Situated at 440m elevation overlooking the Crabtree valley, the living and amenities areas are on an edge insulated slab with excellent solar exposure to North through full height double glazed windows allowing full sun penetration to the far wall during winter. Unfortunately the specified under-slab insulation was omitted due to builder unfamiliarity with the concept. An internal concrete block wall provides added heat storage; the other walls and ceilings are plasterboard. No downlights interrupt the ceiling insulation. Fluorescent lights.
Externall walls are a mix of corrugated Colorbond and timber, and Hebel panel on the south.
Dark tiles cover the first 1.5m in from the windows, where there is maximum sun exposure.
The ceiling insulation is R3.0, with R2.0 to external and internal walls and under the suspended timber bedroom floors.
An Apricus evacuated tube solar collector supplies a storage cylinder inside the house. Electricity boost for the summer quarter was $6.00 and for autumn $17.00. The stove runs off bottled gas.
There is a wood heater in the lounge. On sunny winter days the internal temperature often exceeds 25oC. Large eaves prevent summer sun penetration, while the temperature differential between the front and back of the house allows flow-through ventilation resulting in effective cooling. Sun screen blinds in the living area allow the control of thermal gain during warm equinoxal weather when the sun angle is low. The main bedroom has Luxaflex Duette blinds.
Wastewater is treated by a Biolytix system.
(September 2011) (
