Belmont Sustainable House 2020

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

Years Open
2020
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT 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
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • 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 SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      External walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R5
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R2.7
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • 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.
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • 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 DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • 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 AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • 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
    • 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
Location
Belmont VIC 3216
    • 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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