Enviro 9 2018

House Notes – Enviro 9

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This house has been designed with comfort and energy efficiency in mind. Orientation of the home was custom-designed to suit the block of land, and to maximise northern aspect for winter sun and eastern aspect for alfresco living in summer.

  • Protected from winds.
  • Garage is on the southwest corner (ideal location).
  • Double-glazed UPVC windows used throughout – made locally by Ultimate Windows using solar energy. These windows have 20mm air gap between the low-e glass, with U value 1.8 (compared to standard single-glazed aluminium windows at 6.5 and double-glazed aluminium at 4.0).
    • Larger windows feature multiple opening styles and mechanisms for ventilation needs and are used on the north side, whilst minimal amount and smaller windows used on western and southern walls.
    • Extra light between to south-facing bathroom and central WC is borrowed with an internal glass highlight window.
  • All cabinetry and the kitchen are designed and made locally at Flair Cabinets, who manufacture all their products using 100% green solar energy with a 100kW solar system.
  • LED lights used throughout the home allow for insulation to go over in the ceiling. LED strip lighting used in the kitchen cabinetry.
  • Baumatic appliances with multiple function options and features allow meet all needs while saving energy, water, etc.
  • The laminate flooring is made by Quickstep, who take serious steps to showcase environmental responsibility in manufacturing and recycling. They also use over 70% recycled materials in their flooring.
  • All bedroom windows have cordless, child-safe venetian blinds for flexible control of direct light, with option to add extra blockout blind as well. On the north side, sheer natural linen curtains ensure a great amount of natural light and warmth in winter without compromising privacy.
  • Natural wool carpet used in the lounge room, and unique certified asthma- and allergy-friendly carpet exclusive to Choices flooring is used elsewhere.
  • Most of the furniture and interior design items are sourced from local businesses, and collaborations with other local creatives are featured throughout the home (photography, children’s textiles, metal art, interior items).
  • The home features a built-in edible herb garden as part of an alfresco area that also functions as a dividing wall. Most plants in the garden are water-wise and they have been sourced locally.
  • Every component of this house has the maximum insulation possible. The windows are two times better than aluminium double glazing and 3.5 times better than single glazing. The walls and ceiling both have double the R value of a standard home. The forgotten slab edge is also insulated with R1.36 rigid foam. No Australian-built homes have the slab face insulated, which is equivalent to walking outside in winter with a jacket and thongs. The roof also has blanket underneath, so the whole roof space is insulated and also ventilated to prevent mould and condensation.
  • Plumbing: all tapware, toilets and plumbing items come with good WELS ratings and undergo an extensive testing process, resulting in great warranties to assist with sustainability and longevity. A rainwater tank is installed for supplying water to the WELS-rated toilets in this home.
  • Painting: this home won the Master Painters award for best paint job in its category. All interiors are painted with Wattyl Interior Design low-sheen paint, certified as environmentally preferable by Good Environmental Choice Australia.
    All exterior components are treated with Wattyl Duraguard products that are self-riming, UV-protected and long-lasting.
  • Garden: an edible herb garden was built within the BBQ area; local landscaper, Stuart Stanley, built up the other gardens using locally sourced large stones for retaining walls; water-wise and native plants sourced locally; minimal watering needed due to the Kikuyu grass used throughout.

We believe that this home is the best-insulated display home in Victoria and we hope to encourage more people to consider building well-insulated homes, not only for comfort and optimised wellbeing, but to beat rising energy prices and minimise the home’s carbon footprint for the next 100 years.

Read more about this home and others that opened their homes for SHD2017, in The Border Mail published 15 September 2017.

Designed and built by Alatalo Bros (Nathan Boehm/ Mike Alatalo/ Anni Alatalo).

