Sustainable House Day, Richmond, NSW

Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre

http://www.earthcare.org.au

A beautiful purpose built environmental education centre, it was the first community building in NSW to receive the government rebate for a solar power system. It is a good show case for how different materials & techniques can be used in a home

New or Retrofit:  Purpose built environmental education centre built 11 years ago.

Architects: Sandra Kwa & Rob Butler

Climate Zone: Eastern Sydney – BCA Climate Zone 5, Nathers Climate Zone 56.

Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home

Water Harvesting Systems
Rainwater tanks, backed up by mains water.  Toilets, hand-basins, shower & kitchen sink all empty into the underground Downmus wet composting tank which contains worms to help break down solids. Liquid is extracted to be treated in a nearby sand filter, and then pumped out to irrigate gardens.  We are also in discussion with UWS about being connected to water from the Richmond water recycling project.

External Walls
As a display building it has a number of different materials and techniques used: mud brick, rammed earth, compressed block, straw bale, and timber framed weatherboard.

Internal Walls
Mixture of Mud brick and insulated timber framed walls.

Roof
Corrugated steel roof in zincalume finish, light in colour to help reflect the heat in summer.

Floor
The floor is a concrete slab which has been painted by local school children, with the design by an Aboriginal artist.

Window Treatments
Low e treated glass, with louvres and opening doors for ventilation, and timber frame for better insulation

Solar or Wind Power Generation
A 1 kW Pacific Solar Grid-connected system is installed, and a small wind turbine project is  underway.

Heating & Cooling
The passive solar design is our heating & cooling.

Water Heating
180 litre single panel Edwards solar hot water system.

Appliances
Energy Efficient Lighting & fridge.

Other Unique Features
Permaculture garden.