Design Principles

BASIX encourages you to choose a design that is appropriate to the climate that the dwelling will be located in (which is also referred to as passive design principles). This includes:

• Orientation - balancing solar access for winter warming (if required) while avoiding overheating in summer;
• Windows - balancing heat, light, ventilation and views;
• Ventilation - managing cooling breezes and reducing uncontrolled air leakage;
• Insulation - reducing uncontrolled heat gain and loss through the building fabric;
• Thermal mass - stabilising internal temperatures especially when there is a large diurnal range; and
• Shading- balancing heat, light and glare.