Pb & Swabodhi’s Strawbale Home 2017

House Notes – Pb & Swabodhi’s Strawbale Home

We are situated on a hectare deliberately chosen between town and the coast. We designed our home to have a low running cost and to be comfortable to live in with no additional cooling needed in summer and minimal heating in winter.

Internal earth render was obtained from our block which we covered with a kaolin clay and sealed with a milk wash resulting in a natural unpainted finish.

We hope to be self sustainable in veggies and fruit as our permaculture garden grows.

Our home features include:

  • Selves with Lance Brandes of Solar Design
  • Wool batts insulation in ceiling
  • 8.5 energy rating
  • R3.0 internal- external walls rating
  • Under floor ventilation
  • Cross ventilation
  • Greywater system of water harvesting

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2017
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation

    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Under floor ventilation
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Wood burner
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Grey water system
      Stormwater management
      Low flow shower heads
      Drip irrigation
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Pioneer
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 260kl
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Electric Vehicle Type
    • Ryder E bikes
    • Window Protection:
    • Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Eaves
      Shade Sails
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Straw, earth, timber,lime,clay
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Basins/sinks
      Bath
      Doors
      Excavated earth
      Power poles
      Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – natural wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R3
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Wool batts
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • R3
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – natural wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R 3
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $1000/m2
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 156sqm
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 12.5: Ember attack with heat up to 12.5kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Brick veneer
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Strawbale
    • Window and Door Types
    • Clerestory windows
      Double hung
      Sliding windows/doors
    • Universal Design Features
    • 100cm minimum door opening width
      Contrasting colours and material for vision impaired
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      No stairs/steps
      No Corner cupboards
      Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
      Rocker style light switches
      Semi recessed basins
      Shower head on rail for various heights
      Slip resistant flooring
      Space around toilets for ease of access in wheelchairs
      Window openings easily accessible
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Bird-nesting boxes
      Chickens
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Frog friendly
      Greenhouse
      Local indigenous plants
      Orchard
      Organic
      Permaculture
      Native plants
      Swales
      Water wise plants
      Worm farm
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Book exchange/library
      Compost all food scraps
      Make jams/conserves
      Pickle and preserve food
      Plastic free household
      Recycle
      Repair
      Take own containers to the supermarket and for take away food
      Swap with friends and neighbours
      Waste free/reduced construction site
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
      Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Lime render/wash
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
Location
Margaret River WA 6285
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Owner builder with Davo Thomas

Ask questions about this house

Load More Comments
Name
Email
Comment
Leave Comment