Sustainable House Day, Coorparoo, Queensland

A typical Coorparoo home has been retrofitted for sustainability, as well as to meet the needs of a family and a home business. This home features one of the largest residential solar electricity systems to be found in Brisbane. This home provides a good example of how relatively simple changes can make a big difference.

Retrofit:   Alterations made to an existing home.

Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home

Water Harvesting Systems
Collecting 6000 litres of rain water in an above-ground tank, the dry collection system has been fitted with a “first flush diverter” and a strainer helps keep the water free from roof debris. Rainwater is used to fill the outdoor spa, which is free from chemical treatment. When emptied for Winter, the spa water can be used on the garden.

Special Garden Features
The small garden features a worm farm which is used to process kitchen scraps into rich compost and re-used in the gardens. Palm trees have been used extensively on the western side of the property to provide shade to the house.  

External Walls
The construction of the house is typical for Brisbane, with timber cladding upstairs and bricked-in downstairs. The downstairs double brick walls are bare inside and are well shaded by a shade pergola, plants and garden retaining walls to avoid overheating.

Roof
Light coloured Zincalume with sisalation, R3.0 cellulose ceiling insulation.  Shading by solar panels on the roof resulted in internal temperatures about 3°C cooler in Summer.

Floor
Timber floorboards upstairs and concrete slab downstairs (typical for a Brisbane home).  The high availability of the thermal mass downstairs makes this area most comfortable year-round.

Window Treatments
Western and eastern windows are well-shaded with hoods and fixed vertical shade louvres.

Passive design
Garage and Verandah are on the NE corner, reducing the morning heat in Summer.  The front verandah has been well shaded to achieve a comfortable outdoor area away from the sun with insect-screened lattice used to provide privacy and access to cooling breezes.   A shade pergola to the East shades the Ground floor.  Palm trees to the West shade most of this side.

Solar or Wind Power Generation
5.5 kW solar grid-connected Photo Voltaic system generating an average 21kWh per day (facing ENE).  Night power purchased is 100% wind.

Heating & Cooling
Ceiling fans are in most upstairs rooms, with portable fans used for spot cooling elsewhere.  A small 5-star split inverter reverse-cycle air conditioning system has been installed for the home office, however this is rarely used.  Space heating by a low emission portable natural gas heater is also rarely used.

Water Heating
Natural gas instantaneous water heating is used and a solar hot water system is planned for the future.

Appliances
Gas cooktop is used in the kitchen and all whitegoods have high energy efficiency Star Ratings.  Appliances are switched-off when not used to minimise stand-by power.