Alan’s House 2024

House Notes – Alan’s House

This house was a standard 1960’s era cream brick veneer. It’s now 10+ stars (carbon negative). Contains all the usual low energy adaptions, some less common features and some you wont see anywhere else!

Things you wont see anywhere else: solar space heating, ground source geothermal air con.

Less common features: portico west entrance, sky walls, multiple seasonal shade options, honeycomb blinds, insulated widow shutters, electric car, electric bike, electric gardening, induction cooking, solar hot water with heat pump booster, hot water insulated room, bespoke insulated front door, grid interactive battery, double draft proofing, off grid PV and battery, self sufficient and off grid for all water, low energy granny flat, shower dome, Scandinavian style low thermal mass bathroom, heat recovery ventilation. Retrofit slab edge insulation, retrofit thermal mass. Retrofit double and triple glazing, quadruple glazed skylight. Double insulated internal slab.

Common features; super insulation, double glazing, oversized eaves, grid interactive solar PV, vege garden, low water garden, worm farm.

All described in detail in past editions of Renew magazine.

Photos by Ben Wrigley.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2021
2023
2024
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      External planting
      Heat recovery ventilation system
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Geothermal
      Heat exchange ventilation system
      Heat pump
      Split system airconditioner

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Fans
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
      Solar hot water (evacuated tube)
      Water heated by PV system
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Rainwater storage - Underground
      Grey water system
      Stormwater management
      Low flow shower heads
      Low flow taps
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • Unknown
    • Underground rainwater storage type:
    • Collapsible tank
    • Underground rainwater storage Size:
    • 4000 litre
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Plastic tanks,
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 27,000 litres
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
      Skylight
    • Electric Vehicle Type
    • Kona, Hyundai
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Eaves
      External window hoods/surrounds
      Honeycomb blinds
      Pelmets
      Shade Sails
      Shutters
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Basins/sinks
      Bricks
      Insulation
      Kitchen cabinets
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
      Floor

    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R4.5
    • Floor Type:
    • Foil + polystyrene boards
    • Floor Rating:
    • R1.5
    • Other Insulation Methods:
    • Double insulated solar hot water pipes. Separate insulated room constructed around hot water tank.
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • foil + glass roll
    • Under Roof Insulation Rating:
    • R1.5
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R1.5
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R3
    • External Walls Type:
    • glass batts and polystyrene boards
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Energy star rating:
    • Various results
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Geothermal
      Solar PV grid connect
      Solar PV off-grid

    • Size of PV system:
    • 6.6 kW grid + 3 kW off grid
    • Renewable energy
    • Solar space heating
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • Hard to know - grid interactive
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • ?
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • ?
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • -$2000 (generates money)
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 185
    • BAL Rating
    • No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Insulated panels or blocks
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Casement
      Double glazing
      Retrofit Double Glazing
      Skylights
      Triple glazing
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
      Multi-generational
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Edible garden
      Frog friendly
      Local indigenous plants
      Native plants
      Water wise plants
      Worm farm
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
      Swap with friends and neighbours
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Airtight house design
      Automated ventilation system
      Cross flow ventilation
      Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
Location
Briar hill VIC 3088
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Retrofit/addition
    • Builder
    • self
    • Designer
    • Owner builder

View the house tour

Ask questions about this house

Load More Comments
Name
Email
Comment
Leave Comment