1960s Retrofitted Home Improvement – Burwood 2019

House Notes – 1960s Retrofitted Home Improvement – Burwood

We saw potential in this ’60s brick veneer: easy access to amenities and public transport, good solar access and a workable floor plan.

Since purchasing it in 2014, we’ve removed gas from the property and installed energy-efficient appliances, 8.4kWh solar array with Enphase microinverters and 6kWh of Enphase batteries. Thermal comfort has been optimised with retrofitted Thermawood double glazing, Greenstuf insulation, shading and other projects.

In the garden, we’ve also added two water tanks, dripline irrigation, a composting system, lots of perennial edibles, and chickens.

Since Sustainable House Day 2017, the kitchen, bathroom, laundry and toilet have been renovated. We’ve reused original ’60s features (bathtub, sink, spouts, towel rail, bathroom cabinet), rehomed unwanted items (kitchen cabinets, kitchen sink, salvaged hardwood) and tried to incorporate sustainable options where we could (low VOC waterproofing, laminate, paint, wall insulation, secondhand lights, Australian-made products).

Read more about the renovations made to this home in the Secret Design Studio blog here

The house also achieved 10 stars with the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard. If you would like to find out more click here.

Since Sustainable House Day 2018, we have been busy in the garden installing water-saving wicking beds, and a chook run around our fruit trees. Our garden is starting to produce fruits, so we are learning how to preserve some of the harvest. We have also upgraded to a Hyundai Ioniq electric car, which is fuelled by the excess energy generated by the solar panels. Like many others, we have been inspired by Marie Kondo to live with things that only ‘spark joy’, but have been conscious with new things we bring into the home, and rehoming items that are no longer wanted.

Electric Vehicle (EV) – Blue-Drive Hyundai (Doncaster) will be on site with Kona electric 2019 .

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2017
2018
2019
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Heat pump
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground rainwater storage
      Low flow shower heads
      Low flow taps
      Drip irrigation
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • 2 x plastic rainwater tanks
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 8040L (combined storage)
    • Storage connected to
    • Toilet
      Laundry
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Tubular skylight
    • Electric Vehicle Type
    • Hyundai Ioniq
    • Window Protection:
    • Awnings (external)
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Pelmets
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Drapes
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Builder and trades salvaged wood from our site to turn into furniture and for kindling. Kitchen cabinets to be repurposed as storage units in a friend's home. Gas stove rehomed at another friend's property.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Appliances
      Basins/sinks
      Bathroom cabinets
      Light fixtures

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R4.0 (higher in some parts)
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - polyester
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk - glass wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 8.4kW
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $100,000+
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $3000 minimum p.a.
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 93m2
    • BAL Rating
    • N/A
    • Roof
    • Tiles (Concrete)
    • Wall Materials
    • Brick veneer
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Double glazing
      Low-e, films
      Pocket doors
      Sun Tunnel/SolaTube
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Electric (instead of petrol) garden tools used, water-wise wicking beds
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Organic

    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps

    • Other Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Sell, donate, or gift items that are in good condition
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Indoor plants for air filtration
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
Location
Burwood East VIC 3151
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Continual Improvement
    • Builder
    • Baustelle Construction

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