Sustainable House Day, Albany, Western Australia

Background:
Our brief was to be owner builders and design an energy efficient home for our large blended family. We wanted it to be practical and hardy, to withstand the activities of five energetic children, and their friends who frequently played here. Our floor plan included a separate section of the house for the children’s bedrooms and  their own playroom/lounge.

Martin attended a Greenskills Solar Retro Fitting Course in 1992, which gave him the knowledge to design & build the home. The house took 2 years to complete, with Martin doing all the building except for brick laying, for which he did the labouring for the tradesmen. We had lots of help from friends and the family.

Sustainable Building Features:

•    250mm thick mudbrick walls - Thermal Mass & Temperature Control
•    Concrete Floor- Thermal Mass
•    Face Brick internal walls – Thermal Mass & child proof
•    Highlight Clerestory Windows – Natural Lighting
•    Eaves – Pitched to let in winter sun and block summer sun
•    Large windows on North side – Let in sun & light
•    Smaller windows on South side – Reduce heat loss
•    Plantation pine ceiling – Renewable Source
•    Recycled Hardwood for ceiling battens, front & back doors & music room double doors
•    Insulation in roof and wall spaces

Sustainable Energy Features:

•    Solar Hart hot water system
•    Gas stove
•    Wetback in wood fire to heat water
•    Extractor fan from lounge to other end of house to distribute heat
•    Ceiling fans to circulate warm air
•    Cross ventilation –use of cooling easterlies in summer
•    1 kW Grid Connect Solar Energy System- supplies 75% of consumption
•    Energy efficient refrigerator
•    Energy efficient light bulbs

Sustainable Social Features:

•    Walking distance to primary school, high school & TAFE
•    Bus stop nearby
•    Business run from home
•    Home recording studio
•    Separate children’s wing to retain sanity of adults