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This house includes over 100 features that you won't find in your
traditional house. This helps to make it one of the most sustainable* homes
in Australia
today. Can you use some of these ideas to 'green' your home and reduce your
bills?
This house is
a leader for its time and contains:
Energy - Electricity
1. 1kW Kyocera photovoltaic
system, which usually makes the house carbon neutral - operationally (and sometimes 'Impact
Positive' ' producing more energy than the house needs).
2. Low wattage
lightbulbs only: No lights over 15 Watts. No
wasteful halogens spot lights that spread light into corners of the house
that never get used. LEDs and CFLs and fluorescent T5s only.
3. Lower wattage
LCD TV, rather than a high wattage Plasma TV.
4. No energy
zapping clothes dryer.
5. Standby power
removed ' all 'Vampire/Phantom' loads are negated by turning appliances off
at the wall when not in use.
6. Energy
efficient refrigerator.
7. Energy
efficient washing machine.
8. An evacuated
tube Solar Hot Water system ' a traditional home uses 28% of its power just
to heat hot water.
Energy - Gas
9. Use of gas instead
of electricity for stove, oven and (backup) hot water heating requirements.
10. Reticulated
LPG gas removes the need for bottles on site, which reduces risk, transport
(refilling) and materials (steel).
11. High
efficiency Rinnai Gas Heaters (as it can get down to 0 degrees in the Valley
in winter).
Energy ' Embodied Energy and Materials
12. Use of
recycled besser blocks.
13. Extensive use
of recycled timber (eg. floor boards from an old barns and bridge timbers).
14. Recycled
doors.
15. Use of bamboo
decking from sustainably managed forests.
16. Use of a
Hi-Macs benchtop (which is low-VOC, low waste and repairable, making it very
long lasting).
17. Use of
recycled steel (including train tracks for balcony beams, star pickets in the
garden and corrugated steel sheeting in sections).
18. Use of second
hand furniture, made locally and from sustainably managed and certified
forests where possible.
19. Recycled
spotted-gum and golden cypress timber kitchen doors.
20. Use of a
second hand garage door with minor marks, but works just fine.
21. Use of only
local Australian tiles, rather than imported product which harbour many more
'transport miles' (embodied energy).
22. Use of long
lasting plastic Splashbacks called Zenolite, that are 100% recyclable; rather
than high embodied energy glass.
Design - Solar Passive design principles were used
to guide the entire plan
23. Solar North
facing.
24. Maximised
solar access (because with correctly size eaves you can make the sun work for
you) ie. elongated East-West building. Shading of all internal areas to
reduce heat gain in summer.
25. Energy
efficient ceiling fans in all living areas .
26. A large
central breezeway to maximise natural ventilation, removing the need to have
fans on all summer.
27. Suspended
concrete slab in living area to provide additional thermal mass i.e. for a heat
bank in winter and cooling mass in summer.
28. High
transmission, Low emissivity (low-e) glazing.
29. Double glazing
on the (few) western windows.
30. Full length
curtains and blinds to manage heat and cold.
31. Design
integrated to use the large tree on the site (to provide shading from the hot
western afternoon sun.
32. Roof design to
ensure the photovoltaic panels are at the optimal pitch (25 degrees) and
solar hot water (33-38 degrees).
33. More external
(deck) space than a traditional home, as this is cheaper to build and
encourages more outdoor living, where the quality of the air is greater and
sun provides essential vitamin D etc.
34. Covered
outdoor space to ensure all year round outdoor living is possible.
35. Inclusions to
ensure a 7+ Star Energy Rating (using Accurate). This the minimum rating in
much of Europe and USA.
Australian States only typically mandate 5 Star.
36. Use of bulk
insulation www.insulation.com.au/sustainability.aspx and double-sided
reinforced foil sisulation www.protherm.com.au to help keep the house cool in
summer and warm in winter.
37. External
Ventilation around the refrigerator to ensure it works optimally.
38. Externally
flued gas stove top to enhance safety and remove odours completely.
