Sustainable House Day, Kiamba, Queensland

"Samira"

New Residential Building – building was completed 20th December 2008 – we moved in on the 21st December!

Water Harvesting
Rainwater Tanks
•    No mains water
•    2 x 34,000 litre above ground sprayed concrete rainwater tanks fed via underground pipes from house gutters with sump.  
•    Water pumped manually (as required) to header tank (9,000 litre capacity) 25 metres above house.  Gravity fed to house.

Grey and Blackwater Treatment System
•    Biolytix “Deluxe” Pumped Audiovisual Alarm (Model BF6_3000PAV)
•    245m2 subterranean dispersal area

External Walls
•    Custom Orb – Zincalume and Ply Wood Texture 2000
•    R.2.0 bulk insulation to external walls
•    External wall materials chosen for low ongoing maintenance and longevity

Internal Walls
•    R.2.0 bulk insulation to internal framed walls

Roof
•    Custom Orb - Zincalume
•    Roof Insulation 50mm blanket insulation over reflective foil sarking with ceiling Insulation R.3.0 bulk insulation in ceiling space

Floor
•    Upper floor:  Spotted Gum – sustainably harvested – local supplier
•    Tung Oil finish – low sheen
•    Insulation R.3.0 bulk insulation (ceiling space of lower floor)
•    Woollen carpet on underlay over concrete slab (lower floor)
•    Bathrooms/Laundry - tiles

Electricity Generation
•    Standalone system
•    2.72Kw solar array – 16 x 170w Sharp panels
•    1,320 Amp Hour 48 volt Enersun Battery Bank
•    7Kw Latronics Inverter
•    Plasmatronics PL-60 Regulator
•    5 days autonomy
•    Backup: Honda 6.5kVA Petrol Generator

Heating & Cooling
•    Passive cooling utilising cross ventilation, louvers, clerestory windows and sliding doors to regulate breezes and temperature
•    No other cooling systems utilised
•    Passive solar design – eave and house orientation designed to provide maximum warmth during winter, with maximum shade in summer months.
•    Heating supplemented by slow combustion wood heater (using timber from property)

Water Heating
•    On demand continuous flow Bosch 16H Gas Hot Water System

Appliances:  Energy/Water Efficient
•    Bosch 16H Gas Hot Water system
•    Miele Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Front-Loading Washing Machine
•    Capital Gas Oven and Cooktop
•    Dual flush Villeroy & Boch toilets
•    Water efficient Grohe shower and bath heads
•    LCD Flat Screen Sharp Television Communications
•    No physical landline for telephone/internet
•    Running Engin VoiP over Telstra wireless broadband internet access
•    Wireless LAN (laptops, printer, modem)
•    Wireless Weather Station

Communications
•    No physical landline for telephone/internet
•    Running Engin VoiP over Telstra wireless broadband internet access
•    Wireless LAN (laptops, printer, modem)
•    Wireless Weather Station

Other
•    No CCA treated timbers
•    Use of rechargeable batteries in all devices
•    All food waste composted, all other waste recycled where possible
•    Attempt to minimise packaging purchased
•    House designed to take advantage of aspect and sea breezes
•    Permaculture design of garden being completed
•    Biodiesel fuel used for 4WD vehicle
•    EcoCover (groundcover) on new slope created during building > >