Breaking down and understanding Synergy by SJD Homes inclusions.

Synergy by SJD Homes has been specially designed and tested to respond to local climate patterns and deliver greater comfort inside your home, significantly reducing your homes bills, and allowing you to experience a brighter, cleaner, and healthier life. But what does this all mean?

This level of sustainable living remains an incredibly new and foreign concept to the average homeowner, so we thought we’d break down each of our 3 Synergy packs to help you understand what each element does and how they can benefit both your hip pocket and our planet.

SEVEN STAR AIR TIGHT PACK

Improving energy efficiency begins from the very moment you begin your search for a block of land to build on. It is essential to ensure your block has the correct orientation (i.e. which way the block is facing). The sun and its position in the sky throughout the day can have a dramatic impact on your homes ability to retain heat in winter and remain cool in summer. In Melbourne, the path of the sun is to the north, so good orientation generally aims for the living areas of your home to face north. North-facing rooms (ideally the living and kitchen areas, with big windows) therefore receive sun for the longest period of the day in winter and are easily shaded by the eaves of the roof in summer.

This passive heating and cooling of your home is essential in lowering energy production to mechanically heat the home and contributes significantly to a reduced energy demand.

Given the correct orientation, optioning our Synergy upgrades can effectively then take any of our Signature Range floorplans to a Seven Star energy rating.

Double glazed windows and sliding doors have a significant effect on the thermal performance of the home. Double glazing is made up of two panes of glass separated by an air gap that is filled with Argon gas. Without this, up to 40% of a homes heat can be lost in winter, and up to 87% of heat can be gained in summer from direct sunlight. Double glazing plays a part in maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the home and reducing noise from the outside world.

Insulation batts also play a key part in creating a barrier between your home and the external elements. Insulation is a thick material that we place in the ceiling, external walls, and internal wet area walls to prevent the flow of heat and assist in maintaining the temperature in the home. The higher the R value of the insulation batt, the thicker the insulation is and the more effective it is at resisting heat flow.

Along with double glazing and insulation, sealed cavity pockets, upgraded thermal wrap, caulking to the bottom plate, and insulation between window and wall frames all contribute to creating airtightness through the home – reducing heat loss, air infiltration, and external noise.

In simple terms, the elements of the Synergy Seven Star Air Tight Pack work together to create a consistent temperature throughout the home across all seasons of the year.

⁠ALL ELECTRIC PACK

With an ever-growing network of renewable energy suppliers and constantly developing technology, it’s now easier than ever to power your home entirely electrically. The Synergy All Electric Pack removes the gas connection completely from the allotment and relies solely on electricity and renewable energy to power the home.

In lieu of gas hot water, a Reclaim heat pump hot water service runs on electricity and is roughly three times more efficient than a conventional gas water heater. Not only does it reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower power bills, but it also supplies hot water to you significantly faster.

Split systems and heat panels are used to heat and cool the home in lieu of gas ducted heating, along with an induction cooktop in lieu of a gas cooktop. We’ve even future proofed your garage and thrown in a power point for an electric vehicle charger, and three phase power to the entire allotment.

SOLAR PACK

Solar may be a little more familiar to most average homeowners, with the uptake of solar power in residential homes increasing tenfold over the past 10 years. But how does solar really work?

Solar panels convert sunlight to direct current (DC) which is fed into a solar inverter to be converted to alternate current (AC) which is then used to power your home. Surplus energy is fed back into the mains power grid and you are paid a ‘feed-in-tariff’ for each unit of electricity that your PV solar system exports.

A 5kw PV inverter system generates an average of 18 kilowatt hours of electricity each day. In Melbourne, a typical house consumes around 15 kilowatt hours of electricity each day.  This means your home is actually generating more power than it is consuming. This in turn reduces your annual electricity bill because you are paid for the excess energy you export back to the grid.

Our homes are one of the greatest consumers of energy, with the average Australian home producing around 7 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Approximately 200,000 new homes are built in Australia each year. – that’s 1.4 million extra tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. So not only do sustainable homes make sense as a financial benefit to the homeowner, but also for the future of our planet.

Minimal environmental impact, maximum energy efficiency, uncompromised style. Synergy by SJD Homes proves just how comfortable and affordable energy efficient homes can be, without compromising on style. For more information, click here or chat with your SJD Homes Building Consultant.