New or retro: New
Climate Zone: Mediterranean
Architect: Paul Downton
Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home
Water Harvesting
- Underground rainwater storage
Most of the stormwater at Christie Walk is collected and stored underground in two 20,000 litre tanks. The water is filtered and pumped into several of the houses to be used for the toilets (city stormwater considered not potable). The stormwater is also used for all the gardens. When this water runs low it is topped up automatically from the mains supply. Average water usage from the mains, per household, is 69 kl per annum.
External Walls
- Low embodied energy
- Sustainable sources
- Timber choice: Recycled
- Low toxicity
- Long life
- Adaptive reuse
My apartment is one of six in a block. All have metal frames and building material is aerated concrete blocks (Hebel).
Internal Walls
- Low embodied energy
- Sustainable sources
- Timber choice: Recycled
- Low toxicity
Internal walls are also aerated concrete.
Roof
- Insulation type and rating: Polyester batts R3
- Curved roof line
Being at the top of the apartments there is a foot of concrete above our ceiling, above which is a roof garden with soil also a foot thick and a large amount of vegetation. This provides insulation in summer.
Floor
- Thermal mass
- Long life
Ceramic tiles on all floor surfaces.
Window Treatments
All windows and glass doors are double-glazed. There is an airlock-type double door at the entrance.
Electricity Generation
Mains electricity used but annual bills are less than $300 for two people.
Heating & Cooling
- Passive cooling
Summer cooling relies on outside window shading, cross ventilation, thermal flue effect of spiral staircase and roof window opening, and louvre windows between some rooms. There are also internal curtains and blinds and ceiling fans in every room.In the winter we use electric heaters but the well insulated walls and double glazed windows reduce heat loss.
For heating I use a small electric radiator.
Water Heating
The apartments have a large solar hot water system above the roof, boosted as needed by gas backup.
Appliances
Stove and fridge selected for high energy efficiency. Shower head is low flow.
Other
At Christie Walk there are many other features of sustainable urban living outside of the houses. We have vegetable and fruit gardens, a rooftop garden on one of the apartment blocks, a shared laundry and a shared community room for leisure activities and meetings. Recycling is a priority – using kitchen waste for composting, donating unwanted items to others etc. There is a bike shed for 20 bikes, people use public transport and several residents have joined the GoGet carshare scheme enabling them to sell their cars and just pay for car use as needed.
(August 2009) (
