--- title: Blog url: 'https://newenergythinking.com/blog' markdown: 'https://newenergythinking.com/blog.md' date: '2026-10-27' description: 'Welcome to the New Energy Thinking blog' --- 1st Jan 1970 ##### [\_drafts](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/_drafts) 17th Jun 2024 ##### [Series: Straithouse](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/series-straithouse) This series of posts outlines the building of my house, known as Straithouse, in Cape Paterson, Victoria, Australia. The journey started in 2017, and finished in 2021. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/series-straithouse/images/20210214_205004-lores.jpg) 1. [Hook, Line and Sinker](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-1-2017/) 2. [Elements and Inspirations](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-2-elements-and-inspirations/) 3. [Design Deliberations](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-3-design-deliberations/) 4. [Getting Ready to Build](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-4-getting-ready-to-build/) 5. [Get Buil](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-5-get-building/)... 12th Dec 2025 ##### [Ten years of MEEH](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/ten-years-of-meeh) By Richard Keech 2025-12-12 *The Facebook group, My Efficient Electric Home, known as MEEH, turned ten years old in late June 2025. As of that anniversary, MEEH had about 150,000 members and 38,000 visitors. MEEH is helping drive the surge in interest in home electrification in Australia and educ*... 14th Nov 2025 ##### [Is Merit-Order Pricing Bad?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/is-merit-order-pricing-bad) By Richard Keech 2025-11-20 I attempt to debunk Topher Field's opinion piece criticising renewables and the "bid stack system". ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/56.is-merit-order-pricing-bad/images/image-2-1024x475.png) ## What's this about? A [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oit8pzyqL3U&t=536s) by Australian right-wing commentator Topher Field (also [here](https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=24758995010386075)) from October 2025 makes claims about how Australia's electricity mark... 2nd Sep 2025 ##### [Low FiTs are not so unfair](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/low-fits-are-not-unfair) I've seen some people complain, suggesting that very low feed-in tariffs for rooftop solar PV are grossly unfair. This post is my attempt to explain why low FiTs are not as unfair as it may seem. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/55.low-fits-are-not-unfair/images/Solar-1024x768.jpg) By Richard Keech 2025-09-02 *The unfairness argument.* On the group [My Efficient Electric Home](https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyEfficientElectricHome),... 20th May 2025 ##### [The road less travelled - My pivot from big tech](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-road-less-travelled-my-pivot-from-big-tech) *I'm concerned that my dependence on big tech companies like Google and Facebook is problematic, and no longer worth the risk. Here I talk about my (work in progress) switch away from big tech*. 2025-05-19 Richard Keech ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/54.the-road-less-travelled-my-pivot-from-big-tech/images/Screenshot-from-2025-05-18-16-28-23.png) ## TLDR One year ago a partial list of products and services I used and... 16th Dec 2024 ##### [Bill-busting all-electric](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/bill-busting-all-electric) *I was commissioned to analyse cost savings for all-electric homes, based on [the Cape](https://liveatthecape.com.au/) estate at Cape Paterson, Victoria.* by Richard Keech (2024-12-16) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/53.bill-busting-all-electric/images/20210312_200909.jpg) ## Report The report can be found [here](https://newenergythinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/the-cape-bill-buster-analysis-v1.0.4.pdf). ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/53.bill-busting-all-electric/images/image.png) ## Prior work Other reports have arrived at similar conclusions about the cost savings possible... 3rd Aug 2024 ##### [Installing better residential HVAC](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/installing-better-residential-hvac) When assessing homes, I see too many residential HVAC systems installed badly. This article outlines my thoughts on how residential HVAC systems can be installed better. by Richard Keech 2024-08-03 ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/52.installing-better-residential-hvac/images/draughty_duct.jpg) # Outline *Motivation.* In my experience, heating and cooling systems are very often installed... 