Sustainable House Day ACT 2011, Waramanga

  Please use this section to describe your home’s special features, why you chose them and how liveable the home is. Were any behaviour changes required? How do you manage your home?, share tips and ideas that you have experienced. For our family of two adults and two small children we wanted a house with: ·         3 bedrooms, study and an open living area ·         solar passive design ·         active solar elements to make it as sustainable, liveable and allergy free as possible ·         light, bright and warm – as many windows facing north as possible ·         use of rainwater and grey water ·         a sizable rear yard left over from our 750 sq metre block   The features of our home which satisfied our wish list are: ·         hydronic in slab heating ·         heat for floor and domestic hot water supplied by 120 evacuated tube solar water heater with natural gas boost ·         all rooms bar one with large north facing double glazed windows ·         floor, ceiling and wall insulation ·         cross ventilation for cooling ·         floor tiled and heated throughout ·         5000 L rainwater tanks supplying toilets, washing machine and outside taps ·         grey water recycling for under ground watering of shrubs and (future) lawn ·         enviro-water-saver device to master ensuite to save the cold water lying in pipes when the hot water is turned on ·         2.75 kW solar array, grid connected ·         smart switches in family and study to switch off all appliances on standby from one point in the room ·         NO down-lights! ·         NO air-conditioning!   The home is very comfortable to live in, warm in our Canberra winters and cool in summer. Our electricity usage seems to be about 2 200 kWh per year, our electricity production is approximately 3750 kWh and our gas usage around 680 m3 per annum.

ABSA    6.5 star