Latest News

AccuRATE V1.1.3.0

The latest version of 2nd Gen BTP Assessment tools has been released.

DoP agree to a new Pilot to commence early February 2007.

BASIX (DIY) Review

ABSA instrumental in securing DoP DIY Sustainability Tool - DoP Review...not independent but a starting point

Visit the ABSA Site for further details.

DIY found to lower the standard of Residential Building BTP in NSW - varies between 200% to 400% below Simulation Method when compared with NatHERS and far more variation expected to AccuRATE.

ESD Wood

ESD Heating fuels

Effective heating fuels should contain high calorific value in operation.

While it is possible to heat (and cool) by conversion, notably with reverse cycle processes, this approach uses large quantities of fuel (electricity) with a low calorific value thus making them inefficient.

The effect of this technology is to move heating/cooling opposite to the direction of natural flow.

A continuous energy import is required to maintain heating and cooling comfort levels.

ESD Environmental issues

Where electricity is generated by fossil fuels, there are environmental impacts on a large scale and there are local environmental impacts associated with reverse cycle processes.

This is most noticeable where the reverse cycle system is in cooling mode, and expelling heat to the already hot external atmosphere. Larger energy consumptions are required as a consequence of pumping superheating air from the condenser to the outside atmosphere around the building and as a consequence the machinery struggles to cope with the cooling demand.

ESD Low energy

The advantages of introducing heating where required in a low energy demand building include that:-

only modest amounts of heating are required to supplement the building's solar gain, the thermal storage and envelope insulation retention of warmth
the supplementary heating can cease once initial comfort is achieved
the initial heating can be circulated around the whole space by ceiling fans, and the retained heat in thermal mass elements balances the warming.

Gas fuels

Gas fuels often have the same limitations as electricity.

Where gas is captured from fossil fuel sources (natural gas deposits, extraction from coal and coke), and the complex hydro-carbons created burn they produce a range of pollutants.

However, gas has potential with simpler hydro-carbons, notably methane, available from land fill and sewerage processing, where burning creates simple gas pollutants capable of absorption into the environment with minimal detrimental effect.

Further evolution of the gas industry includes the use of hydrogen, generated by electrolysis, where combustion generates principally water as the waste product.

In contrast, electricity is difficult to generate by renewable resources in sufficient quantities and rates that are drawn by reverse cycle systems.

Use of wood fuel

Wood fuel is associated with smog and air pollution.

Wood fuel for heating may be inappropriate in locations where airborne pollutants do not disperse, notably in air trapped by terrain or inversion layers in the atmosphere, despite improvements in combustion technology.

Wood fuel is also inappropriate where the fuel source is not able to be replenished at point of use in sufficient amounts to maintain usage levels.

The most applicable wood fuel uses therefore can be space and cooking heating on remote sites where wood re-growth matches wood fuel use thereby mitigating both environmental land impact and air pollution/mitigation cycles.

The use of wood heating including boost to water heating systems in locations of detached buildings on remote land revegetation projects where bushfire protection maintenance, vegetation die-back detritus, and wood harvesting are matched with ornamental, erosion protection and wood re-growth planting by the occupiers.

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Last Modified: Sunday, 21 January 2007 10:57:37 AM