Cheese House 2020

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

Years Open
2020
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
Location
Coburg VIC 3058
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Renovation
    • Builder
    • Positive Footprints
    • Designer
    • Positive Footprints

View the house tour

Ask questions about this house

Load More Comments
Name
Email
Comment
Leave Comment