 

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2017
2018
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances

    • Energy efficiency:
    • Every component of this house has the maximum insulation possible. 30mm xtratherm rigid foam R1.36 to all external walls and slab edge of home. High-density R2.5 wall batts to all external walls (total U value = 3.86). Two layers of Earthwool batts to ceiling (total R7.0). 55mm blanket under roof iron (R1.4). Advantec exhaust fans made in Australia ducted to outside of roof space. Very good self-closing seal. Prevents shower moisture from entering roof space. R1.5 ducting to heating system (minimum requirement is R1.0; R1.5 will minimise heat loss). Pod slab R1.0.
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Evaporative
    • Water heating:
    • Instantaneous (NSW standard)
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above-ground rainwater storage
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • 2000L water tank for laundry and toilet use; rainwater harvested using charged line and downpipes feeding directly to tank
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 2000L
    • Storage connected to
    • Garden
      Toilet
      Laundry
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight

    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • Borrowed light between bathroom and WC
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable shading
      Drapes/curtains
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Brick veneer: longevity, good thermal mass. Australian hardwood – Silvertop Ash cladding for earthy warmth. Horizontal Scyon Linea cladding from James Hardie: another robust product with advanced strength and performance, and simple tongue and groove installation to create a strong and lasting design statement. Feature wall panelling in painted sustainable pine. Natural sustainable fibres like linen and wool used throughout: natural feel, relaxing and soft ambience. Entertainer’s kitchen with indoor-outdoor connection. Private master bedroom at front with other bedrooms zoned off with a functional double vanity bathroom for shared use and a lowered bath tub for easy access. A separate living room that can be closed off offers another area for family entertainment, making the design flexible to suit families in different life stages for years to come. Built-in study nook for family-focused living. Interiors warm and cosy with the use of neutral colours and hints of blues and greens inspired by surrounding nature. Floor coverings: laminate flooring by Quickstep (environmentally responsible manufacturing and recycling). Natural wool carpet in lounge room: great thermal insulation benefits; can save 8-13% in heating and cooling costs; sustainable choice – resilient, long-lasting, easy cleaning, low maintenance, a renewable material. Certified asthma and allergy friendly Brease carpet issued elsewhere: mould/mildew-free, treated to absorb VOCs for better air quality; outstanding insulation, stain- and fade resistant. Dunlop carpet underlay used throughout: 100% recyclable; Asthma Council certified and approved; thermal insulator; great quality so it extends the life of carpet; Green Label accredited for indoor air quality; Ultra-Fresh treated to reduce mould, mildew and dust mites. Construction process and resources: Use fleet of local trades and suppliers (minimising travel). Erosion control methods: temporary downpipes, silt fencing on-site; access tracks to prevent excess soil going off-site. Tree/root protection with fencing. Wash bays provided. Resources costed and counted efficiently: minimal leftover materials or waste. Trusses pre- fabricated. Bricks reused in future jobs, and other building materials/timber reused as much as possible. All site bins have secure lids to prevent rubbish form flying out in an event of a storm or winds. All roof tin and most cardboard is recycled locally and we are working with local reuse centres to add more products like plasterboard to the recycle list.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      External walls
      Floor

    • Ceiling Type:
    • Two layers of Earthwool batts to ceiling; 55mm blanket under roof iron
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • Wool R7.0; blanket R1.4
    • Floor Type:
    • Pod slab R1.0; the slab edge is insulated using Xtratherm R1.36
    • Floor Rating:
    • R1.0 slab, R1.36 edge
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • 30mm xtratherm rigid foam R1.36 to all external walls and slab edge of home. 120mm wall insulation instead of usual 90mm. High-density R2.5 wall batts to all external walls.
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • Total external wall U value = 3.86
    • External Walls Rating:
    • Xtratherm’s special inner core is an advanced thermoset polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam which is sandwiched between two layers of embossed aluminium foil facings
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bradford Xtratherm
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Energy star rating:
    • 8.8 Stars
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $416,900
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $33,800 extra for insulation and better windows in lieu of standard building products
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • 7 times less for heating and 2 times less for cooling
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • Living 201.9m2 (21.73sq), garage 40.41m2 (4.35sq), alfresco 25.1m2 (2.7sq), porch 3.66m2 (0.39sq). Total area 271m2 (29.18sq)
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 12.5: Ember attack with heat up to 12.5kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Metal (colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Brick veneer
      Timber
    • Window and Door Types
    • Double glazing
      Low-e, films
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Semi-recessed basins
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 4
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Edible garden
      Organic
      Native plants
      Water-wise plants
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Asthma- and allergy-free certified carpet
      Cross-flow ventilation
Location
Thurgoona NSW 2640
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Display
    • Builder
    • Alatalo Bros
    • Designer
    • Alatalo Bros

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