Sustainable House Day Terrigal, NSW

My home is a 1970’s brick veneer house which had been rented out for a while before I bought it so was in need of some TLC.  I decided to retro-fit the house to make it more eco-friendly and sustainable. Cost about $60,000 including all modifications e.g. new kitchen etc.
 

Some friends helped me to rip up the lino and masonite in the kitchen and removed the carpets throughout. Underneath were beautiful Cypress pine floorboards which subsequently we sanded back (professionally) and then I coated them with 3 layers of Howard’s orange and tung oil with a final layer of Feed ‘n’Wax for hardness.
 

Insulation in the roof is wool cell comprising recycled paper and wool coated with borax. Previously there had been no insulation in the ceilings at all. The cathedral ceiling in the living room had exposed beams which we covered with gyprock and  put insulation batts in the gaps. The living room was enclosed with folding doors and curtains and pelmets to make a heat trap for the cold winter nights when we sometimes need to turn on the reverse-cycle air conditioner – never needed in the Summer because of a natural breezeway through the living areas.
 

The first operation was to install Apricus evacuated tube Solar Hot Water system which works very well. The gutters were all replaced with Smartflo guttering to reduce the leaf problem. New Water supplied an underdeck 5000 litre bladder rain harvest tank which is pumped back to the washing machine and two toilets.
Of course I recycle all my kitchen waste and some newspapers through my three worm farms and two compost bins. Lighting is all fluoro eco globes (hoping to replace with LED soon) where possible. Shower head is eco-friendly.
6 solar panels were installed on the roof in September 2008 and have been generating some but not all the house electricity. Prior to that the roof was restored and coated with Kool-cote to reflect the warmth of the sun n the summer.
Swimming pool is topped up from the rainwater tank which saves using town water.
 

New or Retro:  Retrofit

Water Harvesting: Underground rainwater storage 5000 litres connected to washing machine and two toilets

External walls: Brick Veneer

Internal walls: Gyprock – no insulation

Roof: Kool-Coated Tiles
3.5 R wool cell and batts

Floor: Timber choice:  Cypress Pine original
Insulation under – type, rating: Batts 3.5R
Adaptive reuse Cypress Pine original floor boards sanded and coated
Coated with Orange/Tung oil and Feed ‘n’Wax

Window treatments: No extra glazing
Pelmets and curtains

Electricity generation: PV – Grid connected 1Kw system

Heating & Cooling: Passive cooling. Breezeway through living and dining
Passive heating sun on North side heats house
What do you use for heating and cooling? Reverse cycle air conditioner for heating. No need for cooling in Summer

Water Heating: Solar hot water
Evacuated tubes  - Apricus with Gas booster

Appliances: Energy or water efficient appliance selection
Washing machine front loader
Miele dish washer with quick wash cycle
Energy efficient fridge

Other: Waste and recycling 3 worm farms and 2 compost bins
Landscaping -  permaculture small garden producing herbs