Bellbird House 2020

House Notes – 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

Years Open
2020
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
Location
Narara NSW 2250
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Renovation
    • Open with support of
    • Narara Eco Living Network
    • Builder
    • JQ Carpentry
    • Designer
    • MKC Building Design

View the house tour

Ask questions about this house

Load More Comments
Name
Email
Comment
Leave Comment