Our home was constructed 200 metres from the road in a paddock so going off-grid was an easy choice. Set on 5 acres of undulating farm land in Hazelwood North, the house was constructed from reclaimed brick, charred timber, burnished concrete floors, heritage galvanised roofs and walls, and composite decking.
We choose a 10.5kW solar and 18kW battery storage system that is modular to allow for future additions if needed. We use a back up diesel generator that is relied upon about 6-8 days per year.
This was all mounted to the shed to keep the aesthetic of the house intact. The solar arrays were mounted in an east and west aspect to minimise batter usage and prolong battery life. 45,000l of rainwater storage provides for all water demand, adding that another tank this year will allow additional storage for watering after finding the systems limitations after 2 years.
Driveways and courtyard have all been constructed using a locally sourced recycled concrete product. Landscaping is all native. This was part funded through various local and state government native planting grants available to rural properties.
The passive design performs amazingly. This is despite including floor to ceiling glass on east facing walls to maximise views. The house has no mechanical heating or cooling, relying solely on ceiling fans in summer, and a wood fire in winter. The house is extremely comfortable even during extreme 40° plus days.
This house won the Master Builders Award for 'Best Sustainable Home in Eastern Victoria' in 2024.
