Renovated Retirement Home 2025

Renovated Retirement Home

We have previously designed and built 2 passive solar homes, but when we retired to Kingston Beach our chosen abode was the opposite to being energy efficient. It didn’t even face the right direction! But it was in the right location! However, we gutted the interior and swapped a bedroom with a living room (with double glazed French doors), installed ceiling insulation, solar panels and a heat pump, with timeclocks for hot water and washing. We also own 2 electric cars. Our power bill for the past 12 months is in credit. So we are running 2 cars and a comfortable home for FREE! Our home had to be suitable for us as we age-in-place. We feel that our home demonstrates what can be achieved in an ordinary suburban Unit with thought and planning.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2025
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting
      Energy monitoring

    • Energy efficiency:
    • Time clocks for hot water, dishwasher, clothes washing. Outside clothesline.
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Deciduous planting around house
      External planting
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Heat pump

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Infra-red heaters
    • Water heating:
    • Standard electric hot water system. Timed for off peak heating. When we pay zero for our electricity, something more efficient is not required.
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • Unknown as water bill is split between 7 dwellings. Small.
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Repurposed swimming pool filter tank.
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • Enough for our garden use
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
      Solar skylight
    • Electric Vehicle
    • Tesla M3RWD and Mitsubishi iMiEV
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Blinds
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Drapes/curtains
      Eaves
      Honeycomb blinds
      Roller doors
      Shade Sails
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • The house itself has been recycled.
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Used a lot of our own labour. Ceiling access hole is insulated. Heater lights in bathroom have flaps to prevent air loss. Infra-red heaters on thermostats are used to supplement central heat-pump outlet. EV charging uses an App to limit charging Amps to the amount of current solar output. Gas lift double bed for maximising storage. Dual purpose 2nd bedroom for guest sleeping or computer work. We have done most of the work ourselves. Lived here for nearly 9 years now. I am currently 73 and John is 80. Still active.
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R-3
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 6K
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 15.08 kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • 1993 $150,000
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $80,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $2000.00
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • Small
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – Low: There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Brick veneer
    • Window and Door Types
    • Bi Fold
      Double glazing
      Pocket doors
      Sliding windows/doors
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
      Universal access
      Wheelchair accessible
    • Universal Design Features
    • Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      No stairs/steps
      Pull out shelving easily accessible in wheelchairs
      Pocket doors so that cabinet doors are out of the way
      Slip resistant flooring
      Strong fittings like towel rails that can be used as hand rails
      Tapware to be easily accessed from outside the shower
      Window openings easily accessible

    • Universal Design Features
    • Strong external locks (for a good sense of security). Low maintenance garden. Easy cleaning. Thermostatic shower tap (to ensure, constant even temperature). Visual connection to street life. Connected primary bedroom so that an ill person is still connected to the house activities (when wanted). Social connection to neighbours. Low maintenance. Lots of cheerful sunshine.
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 2
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
    • Healthy Home Materials
    • Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
      Chemical free cleaning products used
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Indoor plants for air filtration
      Natural light and ventilation
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Edible garden
      Orchard
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Make jams/conserves
      Pickle and preserve food
      Recycle
      Repair

    • Other Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Vegans. Don't over-buy things. Do our own repairs and maintenance. Shop at Op-shops.
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
      Chemical free cleaning products used
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Indoor plants for air filtration
      Natural light and ventilation
Location
Kingston Beach TAS 7050
    • Housing Type:
    • High Density Housing/Strata Development/Unit
    • Project Type:
    • Renovation
    • Disaster Resilient Design
    • Bushfire Resilience
    • Builder
    • Paul Burrows and John Brookfield
    • Designer
    • Helen Brookfield

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