Nappa Merri House 2016

House Notes – Nappa Merri House

The house was built in 1986 on a 1.86 ha block sloping downhill towards the North,   and built with a N-facing orientation.  The majority of the window surface  is facing North, allowing maximum entry of light and passive solar heating in winter.  A 1.5 m wide pergola on the N side is covered with grape vines.  When in leaf, the vines shade the N side of the house and keep the inside cooler.  In winter, the vines drop their leaves and allow sunlight to enter and heat the house. 64 solar panels cover the N side of the roof area  producing a potential 3.8 kw/hr of electricity to power the house plus helping to shade the house in summer. The house is single-glazed, but blinds and drapes help insulate the house. Rain water is harvested and stored in 2 x 28,000 L concrete tanks, so no water bills. Waste water and sewage are treated in separate septic tanks and disposed of on site. Fuel for the wood heater is all grown on site. Lighting is mainly LED. The kitchen is all-electric. We might use the split-system air conditioner a doz. times/yr.  We pay no electricity bills. Occasional use of our LPG gas heater means we do have a gas bill. The property is large enough for us to grow much of the fruit and vegetables we need and provide a pleasant and green environment in which to live.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2016
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting

    • Energy efficiency:
    • Down lights throughout the house have recently been converted to LED
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Shading
      Cross ventilation

    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Large windows on N side of house allow sun to heat floor in winter. Pergola w vines provides shade to keep sun out in summer. 3 large sliding glass doors, plus wind-out windows in each room allow air circulation for cooing
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Heat pump
      Ceiling fans

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Wood heater using timber grown on the property. Efficient Brevis LPG heater
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground storage
      Greywater system
      Blackwater
      Stormwater management
      Drip irrigation
      Storage connected to
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Two concrete tanks
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • Each tank holds 28,000 L
    • Storage connected to
    • Garden
      Toilet
      Laundry
      Whole house
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • The gravel drive is made from crushed/recycled concrete.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Concrete
      Aggregate
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal and external walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Plaster
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • ?
    • Floor Rating:
    • ?
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Plaster
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • ?
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • Energy star rating:
    • ?
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect

    • Renewable energy
    • Plantation of 3,500 native hardwood trees provides all wood needed for heating
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $30,000.00
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $5,000 per annum
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • In 1986, House - 17 sq, Garage - 4 sq.
    • Window and Door Types
    • Single glazing in windows. Timber doors.
    • Universal Design Features
    • Multi-generational

    • Universal Design Features
    • All one level for easy access
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Vineyard
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Drip irrigation
      Water wise plants
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Permaculture
      Composting
      Native plants

Location
Woodford VIC 3281
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Pat Giblin

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