E-habitat 2016

House Notes – E-habitat

This owner builder ‘tree-house’ family home was built around large established peppermint gum trees to preserve a Koala corridor on the edge of town in Foster. Built in 2010, it is a passive solar modular home designed by architect Giles Newstead. For detailed design and build specifications, please visit ehabitat.com.au

Ehabitat designs are modest in size, materials and cost. We noticed a correlation between a house’s cost and the overall environmental impact… that money is often a reflection of materials, manufacture, and travel. We loved the basic simplicity of Gile’s design: it makes environmentally friendly houses affordable to everyone simply by considering the seasons. He also cleverly laminates small strips of hardwood together to form the hollow posts that makes the immensely strong hurricane-rated house frame. The frame is designed to accept standard size ply and cement sheets, meaning there is virtually no building waste and little cutting.

The house is orientated to the north, with a concrete slab floor for thermal mass. The suspended slab is insulated underneath with a polystyrene ceiling downstairs. The concrete was mixed with a dark-brown ochre to increase the heat absorption properties, it was buffed, not polished, and finished with an eco-friendly oil. The glass is energy efficient e-glass and the roller blinds in the main open-plan living are are also energy efficient with aluminium for additional insulation.

This house is unusual in that you can see the wooden skeleton of the house from the outside and inside. Inside it is lined in eco-ply, except the bathroom. Heated only with a small combustion heater at night, it is best viewed in the afternoon when the passive solar is operating at its peak as the sun streams in (there are a few trees about). On cloudy days the effect is diminished but still present. Ceiling and walls have 30mm polystyrene, recycled polyester batts, Aircell and foil for insulation. Many internal features were reclaimed including the kitchen and a feature wooden island bench made from a recycled bowling alley. Internal paints are all VOC free, and the wood is oiled with natural oils.

The passive solar design incorporates a skillion roof and passive cooling system. The small windows on the south wall open to flush heat in warmer weather through the large roofline windows on the north.

The property has a vegetable garden, composting system and worm farm. A native garden and large gum trees provide habitat and food for birds and animals. A water tank provides all water to house, although the house remains connected to the mains for waste water. The hot water system is a Dux energy efficient heat pump… which gets mixed reviews.

The block was difficult: sloping, with some large peppermint gums that we refused to cut down. The understory has some areas that are underground. These areas are delightfully cool, even in extreme heat.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2016
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting
      Draught proofing
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Shading
      Cross ventilation
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground storage
      Low flow shower heads

    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • cement tank
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 20000 litres
    • Water harvesting and saving
    • Chroma WELS 4 star profile 5 deluxe toilet suite
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • eco-ply, sustainably sourced wooden frame
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Kitchen/bath cabinets
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal and external walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • ply
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 199m2
    • Window and Door Types
    • Low-e, films
    • Universal Design Features
    • Disability access
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Water wise plants
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Composting
      Native plants
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • low-voc paint, natural oils
Location
Foster VIC 3960
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Owner builder. Consulting builder Gil Trease

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