Principal Designer and Founder.

Doreen graduated a Bachelor of Architecture with Honours in 2000. Over the last 20+ years Doreen has worked for large development firm Mirvac before opting to work for herself back in 2003. Specialising in the residential sector, Doreen has an amazing wealth of knowledge and experience. From single dwellings to multi-unit developments through to smaller motels, Doreen has worked in great depth with other consultants to always achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients. Doreen takes pride in getting to know the client brief by meeting with them and working through their aspirations and ideas.

Principal Designer and Founder.

THERMAL ASSESSMENTS

AT NEEROD DESIGNS WE PROVIDE THERMAL ASSESSMENTS FOR ALL OUR JOBS AS WELL AS OFFER SERVICES VIA SUBCONTRACT.

WE COMPLETE THE THERMAL ASSESSMENT AT THE INITIAL CONCEPT STAGE IN ORDER TO ADHERE TO THE REQUIRED NATHERS STANDARD, WITHOUT COMPROMISING DESIGN AND AESTHETIC.

THERMAL ASSESSMENTS ARE THE EVALUATION OF A BUILDING'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF ITS ABILITY TO RETAIN HEAT AND MAINTAIN AN IDEAL COMFORTABLE INDOOR TEMPERATURE. THESE ASSESSMENTS TYPICALLY CONSIDER VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE BUILDING, SUCH AS INSULATION LEVELS, VENTILATION SYSTEMS, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS, AND WINDOW GLAZING. THE GOAL OF A THERMAL ASSESSMENT IS TO IMPROVE THE BUILDING'S THERMAL PERFORMANCE BY IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE ENERGY IS BEING LOST, RECOMMEND COST-EFFECTIVE MEASURES AND PROVIDE THE MOST SUSTAINABLE AND COMFORTABLE HOME POSSIBLE.

FROM OCTOBER 2023, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR NEW HOMES FROM 6 TO 7-STAR RATINGS WHEN USING THE NATIONWIDE HOUSE ENERGY RATING SCHEME (NATHERS). 7-STAR HOMES ARE CHEAPER TO HEAT AND COOL, MORE COMFORTABLE TO LIVE IN, AND MORE RESILIENT TO EXTREME WEATHER. THE NEW STANDARDS CAN BE MET THROUGH RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND LOW-COST CHANGES, PARTICULARLY IF DESIGN IS CONSIDERED EARLY IN THE PROCESS OF A NEW HOME BUILD, SUCH AS: A BUILDING DESIGN & ORIENTATION THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF PASSIVE HEATING & COOLING AND SUNLIGHT, IMPROVED CEILING, WALL AND FLOOR INSULATION, AND USING HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED TO MINIMIZE THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY AND COMFORTABLE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR OCCUPANTS. THEY TYPICALLY USE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, EMPLOY ENERGY-EFFICIENT SYSTEMS, AND UTILIZE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS THAT MINIMIZE WASTE AND POLLUTION. A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING IS ALSO DESIGNED TO BE DURABLE AND LONG-LASTING, AND TO REQUIRE MINIMAL MAINTENANCE OVER ITS LIFESPAN. BY REDUCING THEIR RELIANCE ON NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND MINIMIZING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT, SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE.

INSULATION IS A MATERIAL USED TO INSULATE BUILDINGS TO REDUCE HEAT LOSS OR GAIN AND REDUCE NOISE. SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF BUILDING INSULATION ARE MADE FROM FIBERGLASS OR FOAM. FIBERGLASS INSULATION IS MADE FROM GLASS FIBRES AND IS TYPICALLY USED IN THE CEILING AND WALLS. FOAM INSULATION, SUCH AS SPRAY FOAM AND FOAM PANELS, IS USED IN A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS INCLUDING CEILINGS, WALLS, AND FOUNDATIONS. THE R-VALUE, WHICH MEASURES A MATERIAL'S ABILITY TO RESIST HEAT FLOW, IS USED TO COMPARE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSULATION.

WINDOW GLAZING REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING GLASS IN WINDOWS TO PROVIDE INSULATION, SECURITY, AND PRIVACY. THE GLASS USED IN WINDOW GLAZING CAN VARY IN TERMS OF THICKNESS, TYPE, AND COATING, DEPENDING ON THE DESIRED LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE. DOUBLE GLAZING, ALSO KNOWN AS INSULATED GLAZING, INVOLVES THE USE OF TWO PANES OF GLASS SEPARATED BY A SPACER TO CREATE AN AIRTIGHT CHAMBER. THIS CHAMBER HELPS TO REDUCE HEAT TRANSFER AND INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, MAKING DOUBLE GLAZING A POPULAR CHOICE FOR HOMES AND BUILDINGS LOOKING TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION. IN ADDITION TO ENERGY SAVINGS, DOUBLE GLAZING CAN ALSO REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION, IMPROVE COMFORT LEVELS, AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL APPEARANCE OF A BUILDING.

THE ALLOCATION OF SPACE WITHIN YOUR HOME IS NOT ONLY TIED TO DESIGN AESTHETIC, BUT ALSO THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSE TO THE SUN. EFFICIENT BUILDING DESIGN TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE SUN MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT.

• NORTH FACING ROOMS GETS THE MAJORITY SUN THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND ALL YEAR ROUND. MAIN LIVING SPACES LIKE THE LIVING, FAMILY AND DINING ROOMS SHOULD BE NORTH FACING.

• EAST FACING ROOMS GET THE MORNING SUN AND ARE COOLER IN THE EVENING. BEDROOMS, KITCHENS AND DINING LOCATED HERE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE SUMMER EVENINGS AND WINTER MORNINGS.

• WEST FACING ROOMS GETS THE AFTERNOON SUN AND WOULD REQUIRE MEASURES REDUCE HEAT TRANSFER. NON-HABITABLE SPACES LIKE THE GARAGE AND LAUNDRY CAN BE PLACED HERE.

• SOUTH FACING ROOMS GET NO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND HAVE LITTLE HEAT GAIN. NON-HABITABLE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE SPEND LITTLE TIME, REQUIRE LITTLE TO NO GLAZING, OR ARE VISITED INFREQUENTLY SHOULD BE LOCATED HERE. THESE MAY INCLUDE BATHROOMS, WALK-IN ROBES AND STAIRCASES.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION AND SUSTAINABILITY GO HAND-IN-HAND AS PROPER VENTILATION NOT ONLY HELPS TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY, BUT IT CAN ALSO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. MODERN MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO BE ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND USE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, SUCH AS SOLAR POWER, TO MINIMIZE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME SYSTEMS UTILIZE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW FOR THE TRANSFER OF HEAT FROM OUTGOING AIR TO INCOMING AIR, REDUCING THE ENERGY NEEDED FOR HEATING AND COOLING. ADDITIONALLY, MANY MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS USE HIGH-EFFICIENCY FILTERS AND USE NATURAL VENTILATION TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS OPENING WINDOWS, TO MAXIMIZE ENERGY EFFICIENCY. BY USING MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE DESIGNED WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND, BUILDING OWNERS AND OPERATORS CAN HELP TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

FOR A THERMAL ASSESSMENT QUOTE, PLEASE EMAIL ENQUIRIES@NEERODDESIGNS.COM.AU AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

• NAME

• PHONE NUMBER

• WORKING DRAWING DOCUMENTATION

• PLAN OF SUBDIVISION

Principal Designer and Founder.

Principal Designer and Founder.

THERMAL ASSESSMENTS

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