- Will we be close to everything we need - shops, schools, parks, public transport, etc?
- Will we be able to position a home on our block so it has good access to sun, ideally with the long side or back facing north (or close to north)?
- Will any neighboring buildings have an effect on our block's privacy, views or access to winter sun?
- Best block for us.
- Is it a functional floor plan without wasted space and with plenty of storage?
- What would we change about this plan?
- Will our preferred home fit well on our block with living areas facing north ? (or close to north)
- Is there good insulation under roofs, in ceilings and in walls?
- Do we need floor insulation?
- Do our windows predominantly face north?
- Are our north-facing windows shaded by eaves or overhangs?
- Are our east and west-facing windows shaded by adjustable shutters?
- Do we need to consider double glazing? Where?
- Will we use curtains with pelmets to help keep in heat? Where?
- Comments, things we'd like to change about our home design
- Can our living areas be divided up as needed, for economical heating and cooling?
- Will our living areas get plenty of sunlight in winter?
- Will our living areas be shaded in summer?
- Can windows be opened on more than one side of living areas to let cooling breezes through?
- Is our kitchen set out so there is easy reach between different activities?
- Do our kitchen cupboards use low emission particle board and finishes?
- Comments, things we'd like to change.
- Will our bathrooms and laundry have a window for natural ventilation?
- Have we chosen fixtures that will save water? For example, do our bathrooms and laundries have 3-star shower heads, 4-star toilets and 3+ star taps?
- Comments, things we'd like to change
- Can we swap some rooms around so the bedrooms will be cooler in summer?
- Will we use the home office a lot?
- Will it be a sunny, pleasant place to work?
- Does our home design make good use of natural light?
- Our lighting requirements
- The costs of running our lighting per year:
- How we can save on lighting costs:
- The energy star rating of our fridge:
- The water star rating of our washing machine:
- Our other major energy-using appliances:
- The types of flooring in our home.
- The timbers used in our home.
- The paints and varnishes used in our home.
- Examples of colour schemes that we like.
- Have we specified materials that are either low emission or natural products?
- Will our alfresco areas get sun in winter and be cool and shady in summer?
- Will we use local native plants, drought-resistant plants and mulch in our garden, to save water?
- Will we grow our own vegetables and herbs?
- Comments, things we'd like to change:
- How many liters will our rainwater tank hold?
- What will our rainwater tank be plumbed in to? :
- Will we reuse our wastewater? If so, where will we collect it from and where will we use it?
