21 PENOLA ST, PRESTON designed by Positive Footprints open on Sustainable House Day 2011

POSITIVE FOOTPRINTS - Penola House 2011
Organic roof shape and round windows adds fun and character to this high performing 9 star home, showing what is possible when a holistic approach is taken.      1)     Energy Efficiency.  9.1 stars out of possible 10!  A 9 star house uses 80% less energy to heat and cool than a 6 star house (the current standard), and 1/10 of the energy of average existing housing stock  

Passive Solar design.  House orientation & layout to bring sunlight deep into all living spaces

Eaves designed to let in the winter sun, and keep out the summer rays

Double glazed low emissivity coated casement windows & bi-folds to maximise ventilation

Thermal mass provided by polished concrete floor and recycled & bagged Reverse Brick Veneer walls to store the heat in winter and cool in summer

Solar Lord Evacuated Tube Solar hot water system with instantaneous gas boost

Highly insulated, tight building fabric

Stairwell door and internal louvre windows to regulate thermal stratification.

Louver vents to all exhaust fans (eliminates unwanted air leaks)

Reversible ceiling fans to provide summer cooling

Ventilation designed to take advantage of sea breeze

LED and compact fluorescent lighting throughout

Greenswitch to turn off standby loads before going to bed/leaving the house.

2.3kW grid interactive Photovoltaic system

Curved roof to help maximise neighbours northern solar access 

2)     Efficient use of water (~1/3 normal house use)

Rainwater collected from entire roof via a charged filtered system

Rounded gutters to enhance self cleaning

2x3000-litre Rainwater tank to run laundry, flush toilets, & water garden.  Mains backup

Redwater valves to direct ‘cold’ hot water, normally wasted, to the watertank

Nylex greywater gravity diversion system to underground garden distribution

Water efficient tapware throughout; 7.5 litre per minute shower roses; & 3/4.5 litre flush toilets

3)     Material Selection

Low Embodied Energy Polished Concrete floor made from Ecoblend concrete (60% cement replacement) with recycled aggregate and steel

Plantation hoop pine timber windows, with recycled Karri door frames

Plantation or Salvaged timber used throughout.

Modwood decking and ramps

Recycled content Ecotech tiles to upper bathroom

Low VOC GECA certified Marmoleum to stair treads and upper floor

Recycled brickwork to bring mass to upper floor

Low Embodied energy cladding materials. Rough sawn battens, Ecoply and Zincalume 

4)     Health  

Zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint throughout

E0 (minimal formaldehyde off-gassing) cabinetry and trims throughout.

Undyed, Low VOC Willaura carpet and underlay to bedrooms

Easy to clean surfaces to living spaces throughout

Bright, natural light filled rooms throughout

Light colours throughout keep light levels high postponing the need for any lighting until dark

>