Caringbah House 2020

House Notes – Caringbah House

This 1950s fibro four-bedroom house has been retrofitted with 15,000L of rainwater storage and associated guttering, and first-flush systems for reuse in laundry, bathrooms and garden. It has a 4kW solar system in two arrays, plus 2 x Enphase 1.2kW solar batteries. Insulation has been added to walls, ceilings, roof and underfloor, along with UPVC double-glazed windows.

Shading has been improved on the north side of the house to block summer sun, but allow winter sun into the house and living areas. Water use is about 30KL per quarter.

For a five person family (including one young adult and two teenagers) our electricity costs are down to around $260/qtr (!!) with gas about the same.

The upgrading of the house is not nearly complete yet, and future projects include a backyard studio and carports with green roofs, and a solid-fuel masonry heater.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2020
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Deciduous planting around house
      Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Split system airconditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Gas-heated Tank
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Rainwater storage - Underground
      Grey water system
      Stormwater management
      Low flow taps
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • 75L
    • Underground rainwater storage type:
    • Under-deck concrete block tank, plus in-slab Aquapods
    • Underground rainwater storage Size:
    • 15,000L
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Water tanks and butts
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 6,000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
    • Window Protection:
    • Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Eaves
      External window hoods/surrounds
      Honeycomb blinds
      Solar pergola
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Bottles
      Bricks
      Cladding
      Paving
      Rocks/stone
      Roofing material
      Tiles
      Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – polyester
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R3.5
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - polystyrene board
    • Floor Rating:
    • R1.5
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Reflective foil
    • Under Roof Insulation Rating:
    • R2.5
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R2.7
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R2.9
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • No
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 4kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 2kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • Not much - built in 1952
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $25,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $2,500
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 140m2
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – Low: There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements
    • Roof
    • Tiles (Clay)
    • Wall Materials
    • Lightweight construction (timber frame)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Double glazing
      Sliding windows/doors
      Tilt and turn
    • Universal Design Features
    • Hobless showers
      Shower head on rail for various heights
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 4
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 3
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Bee keeping
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Local indigenous plants
      Organic
      Native plants
      Worm farm
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Cross flow ventilation
      Indoor plants for air filtration
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
      Wax based sealer/finish
Location
Caringbah NSW 2229
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Continual Improvement

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