Location

The coastal zone north of Mackay

Description

This zone is characterised by hot humid summers, warm winters and high summer rainfall.

Average January mean temperature¹

31.5^oC

Average July mean temperature¹

25.7^oC

Passive design features²

The design’s main aim is to cool the interior of the home all year round. The main passive design features that can be used to achieve this are:

• northern orientation for living room, with low-use rooms facing west eg. garages, bathroom and laundry
• minimise east and west facing walls and windows
• allow for good ventilation - windows and doorways able to catch breezes
• ceiling fans and high ceilings
• wide eaves and awnings to shade the whole house
• ensure roof space is well-insulated and ventilated e.g. whirlybirds and eave vents
• insulate walls
• lighter building materials, such as timber and metal
• treat sun exposed windows e.g. tinting
• using high performance glazing where windows are exposed directly to the sun, for example low-e or tinted glazing on eastern and western aspects
• if using air-conditioning ensure room is well-insulated and sealed
• a light coloured roof.

For further information on 6-star housing design, refer to the Design guide for 6-star energy equivalence housing.

^1.Bureau of Metrology (Cairns).

^2. The specific performance requirement P1 of the Queensland Development Code 4.1–Sustainable buildings would have to be met for the building shell - roofs, walls, windows and floors.