A basic understanding of thermal mass and how heat, air and moisture operate in our climate will mean less temperature shock in our homes.
A sunny blue sky on a crisp, frosty morning is a familiar winter scene in Australia, vividly reflecting the dilemma posed by the extremes in our climate.
From near-freezing winter conditions, to roasting heat in the summer: how can we make buildings so that they provide perfect, energy-efficient interior temperatures all year round in Australia?
As CSR has discovered, the answer lies in understanding thermal mass, insulation, glazing, shading and ventilation while incorporating them effectively into the design and construction of quality buildings.
In combination, each of these features enable us to cope with our climate making the best use of heat, air and moisture (HAM).
At CSR House, one of Australia's leading research facilities, in Schofields, western Sydney, valuable insights are being gained on how buildings respond to varying conditions while providing comfort to their occupants.
On most winter mornings in Schofields the ambient temperature drops to below 2°C; the external brick wall of CSR House would typically record 5°C at 6:30am. However, the internal wall surfaces and concrete slab only drop to 17°C; and with the heating system turned off the minimum air temperature inside remains at 16°C. Try this in most new homes and it's likely to be closer to a brisk 8-10°C.
This and other tests conducted on the structure of CSR House demonstrate how insulation, thermal mass, glazing and controlled ventilation play such a vital role in maintaining comfort within.
There are well established concepts in the building science community that govern the performance of thermally-efficient, low-energy buildings.
