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Guides

Plain English guides to north facing house plans, working out which way your block faces, and passive solar design. Written by the architect who reviews every plan on Dudils.

North Facing House Plans: What It Really Means

What a north facing house plan actually is, why it matters in Australia, and how to tell whether a plan will work on your block. Written by the architect who reviews every plan on Dudils.

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How To Work Out Which Way Your Block Faces

A simple step by step way to work out which way your block faces and where the sun will fall, so you can choose a house plan whose living areas point north.

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Which Rooms Should Face North In an Australian Home

North is good for almost every room, so get as many onto it as the block allows. Living areas are the ones you never compromise, and even the laundry and bathrooms want north to help them dry and stay mould free. Only the garage and study are better out of the sun. Written by the architect who reviews every plan on Dudils.

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Passive Solar Design Basics For Australian Homes

The five ideas behind passive solar design, orientation, glazing, shading, thermal mass and insulation, and how they add up to a home that is warm in winter and cool in summer.

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How To Choose Windows and Glazing for an Australian Home

Windows are the weakest part of your thermal envelope. Here is how to read U value, SHGC and VLT, match the glass to each orientation, and choose a frame that performs. Written by the architect who reviews every plan on Dudils.

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How To Build an Efficient All Electric Home

The order to spend your money in for an efficient all electric home: roof first, then walls, floor and windows, then reverse cycle heating, heat pump hot water and good lighting. From the architect who reviews every plan on Dudils.

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Natural Light and Healthy Home Lighting

Why natural light matters for wellbeing, the 6 metre rule for windows, and how to choose electric lighting that reads like daylight. From the architect who reviews every plan on Dudils.

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