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How to make your home energy efficient

Adding a second storey or ground floor extension to your home is a great way to accommodate for a growing family or to create additional living space.

Are you considering a second storey addition or ground floor extension to your home, but concerned about the impact it could have on your energy consumption? Fortunately, with today’s technology and design practices, creating an energy-efficient home is easier than ever before. In this blog post, we’ll explore some ways to make your home addition both eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Heating and Cooling

For heating and cooling, the first thing you can do is choose a system that works with your specific needs. Options include split-system air conditioners, wall-mounted heating, and cooling units or ceiling fans. Consider natural gas, electric, solar power or hydronic heating to reduce your heating and cooling bills over time. Another way to reduce energy consumption is by using insulation, which will help to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You can also install double-glazed or Low-E glazed windows to help prevent heat loss during colder months.

Hot Water Systems

Your hot water system is another major contributor to energy usage. Consider installing a solar hot water system to lower energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. This system works by using solar panels to heat your water, which can then be stored in a tank for later use. An electric heat pump system is also a good option.

Lighting

Choosing the right lighting for your home will provide energy savings long-term. LED lights use far less energy and last longer than traditional halogens. They are also safe, reliable and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Appliances and Technology

Many appliances and devices in our homes use significant amounts of electricity. Choosing energy-efficient options when shopping for new appliances like a fridge, dishwasher, washing machine or air-conditioner is a great way to reduce power usage. Even switching off appliances when not in use can make a significant difference to your energy bill.

Connected Home

A connected home is a smart home that uses technology to manage energy use. For example, you can connect your heating and cooling systems to a smart thermostat, allowing you to automate your home’s temperature settings. This means your home will always be at the perfect temperature and energy will be used efficiently as the system will learn your preferences.

Solar Panel/Photovoltaic Systems

A photovoltaic system is a type of solar panel that generates electricity when sunlight hits the panels. Once installed, you can power your home using energy from the sun, saving you money on electricity bills and reducing your environmental impact.

Batteries

Batteries are a great way to store excess energy and utilise it when needed, making your home entirely self-sufficient. Battery options like Tesla’s Powerwall allow you to store electricity generated by solar panels throughout the day for use at night when electricity prices are higher.

Rainwater

Incorporating a rainwater tank into your second storey addition or ground floor extension is an excellent way to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Instead of letting stormwater run off your roof, a rainwater tank can collect this water and store it for later use, reducing your reliance on mains water. You can then use this water for watering the garden or flushing toilets, saving you money on expensive water bills. In addition to its practical uses, using rainwater tanks is an eco-friendly solution that reduces your home’s environmental impact, making it a worthwhile investment in the long run.

Let us help you build an energy efficient Addition or Extension

Making your Second Storey Addition or Ground Floor Extension energy efficient can help reduce your environmental impact and save you money on energy bills. With a range of options available, from insulation and efficient lighting to renewable energy systems, there’s never been a better time to create an eco-friendly home addition or extension. No matter what your budget or needs, there are measures you can take to create a home that is sustainable, comfortable and cost-effective.

At 32 Degrees Building, we can help you along the journey toward an energy-efficient home addition or extension.

Feel free to contact us to learn more!



Wow! Sydney’s new cost effective trend for family living – Multi-generational Living!




Trainee’s Efforts Rewarded With Full-Time Role

It is always great to see a trainee excel and be rewarded with a full-time role once they complete their qualification.

That’s been the case for Kelsey Ray, who has just completed her Certificate III in Business Administration with us here at 32 Degrees Building.

Kelsey is “delighted” to be staying on with the business, which specialised in custom built new homes, first floor additions and ground floor extensions. She will continue in an administration type role, utilising the skills she has developed in customer service, processing payroll and navigating MYOB.

“Kelsey has been a positive addition to our team,” said Victoria Size, Operations Manager at 32 Degrees Building.

“She is assertive in her ability to step in and assist in other areas where she can and is always willing to learn more. Kelsey now has a great understanding of accounts payable and payroll and is continuing her learning path with sales, client support, HR and accounts receivable, which will ensure that she is a great asset to any company she works for.”

