Broker’s View 2018

House Notes – Broker’s View

This large five-bedroom home contrasts and complements other local open houses. It has numerous retrofit features, both passive design and active energy-efficiency measures.

Decks with eaves on all sides, cathedral ceilings and reflective roof paint are supplemented with clerestory window films, double-glazed skylight, reflective and honeycomb blinds, awnings and curtains. These are actively managed according to outside temperature and sun orientation. Ceiling and roof insulation is currently being extended to cavity walls and underfloor, along with enhanced weather sealing.

Active retrofits include whirlybird, solar and ceiling fan ventilation, solar panels coupled to battery storage since 2015 (now Tesla), heat pump hot water and multiple reverse cycle non-ducted air conditioners effectively solar powered, induction cooktop, efficient electric cooking and off gas, near-100% LED lighting – downlights, screw/bayonet, floods, strips.

The performance is strongly energy-positive, with overall credit on electricity bills. An electric car to be solar-charged is on order, while electric bikes with front, central and rear drive are already in use for recreation. The gardens are mostly native plants/trees and edibles. Watering is via 3 × 5000L tanks, and there are various compost heaps and a worm farm. The adjacent bushland and creek were cleared of extensive weeds and regenerated with advice from Council Bushcare. The environment is now a haven for birds, frogs, echidna and local plant species.

Parking – Parking in Brissendon Close is on the nature strips and is limited, while the adjacent Corrimal Street has plenty of on-road parking.

Brokers View Info Sheet

Sustainability Features

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

    • Energy efficiency:
    • Battery storage display; internet solar monitoring; near-100% LED lighting; electric bikes charged by solar
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross-ventilation
      Shading
      Thermal mass

    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Reflective blinds in living area; honeycomb blinds elsewhere; reflective paint on colorbond roof; security door screens to maximise cross-ventilation on hot nights.
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Evaporative
      Heat pump
      Split system air conditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
      PV thermal
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above-ground rainwater storage
      Low-flow shower heads
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • PVC tanks
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 15,000L
    • Storage connected to
    • Garden
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
      Skylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable shading
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Honeycomb blinds
      Pelmets
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Scrapyard metals
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Waxwood garden terrace
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Bricks
      Concrete
      Insulation
      Paving
      Rocks/stone
      Timber

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling

    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bradford batts
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R2.0
    • Other Insulation Methods:
    • Bamboo flooring installed over two layers of ceramic tiles
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Insulated panels
    • Under Roof Insulation Rating:
    • R3.5
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid-connected
    • Size of PV system:
    • 9.2kW
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • Unknown
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $100,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • Electricity bills in credit, $1000 saving in winter quarter; water consumption halved
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • Large
    • Roof
    • Metal (colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Brick veneer
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Clerestory windows
      Low-e, films
      Sliding windows/doors
      Skylights
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 5
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Native bee hotel in adjacent bush; extensive regeneration of bush and creek – haven for birds, etc.
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Bee hotels/friendly
      Composting
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Native plants

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Indoor plants for air filtration
      Natural light and ventilation
Location
Tarrawanna NSW 2518
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Continual Improvement
    • Open with support of
    • ATA Wollongong Branch

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