Fisher Hidden Haven 2025

Fisher Hidden Haven

Originally an ordinary split-level 3-bedroom brick-veneer house built in 1970, this Canberra suburban house was extended (before we bought it) sideways and upwards into a generous family home. Over the past 20 years, we have renovated bit-by-bit to take advantage of glorious winter sun through full-length, north-facing, UPVC double-glazed windows which are lushly shaded by deciduous trees in summer. We chose to make the switch off fossil gas, gradually replacing the trifecta of a gas wall heater with reverse-cycle air-conditioning, a gas hot water tank with electric, and gas cooking with induction, then capping the gas meter. No more gas bills!
In 2014 we installed a 4kW solar panel array with microinverters; in 2018 added another 5.7kW of panels plus a 7kWh battery and CatchPower for water heating; and in 2025 replaced the underperforming original 4kW array and recalled battery with a new 5.79kW array and Tesla Powerwall 2.
There’s a rainwater tank, greywater-to-garden, and a dry creekbed for stormwater. We compost food waste and grow a few vegies and fruit trees (but are not green thumbed!). Our pool is fed by the rainwater tank and heated by solar thermal pipes on the roof. We installed a charger in the garage for our electric Ora, and love driving powered by our own sunshine! We’re not saints (and are sometimes hypocritical) but we reuse, recycle, utilise “Buy Nothing”, invest ethically and do other sustainable living activities.