Possum Magic 2018

House Notes – Possum Magic

It was our passion to create a self-sustainable house and garden on our seven acres. We wanted the house to have a minimal environmental footprint, for the materials to be non-toxic, breathable and suitable for the subtropical climate. We also wanted to be totally self-sufficient regarding water and energy. We achieved all the characteristics mentioned above having used hempcrete, magnesium board (Inex), natural renders and low VOC paints, to name some materials. We have nearly achieved energy self-sufficiency, but need to tweak of our solar system and batteries some more to go off-grid. These achievements were recognised in September 2017, when Balanced Earth was awarded the Energy Efficient Building Award from the Masters Builders Association of NSW.

The house needed to be in close connection with the natural subtropical gardens to feel totally connected with the outdoors. This has been achieved with large bi-fold and sliding doors, a leafy pond area that juts into the living room and many green vistas through the windows. The gardens were to sustain us food-wise by containing many local native edibles, fruit trees and vegetables. Almost all of the above have been planted in designated areas or incorporated into restoration areas of native rainforest. Of course, some of these plants are not producing food yet, but we already enjoy a lot of food from our annuals and perennials. Part of the seven acres contains remnants of subtropical rainforest, and regeneration/revegetation is ongoing.

PLEASE WEAR FLAT SHOES WHEN VISITING AS THE GROUNDS ARE UNEVEN.
THE HOUSE IS A SHOE-FREE ZONE.

Designed and built by Balanced Earth.

Sustainability Features

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

    • Energy efficiency:
    • Underground cool tubes to make fridge run more efficiently
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Passive solar designed home
      Thermal mass

    • Passive heating cooling:
    • 2 x 250mm 'cool-tubes' run 40m underground; cool air is brought up behind fridge and through a cool-cabinet for food storage
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Underground rainwater storage
      Stormwater management
    • Underground rainwater storage type:
    • Concrete tank
    • Underground rainwater storage Size:
    • 90,000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Blinds
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Hempcrete; timber (certified plantation or recycled); magnesium boards (Inex); recycled hardwood fence posts/hardwood upcycled offcuts from build
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Basins/sinks
      Pallets
      Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – natural wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R3.0 (natural wool or polyester)
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Hempcrete walls; polyester batts in non-hempcrete walls
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • Hempcrete R2.75; polyester batts R1.5
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $800,000
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $70,000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 135m2 (excluding verandahs)
    • Wall Materials
    • Hempcrete
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)

    • Wall Materials
    • Magnesium board (Inex)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Louvre windows
      Low-e, films
      Sliding windows/doors
      Stacking windows/doors
    • Universal Design Features
    • 100cm minimum door opening width
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Shower head on rail for various heights
      Tapware to be easily accessed from outside the shower

    • Universal Design Features
    • Dumbwaiter to move shopping and washing up and down levels
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 2
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Wicking beds to grow vegetables
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Chickens
      Composting
      Edible garden
      Green walls
      Permaculture
      Native plants

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Lime render/wash
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      No carpets
Location
Possum Creek NSW 2479
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Balanced Earth
    • Designer
    • Balanced Earth

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