Cheese House - Sustainable House Day

House Notes – Cheese House

The Cheese House is a cost effective example of using a renovation to create a great, sustainable and comfortable home.

It’s home is an innovative 7.9 star passive solar design renovation and retrofit with key features including:

water collection & efficient water re-use
conventional & phase change thermal mass
low embodied energy construction materials
extensive environmental specification

The Cheese House is an example of a deep retrofit of an existing structure that’s created a new connection with the rear yard, and a healthy interior in which the family can live and grow in.

Part 2 video can be viewed here

This house achieved a NatHERS rating of 7.9 stars using NatHERS accredited software.

Find out how the star ratings work on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) website.

Sustainability Features

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES

- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
  Efficient lighting
  Efficient appliances
  Energy monitoring
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
  Passive solar designed home
  Thermal mass
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
  Heat pump
  Hydronic
  Split system airconditioner
- Water heating:
- Hot water heat pump
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
  Low flow shower heads
  Low flow taps
  Hot water recirculation
- Average water consumption per day:
- 70L per person
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- Colorbond slimline tank
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 5,000L
- Water harvesting and saving
- Redwater valves to save cold hot water going down the drain. Rainwater plumbed to flush toilets and run cold in laundry.
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
  Natural daylight
  Skylight
- Window Protection:
- Awnings (external)
  Deciduous tree/vegetation
  Eaves
  Honeycomb blinds

SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS

- Sustainable materials:
- Phase Change Material (PCM) sheets under the ceiling plaster in the upper floor to help mitigate summer heat buildup
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Aggregate
  Appliances
  Bath
  Bricks

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS

- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
  Ceiling
  Internal walls
  External walls
  Floor
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Ceiling Rating:
- R5.0
- Floor Type:
- Bulk - polyester
- Floor Rating:
- R3.0 to subfloor and R4.0 between floors
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- R1.8 foil backed rockwool blanket. Airgap. R5.0 batt.
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- Total R7.0+ (including airspace)
- Internal Walls Insulation Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
- R2.5
- External Walls Rating:
- Reflective foil, airgap, R2.7 batt, airgap, brick. R3.5+

RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS

- All-Electric Home?
- Yes
- Energy star rating:
- 7.9 stars
- Renewable energy used:
- Solar PV grid connect
- Size of PV system:
- 4.7kW
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- ~3.25kWh / day net consumption

COSTS AND COST SAVINGS

- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $384,600
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- $20,000

HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

- House Size
- 159m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – Low: There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements
- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
  Metal (Zincalume)
- Wall Materials
- Lightweight construction (timber frame)
  Metal (Colorbond)
- Window and Door Types
- Bi Fold
  Casement
  Double glazing
  Low-e, films
  Retrofit Double Glazing
  Skylights
- Universal Design Features
- 80cm minimum door opening width
  Hobless showers
  Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
  Minimum 110cm wide hallways
  Shower head on rail for various heights
  Window openings easily accessible
- Number of bedrooms
- 4
- Number of bathrooms
- 2

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION

- Garden / Outdoors
- Bee hotels/friendly
  Composting
  Edible garden
  Greenhouse
  Local indigenous plants
  Orchard
  Organic
  Native plants
  Worm farm
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
  Make jams/conserves
  Pickle and preserve food
  Plastic free household
  Recycle
  Repair
  Swap with friends and neighbours
  Waste free/reduced construction site

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES

- Healthy home features
- Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
  Chemical free cleaning products used
  Cross flow ventilation
  Formaldehyde free cabinets
  Indoor plants for air filtration
  Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
  VOC free paints/sealer/varnish

Cheese House 2020

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House Notes – Cheese House

Sustainability Features

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