Murmungee Passive Solar House 2016

Murmungee Passive Solar House

Seven years ago the owners built a passive solar house that was energy efficient, warm in winter, cool in summer with a fire safe garden. It was designed to suit them in old age with bathroom catering for disability, minimum steps and single level. Hebel was chosen for its insulation qualities, corrugated iron for the aesthetic effects and a steel frame to avoid white ants.

Winter warmth is enhanced by double glazed windows, north facing design for maximising winter sun, insulation, grey tiles to absorb winter warmth, use of limb fallen timber from the property in the Nectre wood heater. Deciduous trees allow winter sun into the house.

The house is protected from summer heat with double glazed windows, block out blinds, insulation, pergola roof slats, grape vines on north and east, carport designed on west side for heat reduction, tree planting and orchard to the west, cooling effect of swimming pool and dam. In 2013 a ducted evaporative air conditioning system was installed.

The house is designed with cross breeze ventilation. North/south has sliding 2 panel doors and east/west has corridor with door and double sash window. The 18 hectare property has been developed from a bare paddock now with an organic vegetable garden, worm farm, chook tractor, fruit trees and beef cattle. Three water tanks have been installed for house supply. The home is part of a Murmungee solar neighbourhood where 50 houses installed solar panels around 2009.

In 2015 the western courtyard was converted to an art studio to complement the rest of the house design and a new smaller courtyard was created to the west.

The Murmungee Old Hall Committee will be selling sausages, tea, coffee and cakes, and plants to raise money for hall improvements.