Happy Hippos

Ngunnawal people,
Tarago,
NSW
This home will be open for in-person tours on the 17th May 2026

About this home

North facing, Skillion roof, Tripple glazed, Airtight within Passivehause specs. (measured 0.58 airchanges/h ). Nathers 9.4. Insulated ( Closed cell) slab floating does not touch ground. 220mm double stud walls with R6. Ceiling R9 insulation.

13KW Solar on ground. 22KWH Battery. Polished slab. Heat recovery to provide fresh air to living areas.
One 500w aircon to keep house a bit cooler if needed in summer. Build not quite finished yet but will be by April26. Currently house is painted, tiled, outside complete. Kitchen to go in a few weeks. So not lived in at present though performance over winter has been good

Q & A

What motivated you to build or retrofit sustainably?
Long Term interest in energy efficient houses
Orientation.Controls internal temperatures
How long it was all going to take.
Its all been done
Back to 2026 Homes
Type: Passive House or EnerPHit, Standalone house/townhouse
Project: New build
Builder: Owner Builder
Size: 286m²
Energy Rating: 9.4
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2

Sustainability Features

Building Materials & Envelope

Draught-proofing/air sealing
High-performance insulation
Double or triple-glazed windows

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

Passive heating/cooling (north-facing glazing, cross ventilation, thermal mass, shading, etc.)
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system

Energy and Appliances

Rooftop solar PV
Battery storage
Efficient lighting (LED, daylighting, solar skylights)
Solar thermal hot water
Electric cooktop - induction/ceramic
Other energy-efficient appliances

Water & Waste Systems

Water-efficient fixtures
Rainwater tanks
Greywater system

Landscape & Biodiversity

Native garden

Climate Resilience

Heatwave

Accessible & Flexible Design Features

Design for flexible use
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