O’Connor Dual Occupancy 2020

House Notes – O’Connor Dual Occupancy

These two houses on one block are the homes of a husband and wife (in their 70s), and of their son and his family of five people. Both houses are solar passive, featuring the sustainable building principles of orientation, insulation, thermal mass, shading and ventilation.The houses are constructed of 100mm ‘greenboard’, have double-glazed windows and UPVC window frames. House 2 has a burnished concrete floor and other thermal mass features.

Extensive use has been made of reclaimed materials from the previous dwelling, such as hardwood framing timbers for pergolas, benchtops and furniture, and Canberra reds for paving. The houses have won several building industry awards including MBA’s Medium Density and Green Living categories and HIA’s Greensmart Energy Efficiency category.

In the space between the houses is a shared workshop and a 55,000L underground water tank. There is also a large shared garden area for growing veggies and keeping chickens.

Designed by Dowse Norwood and Associates (DNA) Architects and built by Parry Pichelmann.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal chimney
      Thermal mass

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
    • Water heating:
    • Solar hot water (evacuated tube)
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Underground
      Low flow shower heads
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • .06kL
    • Underground rainwater storage type:
    • dincel
    • Underground rainwater storage Size:
    • 55,000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Electric Vehicle Type
    • Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
    • Window Protection:
    • Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Eaves
      External window hoods/surrounds
      Honeycomb blinds
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Rendered 100mm Greenboard on external walls Perforated gyprock for acoustic insulation
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Appliances
      Benchtops
      Bricks
      Glass
      Kitchen cabinets
      Paving
      Rocks/stone
      Timber
      Windows
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      Internal walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • 5
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - polystyrene board
    • Floor Rating:
    • 1.8
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Gyprock internal, rendered 100mm greenboard
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Reflective foil
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • 6.7
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
    • Energy star rating:
    • 7.5
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 5kW+4kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • <1kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • 10%
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $4000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • House 1: 160m2, House 2: 110m2
    • BAL Rating
    • No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Insulated panels or blocks
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Bi Fold
      Casement
      Clerestory windows
      Double glazing
      Double hung
      Low-e, films
      Sliding windows/doors
      Stacking windows/doors
      180 degree opening doors
    • Universal design accessability
    • Multi-generational
      Wheelchair accessible
    • Universal Design Features
    • Flush thresholds (no lip) to all external doors
      No stairs/steps
      Space around toilets for ease of access in wheelchairs
      Strong fittings like towel rails that can be used as hand rails
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Deciduous eaves
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Chickens
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Local indigenous plants
      Organic
      Native plants

    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Make jams/conserves
      Recycle
      Repair
      Swap with friends and neighbours
      Waste free/reduced construction site
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Airtight house design
      Cross flow ventilation
Location
O'Connor ACT 2602
    • Housing Type:
    • Shared Community
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Open with support of
    • SEE Change
    • Builder
    • Parry Pichelmann
    • Designer
    • Dowse Norwood and Associates (DNA) Architects

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