Sustainable House Day, Kuitpo Forest, SA

'Davelea'

This highly efficient home was built in 1997 on an 11 Ha eucalypt block to sustainable principles. It incorporates best practice material and construction mix, passive and low energy systems, renewable energy with Green Power export to mains, water and waste on-site methods.

Type: Purpose designed new home

Architect: Emilis Prelgauskas

Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home

Water Harvesting
Self sufficient in rain water, low pressure high efficiency reticulation, efficient shower heads, mixers, taps, washing machine, dual flush toilets, etc.). Split septic and grey water system including reed bed and return to garden

External walls
Steel frame with 'Hebel', low mass insulating block infill, external render, some earth berm

Internal walls
Plasterboard internal walls and ceilings plasterboard

Roof
Insulated steel roof, air gap and R3 insulation

Floor
Bondex concrete thermal mass floors plus carpeted timber in some upper rooms

Window treatments
Aluminium frame with laminated fire resistant glass. Verasol blinds

Solar or wind generation
1 kW grid connect photovoltaic array plus 1.4 kW wind generator

Heating & Cooling
Winter heating by passive sun inflow through large windows to concrete thermal mass floors, supplementary warming by wood fire circulated by ceiling and heat shift fans. Ceiling fans are 'off-set' to sustainable principles. Summer cooling by shading out direct sun. Open plan layout encourages cross ventilation, boosted by evaporative 'subsidence tower' cooling over connecting stairwell and ceiling fans

Water Heating
Gas, wood, solar

Appliances
Efficient electrical appliances including DC power where suited (fridge 96W Danfoss).; mixed AC & DC for high efficiency night time lighting, low wattage fluorescent 240V general lighting, halogen 12V wall washer and task lighting LEDs

Other
Glass conservatory, large windows and glass blocks give daytime lighting. Architect gave training to family for maximising house to its potential