Sustainable House Day, Currumbin 3, QLD

In The Eco Village at Currumbin……..is a very comfortable, roomy, 2 bedroom house which was designed with sustainability, simplicity, small eco footprint, and a strict budget in mind.

ORIENTATION: living areas, with large glass windows to the floor’ face due north, allowing the Winter sun to stream in and also through Clerestory Windows overhead. Thermal lined curtains  cover windows at night for warmth and privacy. Bedrooms are situated on the cooler Southern side with Recycled hardwood screens fitted to Eastern and Western windows to prevent solar heat entering.

THERMAL MASS: Insulated, suspended concrete slab running the width of the living areas in “Charcoal” which maximises absorption of heat from the low Winter sun

SUMMER SHADE: Skillion Roof with  large, north facing deck which has it’s roof insulated and the addition of a ceiling fan provides for very pleasant indoor/outdoor flow through the 4metre wide timber sliding doors and enjoyable outdoor living.  
Awnings of 1 metre deep to North, East and Western living area windows which prevents Summer sun entering.
1 metre wide eaves surround the house.

VENTILATION: Louvre windows used extensively which maximises airflow and cross ventilation throughout the house.  High Louvres open to let warm air escape.  Ceiling fans have both Summer and Winter mode (to recapture risen warm air from the high ceilings, in winter).

HEATING: At this stage I haven’t purchased a heater, but I have a Gas bayonet fitting in the living area.

WATER: Two 18,000 litre galvanised tanks harvest water from the roof of the house and the Carport. Grey water is provided via our Water Treatment Plant. All used water is recycled for toilets and gardens.
All taps and toilets are water efficient, 4 star rated.

ENERGY: 1 Kw Photovoltaic panels on the carport roof provide an electricity surplus which is sold back to “Origin.”

LIGHT FITTINGS: are compact fluorescent and non glare. Outdoor solar lights are portable and effective enough to light the pathway.
Garage lights are covered with hoods to prevent glare and disturbance to neighbours.

MATERIALS: Recycled hardwood timber flooring, sourced from an old “Queenslander” which had been demolished. An old “Stable Door” sourced from a demolition yard, which splits in half, is the entry door and aids in cross ventilation.
Low VOC sealants on floor and all painted surfaces.
Wall Cladding is plywood and fibre cement sheeting.
Natural wool carpet in the bedrooms with cotton underlay.
Insulated, Corrugated iron (Colourbond) ceilings, to avoid ever having to paint them.
The house is elevated above the ground on steel poles. Corrugated iron skirts surround the house to protect from extreme weathers.
Both bathrooms are very wheelchair friendly, (as is the house) and have no shower screens. The floors slope gradually to a stainless steel grate and a shower curtain is used very effectively. All walls and floor have been waterproofed to allow washing by hosing. There is an exit door leading from the ensuite for easy access to and from the garden, on hot days.
Solar Hot Water with reticulated LPG backup. The gas was turned off from October, ‘08 to April, ‘09.
Kitchen cabinets are made from low VOC materials with recycled Camphor Laurel  trim  and bench top. Pantry is very user friendly, open with shallow shelving.
Laundry is roomy, also has a Camphor Laurel workbench and is hidden in the hall cupboard.

The main bedroom has a false wall hiding a walk through wardrobe which has louvre window ventilation on either side.
The garden has been landscaped to provide good drainage in a “Dry Creek Bed” style.
A Chook House and yard, shared with the neighbours, provides organic eggs, fertilised mulch and much enjoyment.  
The vegetable gardens provide for the chooks and the owners. (The chooks seem to get the most, I must extend the garden).

It all seems to work VERY well………………….