This house, which is currently under construction, presents a great opportunity to see ‘behind the scenes’ of a purpose-built passive solar house.
This will be a demonstration Eco home, designed to show that a green home doesn’t have to be a tree house or present massive sacrifices in lifestyle. “The answer is on our roof”, a demonstration that the average suburban home has the ability to support all our water and energy needs along with good design and the latest in green innovations.
New or Retrofit: New home. Owner builder. Designed by owners. 80% complete, occupied.
Designer: Drafted and Engineered by Pecorp design.
Climate Zone: Eastern Sydney – BCA Climate Zone 5, Nathers Climate Zone 56.
Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home
Water Harvesting Systems
The design incorporates a 40,000 litre rain water tank for all water needs and an Eco-Nova black water treatment system with a 5,000 litre tank for storing recycled water and distributing to toilets, laundry and garden. This home will not be connected to Sydney water for mains or sewerage.
The system will utilise three water pumps.
External Walls
Timbercrete block walls and Colorbond cladding on pine frame. Cladding insulated by Polyair.
Internal Walls
Pine frame, gyprock
Roof
Skillion, Colorbond Woodland Grey insulated by Polyair, pitched at 5 degrees. Northern roof area pitched to the North to accommodate PV panels and Solar Hot Water.
Floor
Concrete slab to ground floor garage, recycled hardwood tongue and groove floor to upstairs living area. Carpet with Tontine jute fibre underlay to bedrooms, with Polyair insulation to floor.
Window Treatments
Aluminium windows and doors with 4mm toughened Comfort Save glass. Removable shade sales over the North glass
Solar or Wind Power Generation
1kW grid-connect Photovoltaic system.
Sustainable/Recyclable Products
Timbercrete building blocks, brick and block retaining wall blocks, recycled steel and hardwood beams, crushed concrete drainage aggregate, chipped polystyrene drainage system, low emission laminate kitchen, recycled staircase, Kordon pest control.
Water Heating
SolarHart, Solar with electric boosting.
Solar Passive Design
North facing living, dining & kitchen areas, bedrooms to the South, service areas to the West.
Other Unique Features
Currently under construction is a Permaculture garden - Orchid, vegetables, aquaponics, chooks, worm farm, cane fruits.
(August 2009) (