The skills and knowledge Kelsey has learnt in her traineeship have been invaluable to her in regards to working in an office environment.

“Being able to develop the skills I need to start my career in business administration in a practical, real world application,” Kelsey said of what she’s enjoyed the most about her traineeship.

A key element to any young employee getting the most out of their traineeship is the support they have around them. Kelsey described the support she received the last year as “excellent”.

“Everyone at 32 Degrees Building have been so willing to share their knowledge and experience with me, and it was comforting to know that My Gateway was always there if I needed help with anything.”

Prior to beginning her traineeship at 32 Degrees Building, Kelsey worked in the veterinary industry and had limited administration experience. This didn’t pose an issue during her traineeship though, with Kelsey displaying an eagerness to learn and to help her colleagues when necessary.

“From the start Kelsey was all about the “why” – she had to understand why she was doing what she was doing and as soon as she understood this, she was able to effectively undertake her new role,” Victoria said.

Kelsey’s development throughout her traineeship has provided her with some great lessons and advice to help anyone looking to do a traineeship.

“Ask for help when you need it,” Kelsey said. “You’re there to learn and no one expects you to know how to do everything straight off the bat, so ask questions when you need to so you can get the support you need.”

“If you’re willing to put the effort in, you won’t regret it. The opportunity to learn on the job is truly invaluable and My Gateway will be there to help every step of the way.”

We are stoked to have Kelsey employed with us full-time as a valuable member of our team and thank My Gateway for their support throughout the process.


Start your career with us

Leading Hands, Carpenters, Carpentry Apprentices and Administrative Staff Required

Due to recent growth, we are looking for leading hands, carpenters, carpentry apprentices and administrative staff that live in the surrounding suburbs along the M4 & M5 corridors to join our team.

To apply, please call 02 4647 2324 and send your resume to admin@32degreesbuilding.com.au

Must have a drivers licence and a ute, an immediate start is available for the right applicant. Attractive packages available to the right candidates and based upon skill level. Apprentices are paid as per the Award.

What do we offer in return?
A challenging, rewarding and safe working environment where you can develop your skills and gain a variety of experience across the residential construction industry. We will help you to cement your future in your chosen trade and offer exciting career opportunities for you.

Apply Here

This Is Why People Love Custom First Floor Additions

First floor additions, also known as second storey extensions are increasingly popular for those homeowners who don’t want to lose valuable garden space but want to increase their family living space. Best of all, going up is easy and our team will do their best to ensure the process is smooth and the build is completed on time and with minimal disruption to your daily lives.

You can have a modern, liveable home with plenty of space for your family – without giving up the location you love.

Our team are the experts in planning and building custom/tailor-designed First Floor Additions

We are often approached by clients who would like to create an open plan living environment downstairs, whilst adding more room for the family to live comfortably upstairs. The best way to achieve this is with a Custom First Floor Addition.

As specialists in these types of builds, we have many years of experience enabling us to easily offer solutions and suggestions on products, layout and how to get the most from your investment. We are able to share with you relevant quality projects that have resulted in many of our clients becoming raving fans.

No Plans? No Worries!

If a client comes to us without plans, part of our service is to organise for a building designer to assist with the plans and design process. This is will be included in our Preliminary Agreement if required.

We can arrange for our draftspeople to consult with our clients at their home and discuss their project requirements. From there we will then provide plans based upon their specifications and work hand in hand with our clients and the draftsperson to ensure the plans continue to work within the tailored build cost estimate that we have provided.

Improve your lifestyle and bring your family together

When building their addition our clients often decide to open up downstairs living spaces, renovate their kitchen and bathrooms and create new living spaces internally and externally. Once the addition and renovation are completed they are left with a finished product that is like moving into a brand new home.

We are able to create open plan living spaces and improve their current living situation. Our mission is to bring families closer together.

Take away the stress, let us help you plan, manage and design your build

We have a streamlined process which is stress-free and fun. When you are building with 32 Degrees Building you don’t have to worry about anything other than choosing what you want to add to your home and we will work with you on the design to suit your home and your lifestyle.

