HOUSE SIZE

1 storey,
114sqm internal
+ 5sqm external laundry
+ 17sqm carport

BAL RATING ROOF

No BAL Rating

WALL MATERIALS

Existing brick
New golden cypress board and batten cladding
New sunlite twinwall

WINDOW AND DOOR TYPES

Windows: Fixed and tilt and turn are uPVC Zendow Deceuninck
Entry Door: uPVC Zendow Deceuninck
Sliding Door: uPVC Zendow Deceuninck

Glazing: Australian Glass Group “Insulglass Low-e Plus”. Double glazed, argon filled, low-e with warm edge spacers

Fabricated by Windows4Life

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES

N/A

NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

2 (+1 study/bed)

NUMBER OF BATHROOMS

1

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

(1) We aimed to reuse materials already in the house, before seeking new materials:
Existing hardwood walls frames, roof and floor joists retained
Existing hardwood floors retained
Existing bricks retained to most of the house, some demolished bricks salvaged, cleaned and reused.
Existing roof retained
Demolished timber studs salvaged, cleaned and reused in the laundry and screens
Demolished skirtings salvaged, cleaned and reused throughout
Demolished window reveals salvaged, cleaned and reused as shelving
Existing kitchen cabinets salvaged, restored and reused as cabinets

(2) Use recycled or salvaged material
Cladding:
Golden cypress cladding rescued from farm windbreaks.

Flooring:
Recycled solid tas oak floorboards salvaged from demolished houses

(3) Use good materials
Linoleum floors in bathroom and kitchen (in lieu of vinyl). Linoleum is made from natural materials like cork and linseed.
Forbo Marmoleum Fresco

Timber finishes:
All floors finished with Osmo Poly-x oil rather than polyurethane

Cabinetry finished with Rubio Monocoat “Oil Plus 2C” for a zero-VOC finish.
Cabinetry finished with Livos Kunos Oil

Paint:
Internal paint Haymes Ultra Premium Expressions Interior (Greentag certified and low-VOC)
Final coat of paint in Bauwerk Lime Wash (zero-VOC, natural materials)

Fittings:
Raw brass tapware (in lieu of chrome plated tapware), made locally in South Australia by Consolidated Brass

Curtains:
100% Linen curtains from Champion Blinds

Joinery:
Ecoply from CHH (in lieu of MDF and Chipboard)

INSULATION TYPE & LOCATION

Floor:
R2.0 Polyester batts between existing floor joists

Walls:
1 layer of 90mm R2.7 glasswool batt in the wall cavity, with an additional 45mm R1.3 batt internally for a total of ~R4.0 in walls.

Ceiling/Roof:
R5.5 total glasswool batts laid in opposite directions over joists

ALL-ELECTRIC HOME?

Yes, it had never had gas connected, but the electric appliances were not efficient modern ones, so were upgraded.

Electrolux induction cooktop
Heat Pump Hot Water
Heat Pump/”Split System” heating and cooling

ENERGY STAR RATING

1.5 Stars when we bought it
3.7 Stars once we added some ceiling and floor insulation
7.9 Stars NatHERS rating as of today.

RENEWABLE ENERGY USED

Pre-wire for solar installation completed, but not yet installed, waiting on a year of usage data to optimise the size of a solar system.

SIZE OF PV SYSTEM

N/A

SIZE OF BATTERY

N/A

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Deep retrofit of insulation, vapour permeable sarking and sealing of gaps and cracks, to create a more airtight and insulated house.

PASSIVE HEATING COOLING

Key move of the renovation was to create more north facing windows to allow passive heating in winter.
Eaves were adjusted to allow deep sun in winter while cutting it out in summer.
Pergolas and carport to the east and west to help shade in winter and summer (once the plants grow).
East and South facing windows were reduced in size from the existing where possible.
Windows are positioned to allow for cross-ventilation during summer.
Light-coloured roof reflects rather than absorbs heat.

ACTIVE HEATING COOLING

1no. 7kw Daikin multi-head split system serving two units. This was installed prior to the renovation, and was retained.
Active ventilation and heat recovery via 1 pair of Lunos e2 duo decentralised heat recovery units.
Ceiling sweep DC fans installed in both bedrooms for summer cooling.

WATER HEATING

Sanden C02 Heat Pump Hot Water.

ABOVE GROUND RAINWATER STORAGE

None

WATER HARVESTING AND SAVING

Drought tolerant native garden, addition of swales and a removal of impermeable surfaces allows for surface water to be absorbed.
Vegetable garden watered via subsurface drip irrigation on a timer when required to minimise evaporation losses.
Gardens mulched to minimise water usage

ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING

LED lighting throughout. Lights are positioned on walls rather than ceilings to minimise air and heat leakage that occurs around recessed ceiling fixtures.

WINDOW PROTECTION

Eaves to northern windows.

CAR CHARGING

Higher amp circuit pre-wired to the carport, but no car charger installed.

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES

Natural materials prioritised, minimising synthetic chemicals, VOCs and other harmful products.

Active ventilation to bring in fresh air and manage humidity and CO₂ levels.

COST ESTIMATE OF SUSTAINABLE HOME/FEATURES

We’ve tried our best to separate the costs of doing the retrofit from the costs of increasing the area of the house and upgrading the kitchen and bathroom. But given that these were all done at the same time we undoubtedly saved money due to the efficiencies of having trades on site.

As owners we also took on a lot of the labour of doing the vapour permeable wrap and insulation installation ourselves.

Where installation/labour is not included we’ve just listed the item as “supply only”. Given inflation, all prices are current as of 2023 unless otherwise listed.

uPVC Windows and Doors:
Supply and Install: $35,200

Additional Insulation in existing walls, including insulation, plasterboard and new wrap.
Supply and install of plasterboard and internal battens to walls: $22,000
Supply only (not install) of insulation and wrap: $5000

Ceiling insulation (supply only - price from 2019): $1000
Floor insulation (supply only - price from 2020): $1000

Equipment:
1 pair of heat recovery (supply only): $2400
2no. ceiling fans (supply only): $450
1no. Induction Cooktop (supply only): $1320
Heat pump hot water unit (supply only): $3850
7kw AC/Heat Pump Install (supply and install, price from 2020): $5280

GARDEN / OUTDOORS:

Native planting around house to create habitat for wildlife, and for our enjoyment.

Paths made from recycled crushed concrete

Bench plinths from salvaged pavers

Paths throughout the productive garden as tree mulch to increase soil health.

Productive raised garden beds using the “no-dig” method in recycled timber boxes. Sub-surface drip-irrigation to each bed for watering when required.

WASTE REDUCTION PRACTICES:

Compost bin