Frenchs Forest Energy Positive House 2025

Frenchs Forest Energy Positive House

This 10-Star Energy Rated all electric Positive Energy Building (PEB) is generating up to 4 times more energy than it uses. This house, designed with the goal of becoming Australia’s most energy-positive residence, may indeed have achieved that status.
Featuring double-glazed windows, 66 solar panels on the house and 24 semi-transparent solar panels integrated into the carport, (29.90kw total) In-roof solar systems eliminate the need for any traditional roofing materials by using the standard size PV panels itself as roof finish. This innovative in-roof system, the largest of its kind in Australia, is complemented by a 9kw solar thermal system with an 800-liter hot water storage tank, a 15kw battery, and a 12kw air-to-water heat pump. This powerful combination enables solar-powered hydroponic floor heating or cooling all year around, eliminating the need for gas or air-conditioning. A 40,000-liter rainwater tank supports water sustainability. The 190m² green roof is one of Australia’s largest residential green roofs installations. It can hold up to 4000 litres of rainwater in its storage layers. The inverted green roof, with a special insulation board on top of waterproofed concrete structure keeps the house cool and warm. The carport is currently awaiting the installation of an electric vehicle charger. The house is very air tide. All doors are fully framed no gaps under external doors. A decentralized ventilation system with heat recovery is installed.
The garden is all native and includes several large rocky riverbeds with a large rain garden that collects and filters excessive rainwater runoff during heavy rain events.
In 2024 the house produced 26.5 MWh electricity and exported 17.2MWh to the Grid.
In 2023 the house produced 28.6 MWh and exported 18.01 MWh to the Grid.
The hot/cold water system can produce up 160kwh/day hot or cold water and can store 60kwh solar energy.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2025
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
      Smart home features
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Deciduous planting around house
      Earth covering
      External planting
      Heat recovery ventilation system
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Heat exchange ventilation system
      Heat pump
      Hydronic
      Solar hydronic
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
      Solar hot water (evacuated tube)
      Water heated by PV system

    • Water heating:
    • Heat Pump runs on Solar Power
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Underground
      Stormwater management
      Low flow shower heads
      Hot water recirculation
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • 200L
    • Underground rainwater storage type:
    • concrete tank
    • Underground rainwater storage Size:
    • 40,000L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Eaves

    • Window Protection:
    • Low E coating on all windows and doors all external shaded with eaves
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • water tank was old inground pool recycled
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Slag concrete used with lower CO2 footprint
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Concrete
      Railway sleepers
      Shipping container

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Floor

    • Floor Type:
    • polystyrene board as part of hydronic floor heating
    • Floor Rating:
    • R2.8
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect

    • Size of PV system:
    • 29 kw solar system , 9kw solar thermal, 12 kw air to water heat pump , 15 kw Battery, 40kw hot water storage tank
    • Renewable energy
    • 90 Solar panels with battery, Solar Thermal vacuum tubes , Solar power operated air to water heat pump for floor heating and cooling
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 15kwh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • 995000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • 4000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 180m2
    • BAL Rating
    • No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
    • Roof
    • Green roof

    • Roof
    • Standard Solar panels used as roof finish ( in-roof solar ) + Inverted Green with roof insulation 100mm Roofmate total R5.1
    • Wall Materials
    • Hebel blocks
    • Window and Door Types
    • Bi Fold
      Double glazing
      Low-e, films
      Tilt and turn
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
    • Universal Design Features
    • 100cm minimum door opening width
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      Shower head on rail for various heights
      Slip resistant flooring
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
    • Healthy Home Materials
    • Airtight house design
      Asthma and allergy free certified carpet
      Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
      Lime render/wash
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural light and ventilation
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Aquaponics
      Bee hotels/friendly
      Community vegetable garden
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Frog friendly
      Green roof
      Green walls
      Local indigenous plants
      Organic
      Native plants
      Water wise plants
      Wicking beds
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Book exchange/library
      Make jams/conserves
      Pickle and preserve food
      Recycle
      Repair
      Take own containers to the supermarket and for take away food
      Toy exchange/library
      Swap with friends and neighbours
      Waste free/reduced construction site
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Airtight house design
      Asthma and allergy free certified carpet
      Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
      Lime render/wash
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural light and ventilation
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish

    • Healthy Home
    • Porter’s Mineral Paint silicate paint on all external areas with crushed minerals providing outstanding colour fastness and durability.
Location
Frenchs Forest NSW 2086
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Disaster Resilient Design
    • Flood Resilience
      Bushfire Resilience
      Cyclone/Storm Resilience
    • Builder
    • Owner builder
    • Designer
    • Side Specific Designs

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