HOT PROPERTY
When you think of winter, what images come to mind? Perhaps it’s sipping steaming mugs of hot chocolate while curled up with your favourite book, or enjoying the company of friends and family by a roaring fire. Regardless of your favourite winter pastime, it’s imperative your house can withstand the harsh winter climate, and this often starts with the building envelope of your home. This encapsulates the components that make up the outside structure of your home — the roof, exterior walls, floor, windows and exterior doors. In winter, the ideal building envelope is a “tight” one that will keep in the heat and stop the cold air from entering.
DESIGN FOR THERMAL COMFORT
A well-designed home that harnesses the principles of good passive design (heating and cooling) will help you to stay snug in winter. Architect Alex Porebski from Porebski Architects says the key elements are a home’s orientation, design and insular properties.
“Orientation is very important; north-facing living rooms (and bedrooms if it’s a two-storey home) maximise warming sunlight,” he says. The
