Sustainable House Day, Table Top NSW

Aquila   

What we wanted:  Use of lots of recycled materials; Solar passive principles; House that will last for hundreds of years; Earthy relaxed feel; Aesthetically pleasing; Practical living layout (inside and out); Low maintenance and energy use; Termite and fire resistant.

Climatic Zone:  Cool Temperate

Draftsman: Rob Pickett Design – based on our layout

Builder: Scott James Builder. Many (nearly 20) builders did not want to build the house (eg. too busy, too challenging). Scott and his wonderful team embraced the challenge and built the house with passion – nothing was too hard.

House was built in 2005. House won a number of regional and state awards plus the Master Builders Association National Award for Environment and Energy Efficiency (2006)

Recycled Materials:   Extensive use of recycled timbers throughout house including all cabinetry – done by owner. Recycled doors and staircase. Recycled and rerolled old corrugated iron used to clad loft and exposed ceiling area. Recycled materials obtained from old farm houses/cottages, woolshed and the old Wool Stores in Albury – many years of scavenging and needing to find storage space. Recycled red brick pavers used in main walking areas outside. Cubby houses made from old pallets and old corrugated iron. Extensive use of sometimes daggy, pre-loved and old: furniture, toys, clothes and knick knacks.

Heating and Cooling:  Solar passive designed house on northerly aspect. Main living areas and most glass on northern side of house – allows winter sun to heat the house. Eaves and pergola with deciduous vines stop summer sun entering house on Northern side. Carport/Garage, outdoor living area and deciduous trees stop summer sun entering house on East and West of house. Designed to allow North South and East West air flow throughout house. Rammed earth and concrete are used to sponge and slowly release heat from sun and wood heater in winter and cool of nights in summer. Heated by free standing wood heater – wood grown and collected from revegetation on block.

Garden:   Permaculture principles used in garden design. Grow own fruit, vegetables, chooks and a duck.  Feed all scraps to chooks and compost waste. Most of 15 acre block dedicated to growing predominantly local natives for local wildlife habitat. Will set up a seed production area for the collection of locally native, shrubs and grasses – use in local revegetation projects. Low to no water use garden. Mulch and use swales to capture and hold water. Chook/Garden shed made from old corrugated iron.

Water Harvesting:   House connected to 120,000 litre partially underground concrete tank. Pumps up to a 6,000 litre galvanised tank that gravity feeds water to house and garden. Gravity system particularly useful in case of fire, if power is lost. Provides for all house and garden needs. Chook/Garden Shed connected to 10,000 litre polyethylene tank -gravity feeds water to fruit trees and for chook water.

Waste Water:  All grey and black water go to a Biolytix treatment system that uses worms and other living organisms to breakdown waste and treat water. Treated water irrigates lawn and or fruit trees through subsurface pressure compensated drip dispersal – minimises water loss.

External and Internal Walls:  Rammed Earth used on all external and some internal walls because: Great thermal properties; Structurally very sound; Low/No maintenance required; Termite Resistance; Fire Resistance; Natural earth colours and texture – looks good; Low embodied energy.  Other internal walls were steel framed (termite resistant) with plaster board and some recycled Murray pine (termite resistant)

Roof:  Colour bond roof with R4 insulation. Able to open loft and roof windows to draw summer heat out.

Floor:  Concrete on ground floor for: structural strength, thermal mass, termite resistance – single floating slab with granite guard (termite barrier) around plumbing.    Timber flooring in loft areas – mixture of recycled Brush Box and Murray Pine

Windows:  Miglas Aliclad double glazed windows and sliding doors throughout. Aluminium exterior for fire resistance and low maintenance. Plantation timber interior for aesthetics and insulation. Excellent sealing against drafts.    Some windows have curtains (bedrooms and study) to further reduce heat loss in winter and entry in summer

Electricity Generation:  1.75 kW grid connected, photovoltaic system, will be installed once government rebate approved. Will generate more electricity than used on annual basis. Excess will be fed onto the grid.   Some solar powered outdoor lighting

Water Heating:  Instantaneous gas boosted solar hot water.

Appliances:  Compact fluorescent lighting throughout most of house. Front loading washing machine for water efficiency. One refrigerator.   Minimise use of lighting and appliances. No air conditioning. Extensive use of ceiling fans throughout. > >