing for your home, climate and orientation.We specialise in high performace windows.
Shading
Appropriate shading, which can include eaves, awnings, shutters, and plantings — can maximise thermal comfort by allowing in winter sun but blocking summer rays. The most appropriate strategy will differ with climate and orientation.
Skylights & roof windows
Skylights are a good source of natural light, and careful choice and placement can minimise any contribution to glare or heat gain.
Ventilation & airtightness
with fresh air is essential for a healthy home, but it should be controlled rather than through unwanted air leaks. Sealing your home is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to increase your comfort and reduce energy costs.
Condensation
in a home can cause rot and mould. With a more airtight home, you must pay more attention to appropriate building membranes and management of ventilation.
Tips to Maximise Passive Solar Design Features for Our Climate
On average,
A 7 star home in Melbourne is predicted to use 27% less energy for heating and cooling compared to a 6 star home.
A 7 star home in Melbourne is predicted to use 27% less energy for heating and cooling compared to a 6 star home.
And an 8 star home is predicted to use a massive 53% less energy
Maximise Your Passive Solar Design Features
LG Builders designs and builds with particular features that, if understood and operated as intended, can help reduce the need to artificially cool and heat the home in summer and winter, whilst still retaining a comfortable home.
Natural Ventilation
Open doors and windows for cross-ventilation breezes.
External Shading
Externally shade windows to prevent summer sun exposure.
Active Zoning
Close internal doors to target heating/cooling specifically to occupied areas.
Smart Glazing
Add window and door tinting to reduce sun getting into your home.
Ceiling Fans
Check the seasonal setting of any ceiling fans.
Winter Shading
Allow windows to receive winter warmth through removing temporary shading.
Morning Cooling
Close doors and windows early on hot days to reduce entry of heated air.
Curtain Strategy
Draw curtains or blinds to retain heated air in winter and reduce sun in summer.
Night Purging
Open windows and doors at night following a hot day to purge heated air.
Orientation Guidance
Our team will lead you through and discuss the correct orientation of your new home to maximise your home’s efficient use of our natural resources.
