Albert Park House 2019

House Notes – Albert Park House

Our house is a 1930, three bedroom bungalow on a quarter acre block. In 2007 we added a new extension to the back. This lounge/dining and kitchen has a contemporary look though we retained the brick wall that was the original back of the house.

The extension is a timber frame with corrugated galvanised steel outer cladding with insulation in the ceiling and walls. All the extension windows are double-glazed and include clerestory windows that open to allow cross ventilation. The extension is now twelve years old and still looking good.

An array of eight panels generating an average of 1.4kw of power gives us enough power to negate our power bill for most of the year. We have two electric heaters that we use only in the lounge and main bedroom during the evenings in the coldest part of winter; the extension does not usually require any additional heating. We do not have air-conditioning but in Summer cross-ventilation through the open windows during the night purges the heat from the room. It is only after several very hot days that the heat can’t be purged.

We have a 23,000 litres above ground water tank: a 2000 litre tank is plumbed to the toilet, with overflow redirected to two 9,000 litres tanks with pump. We also capture water from the garage roof to use in an outdoor sink for garden use. Grey water from the washing machine and kitchen rinse water are used to water the small lawn under our pergola in Summer.

We have a great garden in which we grow some vegetables, fruit and herbs. Most of the materials used in the garden are recycled from other uses. We have three chickens, a worm farm and five compost bins. We recycle all our food waste on site and we source extra compost material from our local Fruit and Vegetable shop. We recycle obsessively, we make all kinds of preserves, including using a Fowlers Vacola kit regularly, grow and brine our own olives. We share/swap our humble produce with family, friends, neighbours and at the West Croydon Fruit and Veggie Swap. Françoise has done a Permaculture certificate at the Food Forest, Gawler, did the Living Smart SA course in 2017 and is one of the organisers of Boomerang Bags Adelaide group.

Design concept by home owner and built with the assistance of an independent project manager.

In the last few weeks new double glazed windows have been installed to replace the 1970s aluminium frames single pane windows in the older part of the house. And they look good!

If you would like a preview of the house or can’t make it to Albert Park on the day you can watch Françoise talk about the house and the renovation at Adelaide Sustainable Building Network’s Focus on Sustainable House Day 2017 at the Joinery.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2011
2012
2014
2015
2017
2019
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Shading

    • Passive heating cooling:
    • North facing windows, thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Electric heating in small lounge and main bedroom - both in the old part of the house
    • Water heating:
    • Gas instantaneous with domestic temperature control
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground rainwater storage
      Low flow shower heads
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • .25 kL
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • 2 x 9,000 litres plastic; 2 x 1,500 litres metal; 2 x 1,000 litres metal
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 23,000 litres
    • Storage connected to
    • Garden
      Toilet
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Pelmets
      Shade Sails
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Paving
      Sleepers
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk and sarking
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • Approx. 6
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Bulk and sarking
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • Approx. 6
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 1.4 kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 1.5 kWhr
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 150 sq metres
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Double brick
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Clerestory windows
      Double glazing
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Bee hotels/friendly
      Chickens
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Permaculture
      Native plants
      Water wise plants
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
      Swap with friends and neighbours

    • Other Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Collect unwanted fruit and vegetables from our local fruit and vegetable store; have chickens and a worm farm. Use FB pages such as Reduce Reuse Recycle in Radelaide to pass on unwanted items.
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      No carpets
Location
Albert Park SA 5014
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Retrofit

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