HOUSE SIZE

• Footprint: 141 m² - total including upstairs: 172 m²

BAL RATING

• ?

WALL MATERIALS

• Rendered fibro / timber frame

WINDOW AND DOOR TYPES

• Single glazed timber frames

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES

• Upstairs and downstairs zones separated in winter with a pulldown pleated insulating blind in the lower stairwell

NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

• 4 + granny flat

NUMBER OF BATHROOMS

• 3 + granny flat

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

• Recycled polyurethane foam carpet underlay

INSULATION TYPE & LOCATION

• High-pressure washed dark lichen-affected cement tile roof, repaired ridge and gables, and sprayed tiles with two coats of light cream Astec specialised infra-red reflective paint.
• R4 FG batts under roof tiles, around upstairs interior walls, over ceilings and under floor, all covered, supported and tape-sealed by 4 mm ‘Polastic’ (reflective non-conductive polyester film laminate with polystyrene foam core).
• Blown-in mineral wool (via interior plasterboard walls) for external upstairs walls.
• Polyurethane underlay and wool carpet in downstairs family areas and bedrooms.
• Insulating vinyl plank flooring installed in kitchen, dining and laundry areas.

ALL-ELECTRIC HOME?

• Yes (excepting for small LPG BBQ). Replaced gas cooktop and ineffectual overhead fume extractor with induction cooktop with integrated fume extraction. Replaced gas water and space heating with heat pumps.

ENERGY STAR RATING:

• Not assessed

RENEWABLE ENERGY USED:

• 8.8 MWh pa produced / 5.6 MWh pa consumed / 3.2 MWh pa net exported

SIZE OF PV SYSTEM:

• 8 kW (35-degree pitch / E + W orientation + small N-facing array)

SIZE OF BATTERY:

• None (yet) – waiting on purchase of battery-electric car

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

• N/A

PASSIVE HEATING COOLING:

• One north-facing family room / office gets good winter sun.
• No thermal mass.
• Small opening high-level window added upstairs for convective heat removal.

ACTIVE HEATING COOLING:

• 1 x 6 kW console reverse cycle heat pump (replacing an inefficient ducted gas furnace, and a gas log heater in centrally located fireplace, to maintain comfortable floor level heating of family areas (and if required, the bedrooms).
• 1 x 3.5 kW wall-mounted reverse-cycle heat pump for heating (and occasional cooling) of separate kitchen/ dining area.
• Previously installed ducted evaporative cooler to both levels (– used occasionally for upstairs cooling and general ventilation).

WATER HEATING:

• Tall 315 L SS Reclaim heat pump (programmed to match active PV period)

ABOVE GROUND RAINWATER STORAGE:

• 1 x 1500 L tank & pressure pump (for future toilet flushing)

WATER HARVESTING AND SAVING:

• Rainwater tank. Water-saving shower heads

ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING:

• 64 x 50 W halogen downlights all fitted with 7W LED lamps.
• Concealed LED lighting strips fitted behind renovated kitchen cupboards.

WINDOW PROTECTION:

• Most windows are fitted with closed pelmets, pull-down blinds and heavy drapes to minimise winter heat loss.
• Upstairs N and S-facing windows treated with heat-reflective film.
• Kitchen / dining area windows and external French door fitted with internal pleated insulating blinds.
• External shade-cloth pulldown blind fitted to sun-exposed N-facing window.

CAR CHARGING:

• None (yet)

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES:

• High volume ventilation available from evaporative cooler unit.
• Replaced aluminium-framed rear French doors with secure high-quality timber doors with opening glass panels for summer ventilation.

COST ESTIMATE OF SUSTAINABLE HOME/FEATURES:

These costs are not segregated from other renovation costs.

COST SAVINGS PA:

Substantial but not quantified

GARDEN / OUTDOORS:

Covered rear deck with roll-down shade-cloth blinds for rain protection and summer ventilation.

Battery lawn mower for back garden.

Cactus garden for minimum watering.

Two small vegetable plots.

WASTE REDUCTION PRACTICES:

Four-bin kitchen waste segregation.

Two worm farms for suitable organic waste / vegetable garden composting.

Active green bin use for garden waste.