Earthship Ironbank
Earthship Ironbank
This is the first council approved “Earthship” in Australia, designed to adapt the Earthship concept (from the USA) for Australian climates, construction codes and culture. It exhibits the 6 key Earthship design principles of 1. Natural and Recycled Construction Materials, 2. Solar/Thermal Heating & Cooling, 3. Off Grid Power, 4. Off Grid Water, 5. On Site Wastewater Treatment and Upcycling and 6. Food Production with wastewater (indoors – year round, zero food mile, organic produce). This home has no utility bills and the carbon footprint was minimised by using tons of waste materials for construction such as car tyres, earth, bottles and the self-sufficient nature of the building ensures very small eco-impacts to run the building.
Sustainability Features
- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
Efficient lighting
Efficient appliances
Energy monitoring
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
Earth covering
Earthtubes
Passive solar designed home
Shading
Thermal mass
- Active heating cooling:
- Slow combustion heater with wetback
- Water heating:
- Solar hot water (evacuated tube)
Wood fire wetback
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
Rainwater storage - Underground
Blackwater system
Grey water system
Low flow shower heads
- Average water consumption per day:
- 100L
- Underground rainwater storage type:
- Poly tank and tyre tank
- Underground rainwater storage Size:
- 55,000L
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- Poly
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 5000L
- Water harvesting and saving
- Indoor greywater wicking beds
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
Natural daylight
Skylight
- Electric Vehicle Type
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Window Protection:
- Eaves
External window hoods/surrounds
- Sustainable materials:
- Ferro-cement roof structures.
Hempcrete insulation to walls and roof of entry/bathroom vaults.
Earth floor.
Broken glass aggregate in concrete floors (entry/bathroom).
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Basins/sinks
Benchtops
Bottles
Cans
Excavated earth
Light fixtures / fittings
Toilet
Tyres
- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
External walls
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- Bulk – polystyrene board
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- R4
- External Walls Rating:
- R3
- External Walls Type:
- Earth
- All-Electric Home?
- No
- Energy star rating:
- 6.3
- Renewable energy used:
- Energy storage/battery
Solar PV off-grid
- Size of PV system:
- 1kW
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- 1kWh
- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $170,000 (2016)
- Estimate of annual savings:
- $1000/yr
- House Size
- 70m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and ignition of debris with a heat flux of up to 29kW/m2
- Roof
- Green roof
- Wall Materials
- Cob construction
Earthwall
Hempcrete
Tyres
- Window and Door Types
- Awning
Casement
Double glazing
Skylights
- Number of bedrooms
- 1
- Number of bathrooms
- 1
- Garden / Outdoors
- Bee keeping
Chickens
Composting
Drip irrigation
Edible garden
Frog friendly
Greenhouse
Green roof
Local indigenous plants
Orchard
Organic
Permaculture
Native plants
Wicking beds
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
Make jams/conserves
Pickle and preserve food
Recycle
Repair
Swap with friends and neighbours
Waste free/reduced construction site
- Other Waste Reduction Practices:
- Save bottles and jars for construction materials
- Healthy home features
- Airtight house design
Automated ventilation system
Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
Chemical free cleaning products used
Cross flow ventilation
Formaldehyde free cabinets
Indoor plants for air filtration
Lime render/wash
Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
Natural fibre furnishings
Natural light and ventilation
Natural oil sealer/finishes
VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
Wax based sealer/finish
- Housing Type:
- Tourist Accommodation
- Project Type:
- New Build
- Builder
- Dr Martin Freney (owner builder)
- Designer
- Dr Martin Freney
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