GLOSSARY
Aerated concrete
A low density concrete made of portland cement, cement-silica, cement-pozzolan, lime-pozzolan, lime-silica paste or a combination of these materials. The concrete has a consistent cell structure which is visible to the eye. Also called cellular concrete. Not to be confused with air-entrained concrete, in which air bubbles are microscopic in size.
Air conditioner
An apparatus for controlling the temperature of an enclosed space. It can be portable or fixed into the structure of the dwelling, usually in the wall or ceiling.
Another type of surround sound system
A surround sound system that is not part of a television home theatre system. This includes multi-channel audio systems for personal computers and gaming consoles.
Any responsible adult
The Any Responsible Adult (ARA) method of interviewing involves obtaining information about the in-scope household in a selected dwelling from a responsible adult who has sufficient knowledge to respond to questions about the household and its members.
Besser blocks
A large type of brick made from concrete. Besser blocks are commonly made with a hollow centre to reduce weight and improve insulation.
Bottled gas
Gas provided in a large bottle or canister which is located near the house.
Brick Veneer
Brick veneer walls consist of a single external layer of brickwork, with a lined stud frame inside.
Combustion wood fire
A type of heater that uses burning wood to produce heat. These can be free standing or built into a fireplace. Newer types may be called 'slow' combustion wood fires.
Cooler
Either a refrigerated air conditioner or a water based evaporative cooler. Does not include portable or ceiling fans.
Double brick
An inner and outer wall constructed of brick which is separated by a small air cavity.
Ducted air conditioner
A ducted air conditioner is one where air is piped from a single source through the dwelling to more than one outlet.
Dwelling
A suite of rooms contained within a building which is self-contained and intended for long-term residential use. To be self-contained, the suite of rooms must possess cooking and bathing facilities as building fixtures.
Evaporative air conditioner
An air conditioner that draws outdoor air through a water filtration system whereby some heat from the air is absorbed through water evaporation.
Fibro Cement
Building material made of compressed fibres cemented into rigid sheets.
Flat, unit or apartment
These dwellings usually share a common entrance foyer or stairwell. This category also includes flats attached to houses such as granny flats and houses converted into two or more flats.
Floor slab heating
Radiant heating under the dwelling floor. Commonly under ceramic floor tiles but can also be under concrete, marble, timber, laminate or carpet.
Gas ducted system
Ducted systems consist of heat piped through the dwelling to more than one outlet from a single heat source (e.g. a gas furnace).
GreenPower
GreenPower is a national accreditation program for renewable electricity products sourced from solar, wind or hydro power.
Heat Pump
A mechanical device that moves heat energy from one environment to another. It can be used to heat or cool but is commonly used to condense refrigerant fluid.
Household
A group of residents of a dwelling who share common facilities and meals or who consider themselves to be a household. It is possible for a dwelling to contain more than one household, for example, where regular provision is made for groups to take meals separately and where persons consider their households to be separate.
LCD television
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) televisions use liquid crystal display technology to produce images.
LED television
LED (Light Emitting Diode) televisions use a liquid crystal display but unlike LCD televisions, use a back light made of LEDs.
LPG
LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) (also called LP Gas or autogas) is the generic name for mixtures of hydrocarbon (mainly propane and butane). It is used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.
Mains gas
Gas connected to the household by underground pipes and provided on a continuous basis by an energy company.
Mains powered games console
A games console that needs to be plugged into mains electricity to operate and does not rely solely on batteries.
Picture tube television
Picture tube or CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) televisions are an older style television and they can either have a slightly curved or flat screen.
Plasma television
Plasma televisions use flat-panel display technology that utilises small plasma cells to produce an image.
Portable air conditioner
A portable air conditioner is one which may be moved around the dwelling.
Pot belly
A type of freestanding heater or stove vented through a wall or ceiling and noted by its distinct 'barrel' shape.
Private dwelling
A dwelling that is intended to have people live in it (e.g. house, flat, unit, caravan, houseboat, tent, etc.).
Projection Television
A television with a device that magnifies the video signal onto a (larger) screen.
Reverse brick veneer
Similar to brick veneer but has brickwork on the inside and timber framing on the outside.
Reverse cycle air conditioner
An air conditioner which extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it inside. It is able to provide both heating and cooling.
SD/HD box
A separate device that allows for tuning of Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD) television signals to non-digital television sets.
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, town house
Dwellings which are joined to other dwellings at the roofline and have a common/party wall.
Separate house
A house separated from other houses, buildings or structures by space to allow access on all sides.
Solar electricity
Solar electricity is generated using Photovoltaic (PV) technology that uses solar cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity. This category may include solar panels, solar pool heaters and solar garden lights.
Solar hot water system
Solar hot water systems use energy from the sun to heat water.
Split system air conditioner
A split system air conditioner is separated (but still connected by pipes or ducts) into a main unit that houses the compressor, and one or more outlets.
Storage hot water system
A storage/tank hot water system heats water and stores it in a tank until it is needed.
Surround sound system for home theatre
Home entertainment unit that seeks to reproduce a movie theatre experience with the help of video and audio equipment in a private home.
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