Contact us to start your building journey today

Book An Appointment Now
The Next Step - Pre-Quote Enquiry Form

Not ready to book? Check out our process and how we do things here.

What type of loans can you use to fund your addition or extension?

If you are building an addition or extension on your home you may find yourself needing to arrange finance to pay for the build. We can help you secure the appropriate finance for your build.

Refinance your current mortgage

To pay for your addition or extension you can opt to refinance your existing mortgage. This means that you will use the equity in your home to obtain a loan for a higher amount than what you currently owe to finance your addition or extension project.

The new loan will replace your old loan and you can choose to stay with your existing finance provider or move to a new finance provider. Refinancing has several advantages for homeowners with substantial equity in their homes.

First, it may allow you to obtain lower interest rates without changing your monthly mortgage payment or adding on a new payment.

Second, some lenders “may approve a loan based on the estimated value of your home once the addition is completed,” which is convenient for projects that require a large amount of money, such as a second story addition or ground floor extension.

Take out a Construction Loan

A construction home loan is a type of home loan designed for people who are building a new home, a first floor addition, ground floor extension or doing large scale renovations. It has a different loan structure to home loans designed for people buying an established or existing home.

A construction loan most commonly has a progressive drawdown. That is, you receive instalments of the loan amount at various stages of construction, rather than receiving it all at once at the start. You generally only pay interest on the amount that is drawn down, as opposed to on the whole loan amount.

A number of lenders offer construction loans that are interest-only during the construction period and then revert to a standard principal and interest loan.

Of course, a construction loan is just one potential source of funding for your project. The Federal Government recently unveiled its HomeBuilder scheme, which will give eligible homebuyers and existing owners grants of $25,000 to help them construct or substantially renovate their home. Strict eligibility criteria apply– for example, you’ll need to meet an income test, and be building a new home that’s worth less than $750,000 or a renovation that will cost at least $150,000. For more information visit our blog post here.

We can connect you with our finance specialist to discuss how to get started today.

 

Get a $25,000 contribution towards your Addition, Extension or Renovation through the HomeBuilder Program

Eligible Australians will be able to obtain a $25,000 HomeBuilder grant towards their addition, extension or major renovation under the near – $700 million federal government housing package in a bid to boost the economy and act as a lifeline to the home construction industry (Homebuilder program).

The government announced the $688 million HomeBuilder program on Thursday 4 June 2020. In an attempt to boost new projects between now and the end of the year, the Government will give $25,000 grants to owner-occupiers for certain works on their homes.

These works include first floor/second storey additions, ground floor extensions and large scale renovations.

Renovation work does not include structures separate to the main property, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, granny flats and sheds.

The scheme will not apply to investment properties or owners who intend on building or renovating on their own without the help of licensed builders.

The plan will be restricted to people on middle incomes and to new homes and major renovations valued between $150,000 to $750,000.

The pre-renovation value of the house must not exceed $1.5 million and excludes sheds, pools, granny flats and any other structures not attached to the property.

The temporary scheme that will last until the end of the year, aiming to build 30,000 homes by Christmas.

Construction of a new home or a substantial renovation (including first floor additions, second storey additions and ground floor extensions) must be contracted to begin within three months to prevent a rise in house prices.

The grants will be means-tested, allowing singles who earned up to $125,000 the previous financial year and couples who earned up to $200,000 to access the scheme.

The scheme will work along existing state and territory first-home owner grants programs, stamp duty concessions and other grant schemes, including the federal government’s first-home loan deposit scheme and first-home super saver scheme.

To take advantage of the HomeBuilder Program and secure your $25,000 grant, it is important that you start the planning process now.

Contact us now to discuss your first-floor addition, ground floor extension or large scale renovation project.

 

That’s a wrap for 2019

 

Our team has officially wrapped up things for 2019! Here is an overview of our year!

Our office is now closed until 14th January 2020.

We wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You can still contact us on our website during the break and we will be in touch when we return. For any enquiries please fill out the form below.