Dorothy at Narara Ecovillage NSW 2025

Dorothy at Narara Ecovillage NSW

Dorothy is a Queenslander built on site from local wood on a farm south-west of Ipswich. She was cut in three and brought to Narara Ecovillage on the Central Coast of NSW by Mackay house relocators on three trucks where she needed to be retrofitted to the Ecovillage’s high sustainability standards set out by our Building Review Panel. Key aspects were: wall and ceiling insulation; solar powered roof vent to remove ceiling heat in summer; the use of Magnitite on the old windows to achieve double glazing; removal of covers on highlights above the doors to re-establish ventilation; Repair of wooden shutters and doors on western veranda to protect from the afternoon sun; filling in the downstairs area with a concrete slab and internal double brick walls for thermal mass; overhang of 2nd storey to protect downstairs from summer sun but allow winter sun; solar panels connected to the village battery and microgrid; 17kl of rain water tanks which provide water for the whole house; purple pipe water for gardens; terracing to maximise use of a small block and slow water runoff; permeable paving to minimise water runoff;

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2025
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Hydronic
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
      Water heated by PV system
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Stormwater management
      Drip irrigation
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • 3 metal tanks under the house and 1 concrete tanks outside
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 17kl
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Electric Vehicle
    • Tesla model C
    • Window Protection:
    • Blinds
      Drapes/curtains
      Eaves
      External window hoods/surrounds
      Pelmets
      Shutters
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • pantry shelves, raised garden beds, hinges and door knobs, window latches
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Basins/sinks
      Bath
      Bathroom cabinets
      Benchtops
      Bricks
      Cladding
      Decking
      Doors
      House - Relocated on to another site
      House - all materials reused
      Floorboards
      Glass
      Kitchen cabinets
      Light fixtures / fittings
      Paving
      Tapware
      Toilet
      Windows

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      External walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Recycled polyester mix
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R7
    • Floor Type:
    • recycled polyester mix
    • Floor Rating:
    • R5
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Reflective foil
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R5
    • External Walls Type:
    • recycled polyester mix
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Energy star rating:
    • 7.0
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 10kw
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 155m2
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 12.5: Ember attack with heat up to 12.5kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Metal (Zincalume)
    • Wall Materials
    • Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Reverse Brick veneer
      Timber
    • Window and Door Types
    • Double glazing
      Retrofit Double Glazing
      Sliding windows/doors
    • Universal design accessability
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Flush thresholds (no lip) to all external doors
      Hobless showers
      Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
    • Healthy Home Materials
    • Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • This is difficult to answer because almost of the above is provided by the ecovillage but not necessarily in individual houses
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Community vegetable garden
      Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Organic
      Worm farm

    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Book exchange/library
      Compost all food scraps
      Make jams/conserves
      Pickle and preserve food
      Recycle
      Repair
      Recycle coffee grounds from nearby cafe's
      Take own containers to the supermarket and for take away food
      Tool exchange/library
      Toy exchange/library
      Swap with friends and neighbours
      Waste free/reduced construction site
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish

    • Healthy Home
    • filtered rainwater used thorough-out
Location
Narara NSW 2250
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • Retrofit/addition
    • Designer
    • Graham Hunt from DHW Design

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