13th Jun 2024 ##### [Closing the loop on new-build advice](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/closing-the-loop-on-new-build-advice) I don't often get to see the results of my advice, but I recently touched base with some clients to check out their lovely new home. by Richard Keech 2024-06-13 ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/51.closing-the-loop-on-new-build-advice/images/20240327_150145.jpg) ## Intro In April 2024 I visited Gerard and Rowena in Woodend, VIC. I had advised them back in 2020 when they were setting out to ge... 10th Jun 2024 ##### [The shower experiment](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-shower-experiment) Just how well does a small tank perform? By Richard Keech, 2024-06-10 ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/50.the-shower-experiment/images/20240610_152057.jpg) ## The question When we built our new home in 2020, we chose a hot-water service with a tank capacity of only 160L. Despite sometimes having five people in the home, we've never been caught short of hot water. However, the... 8th Sep 2023 ##### [Why community batteries are a bad idea](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/why-community-batteries-are-a-bad-idea) I think community batteries, as they are usually conceived, are a bad idea. This post explains my thinking. Richard Keech 2023-09-08 ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/49.why-community-batteries-are-a-bad-idea/images/image.png) ## The promise Community batteries have caught the attention of many. The need for energy storage is widely accepted. Community ownership of energy assets is... 18th Aug 2023 ##### [Insulation ain't insulating](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/insulation-aint-insulating) Why your home's insulation probably isn't as good as you think it is. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/48.insulation-aint-insulating/images/image.png) Richard Keech 2023-08-18 (updated 2024-07-23) Having assessed many hundreds of homes in Victoria, both new and old, I've come to the conclusion that when someone buys a new house in Australia they nearly always aren't ge... 5th Jul 2023 ##### [Before you start designing](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/before-you-start-designing) If you're starting out on a journey to build a house, before even thinking specifically about what to include in the design here are some things to think about. By Richard Keech, 2023-07-05 ![](images/pexels-photo-2681319.jpeg) Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi on \[Pexels.com\](https://www.pexels.co... 23rd Aug 2022 ##### [Playing nice on MEEH](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/playing-nice-on-meeh) I've been an admin at the group [My Efficient Electric Home (MEEH)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyEfficientElectricHome) on Facebook for over seven years. Here are some tips and advice when participating in online advice groups, MEEH in particular. by Richard Keech 2022-08-23 ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/46.playing-nice-on-meeh/images/6715550443_396498274b_b.jpg) ## Be nice Rule #1 is be nice. Keeping things civil is really impor... 14th Aug 2022 ##### [Solar PV - Is excess generation a waste?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/solar-pv-is-excess-generation-a-waste) When choosing to put solar panels on your roof, what is a good basis for determining the appropriate capacity? And is generating more than you use a waste? 2022-08-15 Richard Keech ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/45.solar-pv-is-excess-generation-a-waste/images/steep-solar.jpg) When anyone gets solar panels installed on their roof they need to choose the appropriate system capacity. So... 12th Jun 2022 ##### [Why did I choose a Kona?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/why-did-i-choose-a-kona) Some people asked me why I chose a Kona EV. This is a quick outline of my thought process. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/44.why-did-i-choose-a-kona/images/20220611_165413.jpg) Richard Keech 2022-06-12 ## Background I've been looking to buy an EV for a very long time. My old car was a 2012 Holden Volt, which is a plugin-hybrid. It's been a great car. However, with an all-ele... 27th Jan 2022 ##### [Energy Freedom Home for sale](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/energy-freedom-home-for-sale) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/43.energy-freedom-home-for-sale/images/img_1499.jpg) My amazing sustainable home in Essendon, Victoria, is for sale. By Richard Keech 2022-01-26 ## Intro This has been my family home for 21 wonderful years, but it's time to move on now that my children are grown, and we've [built](https://newenergythinking.com/2021/02/17/the-cape-pt-8-straithouse-is-complete/) another wonderful home in regional Victoria. This home, alth... 26th Nov 2021 ##### [Debunking a myth about solar radiation](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/debunking-a-myth-about-solar-radiation) I sometimes run across a misunderstanding about the nature of solar radiation. I wanted to address that here. