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The winter months in Australia are officially June, July, August and now that I'm firmly established in Oberon, I'm currently experiencing the cold temperatures and high winds that this town is famous (notorious!) for. It struggled to make 7°C today but it's the wind chill that makes the difference. It's been really howling today and the SW wind comes all the way from Antarctica. The forecast had said snow, but so far there's none here yet.
This house that I'm renting is very inefficient so far as thermal insulation is concerned. I'm dreading the gas and electric bills coming in. I'm really looking forward to getting in to the new house, which I have designed after much research into passive solar efficiency concepts. The plan is based around a courtyard and it will be very well insulated with full double glazing and incorporating Trombe walls. These are large internal walls of considerable mass, positioned to capture, through the windows, lots of radiant heat from the sun. Australia has plenty of sun, even in cold Oberon, so this is a free source of energy which should minimise the costs of keeping warm in this highland area. Oberon is at 1100 metres.
You'll see from the photos that the house site preparation earthworks have been quite substantial, but locating the house on top of the hill gives the most magnificent views. So the top of the hill had to be removed to give a level base. The material was used to make up the access road and here's where I could have done with Ralph's civil engineering knowledge. Although the road is finished and looks very nice, I currently have a problem with the run-off water eroding the "batter" or side of the embankment, but I'm sure it will be fixed after some drainage channels have been put in.
I had hoped to have a new photo of some Aussie snow to include with this e-mail but maybe that will have to come later. At the moment I'm tucked up snug and reasonably warm inside my temporary house. The wind is howling outside but I'm stopping in here! 'must be getting soft in my old age, or maybe I'm getting smarter and conserving my strength for when the building starts!!!