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5). Water conservation is employed through the use of cycling greywater to water garden plants and grass (City of Subiaco, 2006a).
Environmental aspects in terms of utilizing nature to aid in the heating and cooling of the house were designed into the structure's orientation. The preceding is exemplified by facing the living area windows to permit the low angle sun in the winter to enter and through the utilization of eves along with awnings to limit the heat of the summer sun from heating the structure . In addition, shade trees are used to shield the windows from the rays of the summer sun, yet in the winter when the leaves disappear, they permit the rays to enter the home to aid in heating as well as light. The use of what is termed louvered pergola with angled slats performs the same heat reduction and warmth functions as the shade trees. This same principle of cooling is utilized for the warmer months through positioning the house, and thus its windows to maximize airflow based upon historical prevailing wind trends (City of Subiaco, 2006a).
Orientation Windows Interior Walls
The placement of windows, as well as their sizes, aid in the heating and cooling properties of the house through capturing the sun's warmth in the winter and permitting maximum airflow during the warmer months. To aid in warmer weather cooling, the walls have been positioned so as not to obstruct airflow, thus aiding in the reduction of temperatures on wall surfaces as well as floors. The floor surfaces are made of tile to also assist in this process. The house's living areas face north to permit the low lying winter sun top heat the tiled concrete floors along with the internal brick walls and thermal mass rubble staircase. The sleeping areas are located to the south as the house builds up thermal holding of heat stays during the day, and the location represents cooler rooms during the warmer months (City of Subiaco, 2006a).
Bathrooms, Laundry and Kitchen
Often overlooked, this aspect of design planning represents an important internal environmental factor in that their placement minimizes mildew growth and aids in keeping allergens low. Located to provide access to the laundry room and garage, the kitchen is centrally located for convenience as well as utility (City of Subiaco, 2006a).
Materials Used
Installation represents the core of the thermal control utilized throughout the home to maximize heat retention in the winter and cooling properties in the summer. Through the utilization of differing building materials in differing segments of the home in variations of thickness, the balance of proper thermal mass provides the foundation to achieve these benefits. Materials such as double brick walls with cavity insulation, lightweight steel roof, and exterior cladding are components that save energy and contribute to environmentally friendly operational costs (City of Subiaco, 2006a).
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