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/42.debunking-a-myth-about-solar-radiation/images/20210409_174603.jpg) Richard Keech 2021-11-26 ## What's the myth? It's well understood that sunlight carries both heat and light. However, I sometimes run across a misunderstanding about the way in whic... 24th Nov 2021 ##### [Dumb Gas Deeming](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/dumb-gas-deeming) The way carbon emissions are calculated involves the use of a lot of assumptions. There are two particularly problematic assumptions used in calculating the emissions associated with gas which I am greatly concerned about. We need to improve our carbon accounting when it comes to gas so that the ind... 20th Jun 2021 ##### [The sad reality of commodity solar hot water](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-sad-reality-of-commodity-solar-hot-water) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/40.the-sad-reality-of-commodity-solar-hot-water/images/img_8853.jpg) This looks at issues found with common solar-hot-water systems and regulations in Victoria, Australia. 2021-06-20 By Richard Keech ## My experience from assessing homes I've formed the view, from six years of conducting professional home assessments, that common, budget, solar-hot-water (SH... 17th Feb 2021 ##### [The Cape Pt 8: Straithouse is complete!](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-8-straithouse-is-complete) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/39.the-cape-pt-8-straithouse-is-complete/images/20210217_083730-lores.jpg) With the build complete, here's the final reveal, albeit with landscaping still to come. 2021-02-18 By Richard Keech OK, here it is. We moved in nearly two weeks ago. It's every bit as good as we'd hoped. Too early to know much about how the house performs from an energy point of view,... 27th Jan 2021 ##### [The Cape Pt 7: Reflections on Passive House](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-7-reflections-on-passive-house) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/38.the-cape-pt-7-reflections-on-passive-house/images/as-installed-lores.jpg) This explores our thoughts about our choice to go down the path of certified Passive House. What does it involve? Is it worth it? How much extra does it cost? 2021-01-28 By Richard Keech ## What is Passive House? Firstly, passive solar design and Passive House are not the same. *Passive* ... 26th Jan 2021 ##### [The balance of home solar energy](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-balance-of-home-solar-energy) ![Solar panels on a white roof](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/37.the-balance-of-home-solar-energy/images/solar-as-built-cropped-lores.jpg) Here's an interesting way to help understand the flow of energy in a rooftop solar system. Who knew that Venn diagrams and simple algebra could help explain solar? Richard Keech 2021-01-26 ## Solar flows First lets get some clarity about the different flows of energy in a home solar system... 2nd Jan 2021 ##### [The Cape Pt 6: Green Roof](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-6-green-roof) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/36.the-cape-pt-6-green-roof/images/19.4.jpg) Our green roof is an interesting element of our build that deserves a whole post of its own. 2021-01-01 Richard Keech ## Recap Since very early on in the design process, we had the idea that the garage roof would lend itself to a green (*i.e*. planted) roof. The recessed elevation of the ga... 27th Dec 2020 ##### [Whirlybirds - not a fan.](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/roof-ventilation-not-a-fan) ![Whirlybird 1](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/35.roof-ventilation-not-a-fan/images/whirlybird-1.jpg) The question often arises whether roof ventilation is a good way to help cool a home. I generally don't recommend them. This post explains my reasoning. By Richard Keech 2020-12-27 ## CAVEAT: CONDENSATION *Note that in this article I'm concerned with the impact of roof ventilation on ther*... 22nd Nov 2020 ##### [Should we tax EVs?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/should-we-tax-evs) ![Red car](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/34.should-we-tax-evs/images/img_1931-small.jpg) [Victoria](https://thedriven.io/2020/11/21/shameful-victoria-follows-south-australia-and-imposes-electric-car-road-tax/) and [South Australia](https://thedriven.io/2020/11/11/south-australia-to-impose-road-user-tax-on-electric-vehicles-from-2021/) have recently announced the introduction of taxes on plug-in vehicles. Here's my take on that. 2020-11-22 Richard Keech I once heard economist [Richard Dennis](https://independentaustralia.net/profile-on/dr-richard-denniss,563) say something simple but profound that really stuck with me '*Good public policy means that you*... 