Home Design Guides: Regulations, Climate control

We’ve all seen the energy efficiency labels on whitegoods, but what do they mean when it comes to air conditioners?

Air conditioners come with labels these days that indicate how efficiently they're able to cool (and to heat, if they're reverse-cycle models). Find out more about these labels and what to look for.

An important consideration if you're thinking about installing an air conditioner is how much noise it makes, and how that noise will affect your neighbours.

Heating and its associated industries are heavily regulated, mostly because of the obvious fire hazards they pose - but also to control air pollution, and similar issues.

Poor ventilation and ducting not only cause heaters to be inefficient, but are also hazardous. Find out what regulations apply to ducting and ventilation in Australia.

Wood heater and fireplace safety is very important. Both of these methods of heating use open flames, and if not managed correctly can create big problems very quickly.

Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) help people to compare the efficiency of different heaters using the same types of fuel. Find out what these labels mean.

While not as regulated as air conditioning or heating, there are specific Australian Standards that you (and your builder) need to be aware of to ensure that your ventilation complies with building regulations.

Ventilation requirements exist in Australia to help prevent the likelihood of 'sick building syndrome'. These need to be carefully addressed when building a home with a tight building envelope.

Garages, sheds and workshops, particularly those where dust, particles or sprays float around, may require extra ventilation to ensure your safety.

It's important that you only have licensed technicians do work on your air conditioners. Find out about the different types of air conditioning licenses.

There are regulations that dictate where you can place a chimney, both in relation to your own roof and the roofs of neighbouring properties. Find out how this applies to your home.

The Building Code of Australia sets out specific rules about how houses need to be insulated. Find out more about what's required for your house, in your state or territory.

Depending on what the climate's like where you live in Australia, different regulations apply to the amount and type of insulation that needs to be installed.

There are a number of regulations in Australia that will affect how you design your home. These regulations mostly exist to ensure that liveable areas are healthy and safe.