Belmont Sustainable House
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House Notes – Belmont Sustainable House
The sustainable home, built in 2012, employs passive solar design to achieve an energy efficiency rating of 8.5 at that time. The house was built using recycled and sustainable materials chosen for durability and low maintenance.
Designing for sustainability has provided a high level of comfort with a light interior and an efficient use of space. We have catered for the changing needs of the occupants with multi-purposed spaces and ambulatory accessibility. The polished concrete slab and reverse brick veneer provide the thermal mass. Other sustainable features include solar power, Zehnder heat exchange ventilation system for optimal indoor air quality, LED lighting, smart saver recirculating hot water system, rain water tanks, grey water system, edible garden and sustainable land use.
The home won four awards in 2014. Best Sustainable Home presented by Kevin McLeod at Grand Designs Live for the National NABD awards. Best Energy Efficient Design in the Victorian BDAV award. Best Custom House $200,000 – $300, 000 & Best Sustainable Energy Home in the MBA South West region awards.
Photography for this home is by Alex Gotto-Cumbers
Sustainability Features
- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
Efficient lighting
Efficient appliances
- Energy efficiency:
- Blower door test construction
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
Deciduous planting around house
Heat recovery ventilation system
Passive solar designed home
Shading
Thermal mass
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
- Water heating:
- 7 Star -Smart Start re-circulating gas instantaneous hot water unit
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
Grey water system
Stormwater management
Low flow shower heads
Low flow taps
Hot water recirculation
Drip irrigation
- Average water consumption per day:
- 155 litres
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- Tank
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 9000L
- Water harvesting and saving
- Tank connected to toilets, washing machine and garden irrigation.
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
Natural daylight
Tubular skylight
- Window Protection:
- Adjustable Shading
Blinds
Eaves
Solar pergola
- Recycled and reused materials:
- 1930's glass cabinet doors. 35% recycled content in the plasterboard. Re-used an existing 1.75kW PV system. Re-used an existing 9000l rainwater tank.
- Sustainable materials:
- Prefabricate timber frame & roof trusses from plantation timber reduce timber waste by using computer controlled cutting equipment. Building waste was minimised on site by separating, and reusing or recycling any timber, metal, glass paper & cardboard.
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Bath
Bricks
Insulation
Sleepers
- Insulation Type:
- Ceiling
External walls
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Ceiling Rating:
- R5
- External Walls Rating:
- R2.7
- External Walls Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- All-Electric Home?
- No
- Energy star rating:
- 8.5 when built in 2012
- Renewable energy used:
- Solar PV grid connect
- Size of PV system:
- 1.75kW
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- 4.45kWh for home and office use. 80% generated with onsite PV's.
- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $300,000
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- $11,500 for solar, HRV, skyligh and roof vent (included in the $300,000 construction cost).
- Estimate of annual savings:
- $1600 annaully for electricity and gas compaired to the average two person home in 3216 post code. (Data from Energy Made Easy government website).
- House Size
- 138m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – Low: There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements
- Roof
- Metal (Zincalume)
- Wall Materials
- Brick veneer
Metal (Zincalume)
Reverse Brick veneer
- Window and Door Types
- Casement
Double glazing
Low-e, films
Skylights
- Window and Door Types
- Composite timber and aluminium windows
- Universal design accessability
- Adaptive design
Multi-generational
Universal access
Wheelchair accessible
- Universal Design Features
- 80cm minimum door opening width
Flush thresholds (no lip) to all external doors
Hobless showers
Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
No stairs/steps
No Corner cupboards
Power points at 60cm above floor level and 50cm from internal corners
Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
Shower head on rail for various heights
Space around toilets for ease of access in wheelchairs
Tapware to be easily accessed from outside the shower
- Universal Design Features
- Accessible height door leavers and light switches. Reinforced walls in the toilet and shower for the installation of hand rails. Raised garden beds. Turning circle for a walking frame or wheel chair in the bathroom. No doors in the hall ways for ease of access.
- Number of bedrooms
- 3
- Number of bathrooms
- 1
- Garden / Outdoors
- Permeable paths and driveway.
- Garden / Outdoors
- Composting
Drip irrigation
Edible garden
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Make jams/conserves
Recycle
Repair
Waste free/reduced construction site
- Healthy home features
- Airtight house design
Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
Chemical free cleaning products used
Cross flow ventilation
Formaldehyde free cabinets
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
Indoor plants for air filtration
Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
Natural fibre furnishings
Natural light and ventilation
Natural oil sealer/finishes
VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
- Healthy Home
- Radiant hydronic heating system to avoid blown air
- Housing Type:
- Standalone House
- Project Type:
- New Build
- Open with support of
- Geelong Sustainability Group
- Builder
- Homes with Integrity
- Designer
- Bios Design Build Sustain and Eco Select
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