17th Oct 2020 ##### [Does off-grid make sense?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/does-off-grid-make-sense) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/33.does-off-grid-make-sense/images/2015-11-12-07.18.03.jpg) Some places, like the one pictured, are obvious candidates for having and off-grid power supply. But does it make sense as an option for all homes? 2020-10-19 Richard Keech ## Sentiment and Motivations Sometimes I hear people express the desire to take their house off the electricity grid.... 13th Sep 2020 ##### [The Cape Pt 5: Get building](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-5-get-building) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/32.the-cape-pt-5-get-building/images/image-1.png) Here's a pictorial essay showing the construction of the house up to the point that the windows are installed. 2020-09-13 Richard Keech ## Getting started ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/32.the-cape-pt-5-get-building/images/image-2.png) Kicking off the build with Dave Martin - Week 1 It's about three years from our first visit and finally, at the start of March, thin... 6th Sep 2020 ##### [The hidden benefits of insulation](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-hidden-benefit-of-insulation) Improving the insulation in our homes is a well-understood good. However, the benefits are even more than most people realise. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/31.the-hidden-benefit-of-insulation/images/cold-wall-cropped.jpg) 2020-09-06 \[updated 2020-09-13\] by Richard Keech ## Thermal comfort Before we can understand the hidden benefits of insulation, we need to know a bit more about i... 30th Aug 2020 ##### [The Myth of the Aussie Six-Star Home](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-myth-of-the-aussie-six-star-home) There's a widespread view that Australia has a six-star minimum standard for home energy efficiency. I was taught this, and was of this view for many years. However, I've since learned that it is simply not the case. This article will help you appreciate the misunderstood and complex fundamental... 4th Aug 2020 ##### [The Cape Pt 4: Getting ready to build](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-4-getting-ready-to-build) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/29.the-cape-pt-4-getting-ready-to-build/images/img_3464-cropped.jpg) 2020-08-04 Richard Keech ## Finding a builder It's mid 2019. Kate and I have a great home design, that's got planning approval. Now it's time to find someone to build our dream. From the outset the field is narrow because our design is intended to be a certified Passive House (PH). Our hope w... 18th Jul 2020 ##### [The Cape Pt 3: Design Deliberations](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-3-design-deliberations) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/28.the-cape-pt-3-design-deliberations/images/west-render.png) 2020-07-22 Richard Keech ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/28.the-cape-pt-3-design-deliberations/images/screenshot-40.png) Stage 2: a blank canvas ## Kick off We kicked off in 2019 with a meeting with [Luke Middleton](http://emedesign.com.au/about/) onsite at The Cape on a hot and sunny Monday in January. We'd given Luke a written brief already (basically the things in [Pt 2](https://newenergythinking.com/2020/07/12/the-cape-pt-2-elements-and-inspirations/), and more). It was great to get the vibe... 12th Jul 2020 ##### [The Cape - Pt 2: Elements and inspirations](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-2-elements-and-inspirations) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/27.the-cape-pt-2-elements-and-inspirations/images/cape-sign.jpg) 2020-07-13 By Richard Keech # Design thinking After we signed the contract for the land in May 2017, the quest for a design started. We had time up our sleeve, since we were expecting settlement on the land in early to mid 2018. We also had some threshold questions to deal with, i.e. - wha... 2nd Jul 2020 ##### [The worry about wood fires](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-worry-about-wood-fires) Do wood fires have a place these days in an efficient home? ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/26.the-worry-about-wood-fires/images/fireplace-slow-combustion.jpg) 2020-07-03 By Richard Keech # Introduction In discussion about efficiently heating our homes, the question often comes up about whether burning wood is appropriate for heating. My view is that wood burning is highly problematic be... 29th Jun 2020 ##### [The Cape - Pt 1: Hook, line and sinker](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-1-2017) In 2017, my wife Kate and I started on a journey to build our dream home at Cape Paterson in Victoria, Australia. This is our story. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/25.the-cape-pt-1-2017/images/2017-03-18-17.20.41.jpg) The grassy seaside site on first visit 2020-06-30 By Richard Keech ## First visit: hook In February 2017, Brendan Condon [presented](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51WQ10FV0yw) at the monthly [Beyond ](http://bze.org.au)... 2nd Apr 2020 ##### [My improvised Vehicle-to-Home system](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/my-improvised-vehicle-to-home-system) by Richard Keech 2020-04-02 Here's my quick and dirty method of powering some essentials in my home using my plug-in car, should that ever become necessary in a crisis. ![IMG_1953](images/img_1953.jpg) How to get power from this plug-in car to my home? # The car My car is a 2013... 21st Jul 2019 ##### [Using STCs to Understand Heat-Pump Hot-Water System Performance](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/using-stcs-to-understand-heat-pump-hot-water-system-performance) by Richard Keech 2019-07-20 STCs are the basis for federal clean energy rebates, including for heat-pump hot water systems (HPHWSs) and solar-thermal hot-water systems. However, they can also be informative in understanding the performance of HPHWSs. \[caption id="attachment\_402" align="alignn... 20th Jul 2019 ##### [Hot water - more than meets the eye](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/hot-water-more-than-meets-the-eye) by Richard Keech orginally published December 2016, re-blogged 2019-07-20 A couple of times recently on this list, the question of the relative merits of solar hot water vs heat pump hot water has arisen. There’s an oft-overlooked factor to consider when comparing these and that is the temperatu... 27th Apr 2019 ##### [Will covering IC-rated lights make them fail quickly?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/will-covering-ic-rated-lights-make-them-fail-quickly) by Richard Keech 2019-04-27 I've heard a few people say that covering IC-rated LED lights is bound to cause accelerated failure rate. One the one hand it's well known that electronic devices fail more quickly when they get too hot. On the other hand, you'd think that the manufacturers of IC-ra... 23rd Feb 2019 ##### [Heat pump star ratings](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/heat-pump-star-ratings) by Richard Keech 2019-02-23 There may be some confusion about performance ratings for heat-pump air conditioning units. Here are a few thoughts and resources that may clarify things. ![IMG_2137 lores](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/20.heat-pump-star-ratings/images/img_2137-lores.jpg) # MEPS and Star ratings In Australia the federal government regulates appliance energy efficiency. There... 18th Jan 2019 ##### [Zero-bill case study](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/zero-bill-case-study) By Richard Keech 2019-01-18 Here's a quick look at how I've transformed my home to zero bills. Since the beginning of the transition, at the time of writing I've saved nearly $49,000 in energy. I expect to have paid back my investment in solar and efficiency by the end of 2019. Despite usin... 11th Jan 2019 ##### [In praise of smart meters](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/in-praise-of-smart-meters) by Richard Keech 2019-01-10 In Victoria, Australia, we now have a [complete roll out of smart meters](http://www.smartmeters.vic.gov.au/about-smart-meters/end-of-rollout) for our home electrical supply. It's not unusual to find people who are of the view that smart meters are bad and that the roll out program was a costly failure. I want to present an alternativ... 8th Nov 2018 ##### [Verifying the Voltage Villain](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/verifying-the-voltage-villain) ## (*aka* Why I'm a Voltage-Optimisation Sceptic) Of late I've seen reports about how high grid voltage is supposedly a problem and why voltage optimisation may be the solution. But is high grid voltage the villain it's made out to be? By Richard Keech 2018-11-08 ![IMG_20181108_141748 - lo-res](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/17.verifying-the-voltage-villain/images/img_20181108_141748-lo-res.jpg) ## Voltage scaremongering I... 19th Oct 2018 ##### [Don't do ducts](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/dont-use-ducts) In selecting home heating, a common choice is a ducted system. Generally I think ducted heating is a bad idea for homes. Here's my take on the problems with ducted systems. By Richard Keech 2018-10-20 based on earlier work from 2013 Last updated 2023-02-01 \[caption id="attachment\_311" ali... 10th Oct 2018 ##### [We need to talk about downlights](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/we-need-to-talk-about-downlights) by Richard Keech 2018-10-10 ## The problem Downlight fittings that you commonly see in Australian homes are often an energy and comfort nightmare. They can be associated with up to five different problems. Before you go replacing a halogen bulb with an LED replacement, read this. ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/15.we-need-to-talk-about-downlights/images/legacy-downlight1.jpg) Do not r... 2nd Oct 2018 ##### [Earth-improved heat-pump operation](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/earth-improved-heat-pump-operation) *This outlines a possibly novel approach to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of heat pumps used for home heating, cooling and hot water. This involves placing the units in the sub-floor space to exploit the thermal mass of the ground in both summer and winter.* By Richard Keech 2018-10-02 ... 23rd Sep 2018 ##### [What's up with Hydrogen](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/whats-up-with-hydrogen) There's been lots of talk of late about a hydrogen economy. I've looked into this. In a nutshell I can't see Hydrogen being widely adopted for energy storage within our electricity system. Likewise, I can't see it being widely used for transport except in some very limited cases. Its use within th... 14th Aug 2018 ##### [Solar air heating: is it worth it?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/solar-air-heating-is-it-worth-it) By Richard Keech 2018-08-14 Do solar air heaters or coolers live up to their promise? At face value the idea of having a device which uses sunlight directly to heat air in winter seems like a good one. It's the idea behind a number of products on the market that promise really high-efficiency... 13th Aug 2018 ##### [Efficiency and Air Displacement](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/efficiency-and-air-displacement) By Richard Keech 2018-08-12 Some systems used for heating and cooling depend on air displacement. Understanding what this means is valuable, because systems like this are usually inefficient. So , what do 1) evaporative air conditioners, 2) fireplaces; and 3) solar air heating systems have in... 29th Jul 2018 ##### [R U o K with insulation?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/r-u-o-k-with-insulation) *If you know a little about insulation then you'll already know about R values. However, to really understand insulation you also need to know about U values and K values.* 2018-07-29 By Richard Keech ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/10.r-u-o-k-with-insulation/images/img_20180729_151912.jpg) Our comfort in our homes depends so much on that mostly unseen material - insulation. The... 12th Jul 2018 ##### [Hydronic heat loss in one picture](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/hydronic-heat-loss-in-one-picture) by Richard Keech 2018-07-12 I thought this picture neatly shows the limitations of passive panel-based heating such as hydronic or column heaters. The thermograph shows most of the heat convecting to the ceiling, allowing much of it to be lost before it can reach the occupants of the room. This... 27th Jun 2018 ##### [Home batteries](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/home-batteries) On Wednesday June 27 2018 I spoke to [Lighter Footprints](http://www.lighterfootprints.org/), a community group in eastern Melbourne, on home batteries. [Here](https://newenergythinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/home-energy-storage.pdf "Home energy storage") are the presentation slides. [Here](https://www.facebook.com/LighterFootprintsMelbourne/videos/1922964444660117/) is a video recording of the presentation. The presentation references a spreadsheet model for efficient homes with batteries. You can f... 23rd Jun 2018 ##### [Renewable electric sunrise](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/renewable-electric-sunrise) *Yesterday I was enroute to a country client for [ecoMaster](http://ecomaster.com.au). I found myself at sunrise driving past the [Waubra windfarm](http://www.acciona.com.au/projects/energy/wind-power/waubra-wind-farm/) at sunrise. Too beautiful not to stop and take a picture or three.* By Richard Keech 2018-06-23 ![IMG_5076 - Copy](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/07.renewable-electric-sunrise/images/img_5076-copy.jpg) Seeing this natural beauty made feel very grateful and happy. One of t... 18th Jun 2018 ##### [Multi-head splits vs single-split systems](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/to-split-or-not-to-split) *There's some debate about whether the best configuration of split systems for multiple rooms is to have multiple single splits or to use multi splits.* By Richard Keech 2018-06-18 ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/06.to-split-or-not-to-split/images/2015-06-22-10-06-12.jpg) Multiple single-split systems can be an eye sore ## Introduction Increasingly split systems are used to heat and c... 16th Jun 2018 ##### [Is thermal mass over rated?