Sydney Community College

Cool Home, Healthy Home

This course will assist householders to live more comfortably in a healthier home, lower their cost of living and their environmental footprint.

If you want to learn how to make your home Healthy in Sydney, then this course is for you.

Agenda

During this course the intention is that the following topics will be covered, but not necessarily in the order given. Due to the variable nature of Adult Education classes, parts of the curriculum may be adapted to suit the needs of the class.

Why Be Green At Home?:

• Understanding the drivers of sustainable living – cost, ETS, health, Climate Change, pollution
• Understanding the environmental impact of homes
• Toxicity at home – understanding the causes and impacts
• Setting personal goals and projects (journal/workbook activity)

Design For Comfort:

• Understanding passive design principles
• Passive heating and cooling
• Reviewing participant homeplans and determining design improvements (whole group, journal activity)

Thermally Efficient Homes:

• Understanding residential thermal properties
• How to improve the thermal properties of windows and walls
• Insulation types, their uses and your health
• Thermal zones
• Roof ventilation – to Whirlybird or not to Whirlybird?
• Reviewing participant home plans and determining design improvements (whole group, journal activity)

Sustainable Heating:

• How water systems, their environmental impacts and their cost return benefits
• Solar power
• Energy efficient heating and cooling systems
• Reviewing participant home plans and determining design improvements (whole group, journal activity)

Water Efficiency At Home:

• Overview of typical water usage, cost and issues
• Water usage reduction strategies in the home
• Rainwater, greywater and blackwater harvesting
• Low water use gardens
• Reviewing participants home plans and determining design improvements (whole group, journal activity)

Healthy Homes:

• Toxicity risks and impacts
• Building materials (joinery and adhesives) – low and high toxicity options, costs and benefits
• Finishings (paint and fabric) – low and high toxicity options, costs and benefits
• Cleaning – low and high toxicity options, costs and benefits
• Reviewing participant home plans and determining design improvements (whole group, journal activity)

Green Gadgets And Geeks:

• Energy efficient lighting
• ‘Green’ (and not so green) behaviours and their impact on cost and footprint
• Understanding energy and water rating schemes
• Energy saving gadgets
• Reviewing participant home plans and determining optimal design (whole group and journal activity)

Making Changes At Home:

• Working on participant projects
• Costs, benefits and pay-back periods of common green investments
• Residential rebate schemes (NSW and Australia)

Objectives

The intended Learning Outcomes for this course are as follows.

By the end of the course, the student will:

• Understand the environmental and health issues impacting their home and budget
• Know sustainable home design principles
• Know about energy efficient cooling, heating and lighting for their home
• Know about water efficient homes and gardens
• Know about solar power and heating
• Know about energy efficient appliances and lighting
• Know about healthy and sustainable material selection
• Know about energy and water efficient householder behaviour
• Know about costs, rebates and pay-back periods
• Have planned and worked on their own projects

Other Information

Please bring a pen and paper.

Design & Technology Ctr, cnr Gordon St & Victoria Rd, Rozelle. If driving, no left turn into Gordon St, so turn left into Lilyfield Rd, then first right into Gordon St.

PLS NOTE: All classes need a minimum number of students to go ahead. If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled and you will be informed.***Please be aware that you may be informed of a cancellation &/or change via SMS or E-mail.