39. Security
screening to promote breezes and safety.
40. Use of
clearstory windows to bring more light into the living pavilion and onto the
strip of suspended concrete slab.
41. Use of louvre
windows to maximise airflow and control.
Lighting
42. Use of large
ventilated skylights in bathrooms and corridor to remove the need for lights
during sunlight hours and encourage natural ventilation.
43. Sensor lights
in corridors and walk in robes, to improve adaptability (which is part of
sustainability) ie. ease of use, reduce energy and improve safety.
44. Low and minimised
lighting to adhere to the Dark Sky Policy, which minimizes glare, light
trespass and light pollution, while maintaining night-time safety/security,
security and does not adversely impact on night-time visual amenity. This
policy also helps to reduce light pollution which disrupts the breeding
cycles of insects which are vital parts of our biosphere. This includes the use of pendant lights to
ensure light is applied more directly to where it is required (eg. bench tops
and tables). Wall lights are also used instead of flood lights.
Adaptability and Accessibility
45. Extra wide
870mm doors to cater for wheelchair access.
46. Minimisation
of stairs to enhance access i.e. ramps throughout and to each level.
47. Semi-recessed
bathroom basins (to enable wheel chairs to get under them).
48. Hobless (step
free) shower floors.
49. Separate and
accessible Home Office.
50. adjustable
height shower heads.
51. Lever or
D-shaped handles for doors, cupboards and drawers
52. Rounded
corners on bench tops.
53. Lever water
taps.
54. Extra wide
garage.
55. Single storey
construction.
Waste
56. No on site
council rubbish service ' this encourages residents to reduce their waste.
Residents then take there waste and recycling the central 'Reduce, Reuse
Recycle' centre. All waste food is composted on site for use in productive
gardens.
Water
57. Water
Efficient fittings shower heads i.e.
high WELS
rating
58. Water
efficient tap fittings.
59. Water
efficient dishwasher (as on their 'eco' cycle, dishwashers can use much less
water compared to hand washing).
60. Water and
energy efficient front-loading washing machine.
61. Water tanks '
45,000 litres on site - for all potable (drinking) water.
62. Gutter guard
in all roof gutters to maximise on site water quality.
63. Connection to
the Ecovillage recycled water system, that recycles all black and grey water
64. Use of Best
Practice Guidelines for the 'Control of Storm Water Pollution from Building
Sites'.
65. Sediment and
erosion control during construction.
66. Recycled water
back to the house for use in all toilets and irrigation on plants.
Air Conditioning and Air Quality
67. The house is
H-Shaped The house contains no electronic air conditioners, because it
doesn't need it.
68. Recycling of
80%+ of all waste materials from site during and after construction.
Landscaping
69. Swale drainage
to minimise the need for guttering and excessive water-flow control, and to
control water for even garden disbursement.
70. Native species
(Australian) to reduce weed species and support local wildlife eg. native
birds and bees that pollinate our fruit trees.
71. Endemic
species - local to the area, to ensure drought tolerance etc.
72. Food producing
species (fruit trees, herbs and vegetables) to make food available at the
door, to reduce transport costs and improve human health.
73. Chickens: for
local organic eggs and to fertilise the gardens.
74. Minimization
of continuous strip footings to reduce the geological impact on natural water
movement and erosion
75. Use of only
water-permeable road and pathways, to allow natural drainage to occur and
avoid water build-up and hence storm-water management (road gutters).
76. No lawn to
minimise water usage. Lawns are available within the community on a mass
scale, which is a far more sustainable and community orientated solution.
Toxicity
77. Use of low-VOC
(volatile organic compounds) finishes eg. low VOC Paint (Rockcote, Wattyl-ID
and Resene).
78. Use of
non-toxic cleaners, for dish washing, clothes washing, hand washing, body
washing etc
79. No artificial
sprays or herbicides on the garden to guarantee organic food production and
remove the chance of runoff polluting nearby waterways and eventually oceans
(where it all ends up eventually).
