Sustainable House Day: 5 new sustainable homes open at 'Beyond', Hayborough SA

 The 'Beyond Today' development near Victor Harbor will open 5 display homes for Sustainable House Day. The homes demonstrate many sustainable and energy efficient design techniques and technologies. These homes represent Australia's most sustainably built display village. The development itself has been completely designed around ecologically sustainable principles ensuring an environment that makes building efficient homes easy.

Design guidelines ensure that homes will benefit from:

-Each parcel of land positioned to maximise the natural benefits of the sun whilst eliminating any overshadowing from neighbours;

-Renewable energy initiatives (solar or wind);

-Natural ventilation- providing substantial savings on heating and cooling costs;

-Solar hot water systems- each system saves approximately 3.5 tonnes of green house gas emissions each year;

-Large rainwater tanks, plumbed throughout the home;

-Thermal mass in foundation and walls (internally)- keeping homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer;

-Low toxicity materials used in construction;

-Prohibiting the use of old growth forest timbers (unless recycled);

-Glazing (including frames) to meet value U4 or better;

-Precision placement of windows and ceiling fans to provide warmth, light and flow of air;

-Energy efficient appliances. 

Beyond reverses typical development models, instead of providing the legislated 12.5% open space, the development boasts over 77% open space, parks, reserves and wetlands. More than 150,000 native trees, shrubs and wetland plants have already been planted over the site and more than 60 hectares will be protected as a wetland and native vegetation environment.

Water sensitive urban design ensures storm water is used to its greatest potential throughout streetscape and park environments. Almost every site has been deigned to share at least one boundary with a reserve providing a greater sense and space and delivering micro-climates from which each home can draw, creating more comfortable environments to live. These micro-climates provide better airflow and quality, natural shading in summer and natural light in winter. All landscape environments have been carefully designed to consider all of these elements.

Beyond is a truly unique development that demonstrates best practice development principles, providing the perfect opportunity to construct homes that perform and demonstrates an example of how we can develop into the future.

The sales and information center is a home that has been designed to showcase best practice design principles and product selections. It is an example of a home that is completely self sufficient and will not cost a cent to live in.

More information about Beyond can be found at www.beyondtoday.com.au