The brief was to build a retirement home that was “low-energy, low maintenance”. The house was newly built in 1992 as a retirement home, largely designed by the owners.
Note it is a rear occupancy, is very close to a bus stop, and to the station where there is also easy parking on a Sunday. It is wheel chair friendly.
Sustainable Features
Aspect and Design Passive solar design, full length windows to the north, minimal to the east and west Wide eaves provide protection from the sun in summer. Windows to the south allow for rapid cross ventilation after a cool change.
Recycled Materials Much of the timber in the frame and that used in the internal fences was sourced from previously demolished houses.
Construction The floor is a suspended concrete slab for thermal mass Colorbond roof and gutters, and brick exterior mean minimum external maintenance. Sisalation blanket under the roof and insulwool on the ceiling and in the wall cavities provide good insulation Slotted eaves and air extractor on the roof help ventilation
Windows All windows in the house are double glazed. Pelmets are enclosed. Sun blinds cover those windows not protected by eaves, and also the bricks in the front of the garage The decking has electrically operated retractable blinds which provide shade in summer, while the deck roofing concentrates the warmth in winter. The open ends of the gables allow ventilation to prevent heat build up in summer.
Heating and Cooling Heating is by ducted gas system Emergency heating can be provided by the fireplace Fans provide most of the cooling in summer and are reversed in winter to circulate heat. Self designed cooling system uses the ducted heating system to suck cool air up from under the house Airlocks at entrances help control loss of hot air in winter or cool air in summer
Renewable Energy Hot water is heated by an Edwards gas-boosted solar hot water service. There are 2 x 2KWh grid connected photovoltaic systems on the roof, totalling 24 panels
Water Harvesting Rain water tanks in the garage, and water bladders underneath the deck and house provide 32000 litres of water storage. The water bladders are connected to the toilets and the tanks to the hot water service. Water from the drive is collected and diverted to the garden and eventually back into the storm water system. A 6000 litre tank will soon be installed in the back garden for watering vegetables.
Garden The pool at the front of the house, and the pool and fern garden on the south side are part of helping to cool the house in summer. The north side garden has plants which are drought resistant, yet look surprising lush. The back garden consists of native plants which require little water, and the newly built vegetable garden, which has five bays, each with a well underneath, so that the vegetables should only need watering about once a week, even in the height of summer.
(August 2009) (
