Bicton Solar Passive Studio House 2018

House Notes – Bicton Solar Passive Studio House

This small house was the realisation of a long-held goal to build a solar passive house for myself. I deliberately did not engage a professional architect because I wanted to show that simply adopting the basics of orientation, glazing, thermal mass, shading and through-breezes would yield a highly-energy-efficient house. And it is. No supplementary heating or cooling required.

I also deliberately kept the house construction low-tech – normal construction techniques, just done in a slightly cleverer way.

This is the third and last year we will be open for SHD. The house and gardens are ‘almost there’ – time for us to sign off and look at all the other amazing houses.

Donations on the day will be going to support men’s health: The Movember Foundation.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2016
2017
2018
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
    • Window Protection:
    • Blinds
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Timber
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Bricks
      Doors
      Glass
      Insulation
      Paving
      Timber
      Windows
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R5.0
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Internal brick, external stud frame, highly insulated
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • R3.5
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $190,000
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $180,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $2000 p.a.
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 80m2 floor plan, plus deck and loft
    • Wall Materials
    • Cement fibre sheets (cladding)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Low-e, films
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
      Disability access
      Multi-generational
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 2
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Native plants
Location
Bicton WA 6157
    • Housing Type:
    • Granny Flat
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Owner

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