Retro-fitted Californian Bungalow circa 1927. (Retro-fitting process ongoing)
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS FEATURED IN THIS HOME
Building Works 2 renovations over 10 years at the North facing rear of the existing house. Designed and built by the owner with North facing windows and glass doors for maximum passive solar heating during the colder months. Both renovations use maximum recycled material i.e. windows, doors, floorboards, wall and subfloor framing and archetraving and are insulated heavily in the roof, walls and under the floor with non-toxic wool batts and concertina foil batts.
Window Treatments Windows in living area renovation feature tinting that reflects heat back into the house during the colder months. North facing windows are protected from summer sun by awnings and verandahs Windows on the South side of the building feature heavy velvet drapes to reduce heat loss during the cold months.
Heating and Cooling Solar pump in roof pumps warm air into the house during the day in the colder months and hot air out at night during the warmer months maintaining a more stable and comfortable internal house temperature and reducing the need for artificial heating and warming. Supplimentary heating is achieved through an energy efficient gas heater. Cooling is achieved on only the hottest days with a small air conditioner in the lounge room.
Climate Zones The layout of the house allows for sections to be sealed off so that hot or cold pockets can be achieved if an individual need to escape to a hotter or colder part of the house during the most extreme hot or cold days. There are weather seals under many of the connecting doors to better achieve this.
Solar Water Heating Hot water is heated by evacuated solar tubes and supplemented by a gas storage unit. The tubes are extremely efficient and provide 95% of heating requirements.
Solar Electricity A one kilowatt system provides one third to one half of power requirements with an inverter that has the capacity to have a 2 kilowatt system for future upgrades. Energy efficient globes are used throughout the house
Water and Gardens The gardens are being converted to low water needing except where there are espaliered fruit trees and no dig gardens for semi self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetables. Water is supplimented by 500 litre water tanks under several down pipes and a 2000 litre capacity fish pond in which fish will be grown as a protein source.
(August 2009) (
