» Bellbird House

Bellbird House

Our old heritage-listed weatherboard home dates from 1915 and had almost no redeeming sustainable properties before we undertook a comprehensive and loving restoration.

We’ve now made it environmentally much more sound (remediated lead paint, asbestos etc) and far more energy efficient (lots of insulation, reversible ceiling fans, more light) and sustainable (dual reclaimed water systems, composting etc).

Almost all materials were already here and heritage listing meant we could not change much anyway, but inside we have entirely furnished and fitted out the house from Gumtree (except for lights and tapware) with recycled furniture, appliances and fittings making it comfortable, contemporary and efficient.

Sustainability Features

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES

- Energy efficiency:
- Efficient lighting
  Efficient appliances
  Energy monitoring
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
  Shading
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
  Split system airconditioner
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
  Grey water system
  Stormwater management
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- Rainwater tank
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 2,000L
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
  Natural daylight
  Skylight
  Solar skylight
- Window Protection:
- Blinds
  Drapes/curtains
- Window Protection:
- wrap around verandah surrounds entire house

SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS

- Recycled and reused materials:
- All furnishings recycled.
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Appliances
  Basins/sinks
  Bath
  Bathroom cabinets
  Benchtops
  Bottles
  Cans
  Decking
  Doors
  House - all materials reused
  Floorboards
  Kitchen cabinets
  Paving
  Tapware
  Toilet
  Windows

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS

- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
  Internal walls
  External walls
  Floor
- Floor Type:
- Bulk - cellulose fibre
- Floor Rating:
- R3.0
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- Insulated panels
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- R4.5
- Internal Walls Insulation Type:
- Blow in – polystyrene balls
- Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
- R2.5
- External Walls Rating:
- R2.5
- External Walls Type:
- Blow in – polystyrene balls

RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS

- All-Electric Home?
- Yes

COSTS AND COST SAVINGS

- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $850,000 (2020)

HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

- House Size
- 160m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – 19: Increasing levels of ember attack and ignition of debris with a heat flux of up to 19kW/m2
- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- Timber
- Wall Materials
- Retrofitted insulation with thermal insulation pumped into all external walls (fibro panels exerior, Hardyboard interior)
- Window and Door Types
- Skylights
  Sun Tunnel/SolaTube
- Window and Door Types
- original sash windows (heritage preserved means no double glazing allowed)
- Universal design accessability
- Multi-generational
  Wheelchair accessible
- Number of bedrooms
- 3
- Number of bathrooms
- 2

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION

- Garden / Outdoors
- Bee hotels/friendly
  Composting
  Edible garden
  Frog friendly
  Local indigenous plants
  Orchard
  Permaculture
  Native plants
  Swales
  Wicking beds
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
  Make jams/conserves
  Pickle and preserve food
  Recycle
  Repair
  Take own containers to the supermarket and for take away food
  Tool exchange/library
  Swap with friends and neighbours
  Waste free/reduced construction site

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES

- Healthy home features
- Cross flow ventilation
  Indoor plants for air filtration
  Natural fibre furnishings
  Natural light and ventilation
  Wax based sealer/finish

Bellbird House 2020

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Bellbird House

Sustainability Features

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