80. 99% reduction
in the use of PVC. We use HDPE instead for heath reasons (as the use of toxic
PVC is questionable).
81. No use of CCA
treated timber which contains arsenic and still exists in 'coppers logs' in
some children's playgrounds.
82. Non-toxic
timber finishes that are water based and don't leach toxins into the local
water supply
83. Adequately
illuminated and ventilated bathrooms and bedrooms to remove the ability of
toxic mould to breed.
Communication
84. The Ecovillage
has laid its own fibre-optic network underground to ensure it can provide all
homes with high-speed voice (phone) and data (internet) services. This provides the opportunity for people
to work from home and within the community, saving transport costs and time.
85. The Ecovillage
at Currumbin has developed (courtesy of the developer) its own tailor-made
internal, community portal, that allows internal dialogue daily via email
groups, of which there are over 40 optional sub-groups to participate in.
86. Data and coax
points in every room to allow for independence.
87. 'Star wiring'
in sections of the house to future proof it. Ie. CAT5 UTP Cable to all rooms
for internet and VOIP phone connections.
Transport
88. Within walking
distance of 100 friendly neighbours/friends.
89. Use of bikes
to get to local facilities.
90. EcoHamlet
single lane roads to reduce car transport priority, making it safer for
pedestrians.
Operation
91. Use of
environmentally friendly appliances only (ie. those with 5+ energy and water
star ratings)
92. Operable
ventilation in clearstory windows to evacuate hot summer air.
93. Reduce, reuse
and recycling principles used throughout. The Ecovillage RRR centre will
facilitate this on a much wider community scale.
94. Composting of
all food scraps to reduce waste and enhance compost quality which is used to
enhance food production.
95. Use of
reusable bags and boxes for shopping and storage. Avoidance of non-recyclable
packaging.
96. Residents give
preference to purchasing locally produced produce.
97. Minimise
purchase of meat products and only from organic, local, free-range, humanely
raised animals.
98. Inclusion of a
revolutionary innovative end-user touch-screen interface called EcoVision,
which shows how the house is using water, electricity and gas (and
temperature) in real time. This raises awareness of occupants and helps them
to manage and reduce their utility consumption. www.ecovisionsolutions.com.au
Social
99. Built in the
Ecovillage at Currumbin, to enhance sustainability on a local and more global
scale. The Community ensures common facilities are shared which reduced
embodied energy, greenhouse gases and maintenance costs eg. no individual pools allowed ' everyone
uses the beautiful community pool. The
house also includes an intentional 15m2 of office space for local sustainable
business.
100. Respect for
the traditional caretakers of the land, the Kom-bumerris at the opening of
our community meetings and through naming of our Ecohamlets.
101. No artificial
fencing to remove barriers between neighbours, encourage some tolerance, and
encourage natural soft planting/hedges.
Even with all
these features the house it not perfect, but given the scope and limits, it
can demonstrate that 'anything is possible'.
Note that each
house has different characteristics (climate, land conditions and occupant
needs to fulfil) so each subsequent home can be based on the same principles
but should not attempt to copy or include specific or prescriptive solutions
just for the sake of it. The solution needs to be holistic, integrated and
flexible.
The ecovillage
welcomes visitors and there is an education centre on site. No dogs or cats
are allowed, to protect the native wildlife, but there is an abundance of
other animals on your doorstep, including dozens of resident kangaroos.
Sustainability
Theory ' 101
- To
be truly sustainable, a house would need to be more like an igloo,
cow-hide tent or cave ' to be
100% recyclable, non-toxic, carbon neutral and match the earth's
live carrying capacity. We as
humans have not got there yet.
- Note
also that the embodied energy in our homes today, far exceeds the use we
get out of them, making them still very damaging to the environment. This is because of the steel,
aluminium, concentrate, plastics and other human made products that
require significant amounts of energy in production.
- Truly
carbon neutral homes produce more renewable energy than they use, at a
point in time, and produce more energy than went into making the home as
well. That is, operational energy and embodied component energy.
'
Ecomplish 2006-2010 Queensland Australia
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