Houses featuring passive and active solar design elements will open their doors in all capital cities and many regions across Australia and New Zealand during the first Solar House Day on 8 September.
Solar House Day is organised by members of the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES) in conjunction with the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO).
The event offers the opportunity to explore actual solar homes to gain insight into the effectiveness, comfort and economic efficiencies of good residential design.
Keith Lovegrove, ANZSES President explains, "The aim of our inaugural Solar House Day is to demonstrate just how simple it is to build or renovate a home that requires virtually no heating or cooling other than that provided by the sun and environment.
“Energy efficiency, insulation, window type and distribution, air leakage, heat gain (or loss), orientation, thermal mass, heat storage and release, summer ventilation control and overall design-for-comfort are the many beneficial aspects of passive solar design that will be on show at the Solar House Day”.
Tickets can be purchased on the day from the first house visited which will then allow access to all the other ‘open houses’ in the surrounding region on the day.
At each house, visitors will receive a fact sheet and directions for a self guided tour around the property where they will see working, lived-in examples of classic passive solar designs, trombe walls, earth sheltering, double glazing, seasonal shading and much more.
Visitors will also learn how homes are energy rated and meet with designers and householders who will give their first hand knowledge on designing, building and living in high energy rated homes.
Information regarding the Federal Government's generous Photovoltaic Rebate Program (PVRP) of up to $7500 will also be available and some solar houses will feature working installations that use solar energy to directly generate power for the household, with surplus energy sold back into the State grid.
Details about the solar houses that will be open on the day can be found at www.solarhouseday.com.