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/is-thermal-mass-over-rated) *Are concrete slabs the best floor for an efficient home?* By Richard Keech 2018-06-16 ## ![Thermal mass](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/05.is-thermal-mass-over-rated/images/thermal-mass.jpg) *Figure 1: Thermal mass is a two-edged sword* ## Thermal mass equals efficiency? The use of concrete slabs on ground is ubiquitous in contemporary Australian home construction. Conventional wisdom says this is... 6th Jun 2018 ##### [A spreadsheet model for efficient electric homes](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/a-spreadsheet-model-for-efficient-electric-homes) *Here's a way of estimating the benefits of solar, energy efficiency and batteries in a home.* By Richard Keech, 2018-06-06 I was commissioned by the developers at [The Cape](http://liveatthecape.com.au) to created a spreadsheet model to help understand the effect of different factors in an efficient electric home. This lets... 19th May 2018 ##### [Tips for efficient homes](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/tips-for-efficient-homes) ![](https://newenergythinking.com/user/pages/03.blog/03.tips-for-efficient-homes/images/photo-1484480974693-6ca0a78fb36b.jpg) *Tips for homes that are energy-efficient, comfortable, carbon-neutral with low or zero energy bills* By Richard Keech 2018-05-19 Based on a talk given on Sustainable House Day 2017 at [The Cape](http://liveatthecape.com.au/) (Cape Paterson) Scope excludes water efficiency and materials issues such as embodied energy. Muc... 4th May 2018 ##### [Improving hot-water performance](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/improving-hot-water-performance) *There's lots to think about when considering high-efficiency hot water.* By Richard Keech, May 2018 Energy efficiency is using no more energy than you absolutely have to to achieve a good outcome. This is very true for domestic hot-water systems which typically account for between 1/5 and 1/4 of... 4th May 2018 ##### [Avoiding common energy mistakes in a new build](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/avoiding-common-mistakes-in-a-new-build) By Richard Keech (May 2018) In the course of assessing many homes for energy efficiency, I've seen that even new homes exhibit problems in the basic build. Here are a few ideas of things that are often overlooked. This list doesn't include the many and varied mistakes that can be made in the basi... --- ## Navigation - Previous: [About me](https://newenergythinking.com/about-me.md) - Next: [List of blog posts](https://newenergythinking.com/list-of-blog-posts.md) - Children: - [Avoiding common energy mistakes in a new build](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/avoiding-common-mistakes-in-a-new-build.md) - [Improving hot-water performance](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/improving-hot-water-performance.md) - [Tips for efficient homes](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/tips-for-efficient-homes.md) - [A spreadsheet model for efficient electric homes](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/a-spreadsheet-model-for-efficient-electric-homes.md) - [Is thermal mass over rated?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/is-thermal-mass-over-rated.md) - [Multi-head splits vs single-split systems](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/to-split-or-not-to-split.md) - [Renewable electric sunrise](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/renewable-electric-sunrise.md) - [Home batteries](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/home-batteries.md) - [Hydronic heat loss in one picture](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/hydronic-heat-loss-in-one-picture.md) - [R U o K with insulation?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/r-u-o-k-with-insulation.md) - [Efficiency and Air Displacement](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/efficiency-and-air-displacement.md) - [Solar air heating: is it worth it?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/solar-air-heating-is-it-worth-it.md) - [What's up with Hydrogen](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/whats-up-with-hydrogen.md) - [Earth-improved heat-pump operation](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/earth-improved-heat-pump-operation.md) - [We need to talk about downlights](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/we-need-to-talk-about-downlights.md) - [Don't do ducts](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/dont-use-ducts.md) - [Verifying the Voltage Villain](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/verifying-the-voltage-villain.md) - [In praise of smart meters](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/in-praise-of-smart-meters.md) - [Zero-bill case study](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/zero-bill-case-study.md) - [Heat pump star ratings](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/heat-pump-star-ratings.md) - [Will covering IC-rated lights make them fail quickly?