Sustainable House Day, Hawthorndene, SA

A new contemporary solar passive design, wheel chair accessible house on sloping 1500m3 block. Combination of rammed earth, corrugated iron, glass and recycled timbers give a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere. Demonstrates a way of combining sustainable design with modern conveniences.

New or Retro: Purpose built home designed and project managed by owners.

Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home

Water Harvesting
Still in design/construct phase. Intend using rainwater for garden maintenance, bathrooms and laundry.

External Walls
Combination of Rammed earth entry, zincalume corrugated iron on South and West walls, Colorbond on East and entry for feature. All stud walls thermally insulated with  sisalation and R3.8   insulation.   

Internal Walls
Spine of house which separates living area from utility & sleeping is Rammed Earth for thermal mass. Other walls are gyprock clad stud with acoustic insulation.

Roof
Main roof is Zincalume at approx 20º pitch to allow full entry of Winter sun. Sisalation and R3.8 insulation. Garage roof is opposite pitch for eventual mounting of solar PV cells and floor heat panels.

Floor
Suspended polished concrete floor  with hydronic in-floor heating system embedded. Future plans to insulate the underside   

Window Treatments
Single pane, 6mm thick glass. Recycled oiled Jarrah timber frames. Cellular blinds in living areas. Timber venetians in bedrooms for privacy with ventilation.

Solar or Wind Generation
Ready for grid connected solar PV

Heating & Cooling
Doesn’t require cooling in Summer due to solar passive design with louvred windows and circulating fans
Winter heating will largely be managed by solar gain, slow combustion fire and  hydronic floor (when coupled), heated by solar collectors, combustion stove wet back and electric off peak boost.
Have large skylight in laundry with clothes hoists for solar drying option.
Have allowed to construct a solar air heater in roof, but still in design phase.

Water Heating
Heat pump used as limited solar gain available in Winter due to shading from trees.

Appliances
6.5 star refrigerator, front loading washer, convection microwave oven

Other
Designed to give wheel chair accessibility throughout, even though built on sloping site with 5 different floor levels.