– Completed May 2009
Climate – Mild Temperate Melbourne has a Temperate Climate with mild to warm summers and cool winters. The need for winter home heating is greater than the need for summer cooling. Cheltenham is a suburb of Melbourne & cooling breezes in summer come from the South Easterly direction. Port Phillip Bay is approx. 3 kilometres from the Cheltenham House. The Mean Air Temperatures recorded at nearby Moorabin Airport has a (mean) maximum of 25.9°C in February to a (mean) minimum of 6.0°C in July. Humidity remains comfortable all year round with a mean average between 55% & 85%. Moorabbin receives average an annual rainfall of 708 mm. From the Bureau of Meterology.
Architect - Bridget Puszka – BP Architects 32A Greeves Street St Kilda VIC 3182 Ph (03) 9525 3780 www.bparchitects.com.au
Water Harvesting – Rainwater - Rainwater is collected from the roof of the house. The rainwater travels via first flush diverters to a 600litre under-ground collection pit where it is then pumped to an above-ground 25000 litre storage tank. (House block is a sloping site and the tank is mostly above gutter level so it can’t be gravity fed) At the moment there is also a 1000l tank attached to one side of the shed. The home can run entirely on mains water if required, run on mains with the washing machine and toilets on tank, or additionally the cold water supply side of the showers and bath can also be on the tank circuit.
Grey water/Black water – Although there is no greywater system installed, the grey water and black water are on separate circuits under the slab with the greywater circuit looping out from under the slab for later inserting of a greywater system if required.
External walls – Rendered Hebel Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (AAC) Power Panel, with sisalation over a lightweight steel frame and R1.5 insulation batts in the wall.
Internal Walls- Lightweight steel frame covered in plasterboard – some walls with acoustic wall batts for noise dampening. One internal wall is concrete block for extra thermal mass (has heating manifold located against it. (see heating and cooling). An internal wall is directly exposed to the winter sun through the clerestory window and is also a darker colour to capture Solar Thermal Heat.
Roof – Colorbond Steel –medium colour – so as not to absorb too much heat with R1.3 fibreglass/sisalation blanket beneath. 30 degree pitch for mounting of Solar HWS (and hopefully later PV panels). Eaves on all sides of the house.
Floor – Concrete Slab for thermal mass Siltstone in Living area – Dark colour to absorb heat from winter sun Bamboo in Dining, Kitchen and Main traffic path Tiles in bathroom/ensuite/toilet Carpet in Bedrooms/Lounge
Windows – Aluminium Double glazed throughout (French and Bi-fold doors also double glazed) West facing bedroom window also has Solar Film coating on it to cut down on incoming heat. Provision to fit shade sail over west bedroom window. Provision to fit pergola on North side dining area
Electricity Generation – None presently
Heating and Cooling – Heating - Gas boiler feeding Hydronic in-slab heating (11 circuits) Passive heating measures – Larger windows on northern side , (Clerestory window to catch winter sun with internal wall to catch some of the Solar Thermal Heat) Dark floor tiles (siltstone) to maximize heat absorption from direct north sun coming through north windows in living area. Thermal mass of slab and one internal concrete block wall. R3 ceiling batts Airlock entry works by minimising unwanted heat loss in winter & heat gain in summer. Bathroom exhaust fans have dampers & exhaust directly to exterior. House can be split into 2 zones with internal bi-fold doors to reduce volume of air required to be heated.
Cooling – We have not lived in this home for a Summer yet but some of the features expected to come into play are – No hallway as such, so there is good potential for cross ventilation i.e. no obstruction to breezes. Clerestory windows are able to be opened to allow a chimney stack effect to purge hot air. Ceiling fans, Eaves Roof exhaust fan (on thermostat) to exhaust hot air – gable vents for ventilation to roof area No Air-conditioning has been installed.
Water Heating - Apricus 30 tube, evacuated tube solar hot water system with Bosch Gas Instantaneous booster.
Appliances – Front Loading washing machine Small Dishwasher (Single dishdrawer) Easily accessible switches (remote to power points) to cut down on standby power consumption.
Other – Compact fluorescent lighting throughout most of home. No in-ceiling down-lights (to prevent heat loss/cut holes through insulation layer) Previous home on the site was relocated (not demolished) to be reused During construction, attention was given to maximum possible recycling of waste materials Under bath is insulated with Styrofoam (from packing) and polyester batts Skylights in bathroom and toilet so artificial lighting is not required during the day Bright natural light filled home. House is designed for natural daylighting. Clear panel section on Roller door to let some light into the garage during the day. Small window in pantry to let in light. Close to public transport options and shops. Gable features – recycled jarrah from our old decking Outdoor washing line (dryer only gets used a couple of times a year) Landscaping – Yet to be done. New Building Construction >
(August 2009) (
