Radiant energy from the sun is 100% sustainable and will be for the next 5 billion years, so this was the focus of the design for our self sufficient home in rural Victoria. The site is elevated and has good exposure to sun, wind and rain - all valuable and free resources.
The house is small - it was planned to accommodate the constraints of a climate changed world - and consists of the standard, basic, well known features:
1. The structure is reverse masonry veneer, where the external cladding is eco-ply with a high albedo. The external walls are fully insulated
2. All windows are double glazed with detachable internal drapes for additional winter insulation.
3. The ceiling/roof space is heavily insulated and the periphery of the concrete slab is insulated with sheets of polystyrene.
The two bedrooms have double doors to allow these rooms to become part of the 'open plan' so that the whole house comes up to the same temperature. Thus there is no need to 'zone' the house into different temperature regions. Moving around the house, one is not concious of cooler or warmer areas.
The internal masonry stores energy in both winter and summer and so stabilises the the internal temperature. This means that the house doesn't cool off in winter or heat up in summer. (There is no built-in heater in the house).
At the northern most corner of the building, we have a greenhouse integrated into the structure. This hothouse can provide additional warm air into the house when available and also generate virtually all of our vegetables. Here we are also producing seedlings to revegetate the land so we are able to expect the new evolving forest to soak up whatever carbon dioxide we may generate from the occasional use of LPG.
The property is not connected to any external utilities (other than the telephone). The building is powered by a high quality solar power plant which is capable of servicing all the energy demands of the home. Although LPG is available, it is not generally required. We choose to do everything electrically as the radiant energy from the sun is available free of charge every day. We expect solar conditions to be weak at times so are prepared for that. The solar array is constructed on the roof and the power equipment is set up in the plant room within the rear service area of the house itself. It is thus easily monitored and maintained. With the recent drop in prices of solar panels, it is likely that our power plant will shortly be upgraded. Domestic hot water is supplied by a high grade solar water heater.
We are the first to acknowledge that this building has no architectural merit. It was developed to provide a comfortable - low cost retirement experience and so far it has done this very well. Our experience of the independent solar lifestyle can be summarised thus:
1. Our comfort levels have gone up.
2. Our running costs have gone down.
3. We have no power blackouts, and we have unlimited fresh water (no need for low flow shower heads).
(August 2011) (
