Myrtle House 2019

House Notes – Myrtle House

A TS4 Living home demonstrating that a large family can have a small environmental footprint.

The brief; replace an existing 1930’s house with a contemporary, low carbon footprint home, generous enough for a family of 6 people.

The response; a contemporary, 8.1 star, 5 bedroom home designed to minimize its carbon footprint, invite northern light into the living spaces and thermal conductivity into the bedrooms with generous doors and windows to enhance the connection from the outdoor to the indoor.

The single-storey home was designed to incorporate maximum solar gains in the winter, with the open living/dining/kitchen area facing north and deciduous vines along the outdoor area to prevent harsh summer sun from penetrating the windows during the summer. This approach allows the house to maintain cool temperatures even during extreme heatwaves without relying on the excessive use of air conditioning.

A generous 6.4kW solar panel array was incorporated into the design from concept stage and is controlled to supply the heat pump hot water system with power during the daytime. Winter sun shines onto the masonry stone wall that the bedrooms back onto, creating natural radiant heat and thermal store to significantly reduce the need for additional heating during winter for the family. In the summer the wall also acts as a thermal store of cooler nighttime air. Local materials have been sourced where possible to give the home a comfortable and welcoming first impression, adapting seamlessly into the site and surrounding neighbourhood.

Built by Aria Homes

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2019
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Split system airconditioner

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Nectre N60 Convection Wood Heater
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
      Water heated by PV system
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Above ground rainwater storage
      Stormwater management
      Low flow shower heads
      Low flow taps
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • 78L
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • 1x Rainwater tank
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 22,500L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Automation/controls
      Awnings (external)
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Sealed build envelope with microporous breathable build wrap and reflective rigid high performance non-combustible insulation beneath. An Air Change per Hour (ACH) rate 5 time lower that the typical Australian home without requiring a continuously running heat exchange system.
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Glass
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Under-roof
      Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R6.4 (summer/winter averaged)
    • Under Roof Insulation Type:
    • Foil-faced insulation blanket
    • Under Roof Insulation Rating:
    • R1.35
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R2.4 (summer/winter averaged)
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R5.6 (summer/winter averaged)
    • External Walls Type:
    • Composite light weight timber frame, wall batt and rigid, high performance non-combustible insulation.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Energy star rating:
    • 8.1 Stars
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 6.4kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • > 1kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $625,000
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $55,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • >$4,000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 284m2 including garage
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – Low: There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Insulated panels or blocks
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Timber

    • Wall Materials
    • High performance multi-layered construction with PIR rigid insulation board and CSR insulation products
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Clerestory windows
      Double glazing
      Low-e, films
      Sliding windows/doors

    • Window and Door Types
    • uPVC "Tilt Turn" windows
    • Universal design accessability
    • Adaptive design
      Multi-generational
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
      Remote power open and close doors
      Rocker style light switches
      Semi recessed basins
      Slip resistant flooring
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 5
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 3
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Drip irrigation
      Native plants
      Water wise plants
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Recycle
      Repair
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Airtight house design
      Cross flow ventilation
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural light and ventilation
Location
Myrtle Bank SA 5064
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Aria Homes
    • Designer
    • TS4 Living

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