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/will-covering-ic-rated-lights-make-them-fail-quickly.md) - [Hot water - more than meets the eye](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/hot-water-more-than-meets-the-eye.md) - [Using STCs to Understand Heat-Pump Hot-Water System Performance](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/using-stcs-to-understand-heat-pump-hot-water-system-performance.md) - [My improvised Vehicle-to-Home system](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/my-improvised-vehicle-to-home-system.md) - [The Cape - Pt 1: Hook, line and sinker](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-1-2017.md) - [The worry about wood fires](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-worry-about-wood-fires.md) - [The Cape - Pt 2: Elements and inspirations](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-2-elements-and-inspirations.md) - [The Cape Pt 3: Design Deliberations](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-3-design-deliberations.md) - [The Cape Pt 4: Getting ready to build](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-4-getting-ready-to-build.md) - [The Myth of the Aussie Six-Star Home](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-myth-of-the-aussie-six-star-home.md) - [The hidden benefits of insulation](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-hidden-benefit-of-insulation.md) - [The Cape Pt 5: Get building](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-5-get-building.md) - [Does off-grid make sense?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/does-off-grid-make-sense.md) - [Should we tax EVs?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/should-we-tax-evs.md) - [Whirlybirds - not a fan.](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/roof-ventilation-not-a-fan.md) - [The Cape Pt 6: Green Roof](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-6-green-roof.md) - [The balance of home solar energy](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-balance-of-home-solar-energy.md) - [The Cape Pt 7: Reflections on Passive House](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-7-reflections-on-passive-house.md) - [The Cape Pt 8: Straithouse is complete!](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-cape-pt-8-straithouse-is-complete.md) - [The sad reality of commodity solar hot water](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-sad-reality-of-commodity-solar-hot-water.md) - [Dumb Gas Deeming](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/dumb-gas-deeming.md) - [Debunking a myth about solar radiation](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/debunking-a-myth-about-solar-radiation.md) - [Energy Freedom Home for sale](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/energy-freedom-home-for-sale.md) - [Why did I choose a Kona?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/why-did-i-choose-a-kona.md) - [Solar PV - Is excess generation a waste?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/solar-pv-is-excess-generation-a-waste.md) - [Playing nice on MEEH](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/playing-nice-on-meeh.md) - [Before you start designing](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/before-you-start-designing.md) - [Insulation ain't insulating](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/insulation-aint-insulating.md) - [Why community batteries are a bad idea](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/why-community-batteries-are-a-bad-idea.md) - [The shower experiment](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-shower-experiment.md) - [Closing the loop on new-build advice](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/closing-the-loop-on-new-build-advice.md) - [Installing better residential HVAC](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/installing-better-residential-hvac.md) - [Bill-busting all-electric](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/bill-busting-all-electric.md) - [The road less travelled - My pivot from big tech](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/the-road-less-travelled-my-pivot-from-big-tech.md) - [Low FiTs are not so unfair](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/low-fits-are-not-unfair.md) - [Is Merit-Order Pricing Bad?](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/is-merit-order-pricing-bad.md) - [Ten years of MEEH](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/ten-years-of-meeh.md) - [Series: Straithouse](https://newenergythinking.com/blog/series-straithouse.md)