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Nantes House

This is a new home built after many years in the planning. The goal was to create a warm, bright, airy and comfortable but low energy home in which my wife and I could enjoy our retirement. We were able to do a lot of research and were then closely involved in the design and construction. The combination of extensive north facing glass, careful insulation and a large amount of thermal mass means the house requires no heating except on overcast days in the coldest months of the year, while typically maintaining a comfortable 20 to 23C. The house is all electric and with 10kW of solar panels and is a net exporter of energy over the year.

This house achieved a NatHERS rating of 7.3 stars using NatHERS accredited software. Find out how the star rati ngs work on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) website.

Sustainability Features

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
  Heat recovery ventilation system
  Passive solar designed home
  Shading
  Thermal mass
- Passive heating cooling:
- Automatic operable eaves over north facing windows. Automatic motorised louvre and windows to vent when outside is a lower temp than inside.
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
  Heat pump
  Hydronic
  Split system airconditioner
- Active heating cooling:
- Split system air con installed in one area but not needed to date.
- Water heating:
- Hot water heat pump
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Underground
  Low flow shower heads
  Low flow taps
  Hot water recirculation
- Average water consumption per day:
- 150 from town water. Most garden and toilet from rainwater.
- Underground rainwater storage type:
- Cylindrical plastic tanks
- Underground rainwater storage Size:
- 25,000 L total
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
  Natural daylight
- Electric Vehicle Type
- Polestar 2
- Window Protection:
- Adjustable Shading
  Automation/controls
  Eaves
  Louvres
  Solar pergola

SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS

- Recycled and reused materials:
- Bricks
  Timber

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS

- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
  Ceiling
  External walls
  Floor
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Ceiling Rating:
- Same as above Under Roof. No ceiling space.
- Floor Type:
- Bulk - polystyrene board
- Floor Rating:
- R1.8 under parts of the slab
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- Reflective Roof Blanket under metal deck with bulk insulation below.
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- R4 plus R1.3 Roof Blanket
- External Walls Rating:
- R2.7 Bulk plus Foilboard 15mm
- External Walls Type:
- Combination of reflective foil board and bulk glass wool

RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS

- All-Electric Home?
- Yes
- Renewable energy used:
- Solar PV grid connect
- Size of PV system:
- 10.6kW nominal
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- 12 kWh per person per day Average (Winter)

COSTS AND COST SAVINGS

- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $1.4M
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- Hard to say. Mostly good design. Maybe $50k
- Estimate of annual savings:
- $5k

HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

- House Size
- 428 m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – Low: There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements
- Roof
- Metal (Galvanised)
- Wall Materials
- Brick veneer
  Double brick
  Reverse Brick veneer
  Timber
- Window and Door Types
- Awning
  Double glazing
  Louvre windows
  Low-e, films
  Tilt and turn
- Universal Design Features
- 80cm minimum door opening width
  Hobless showers
  Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
  Lift/elevator
  Minimum 110cm wide hallways
  Tapware to be easily accessed from outside the shower
- Number of bedrooms
- 3
- Number of bathrooms
- 2

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION

- Garden / Outdoors
- Composting
  Edible garden
  Greenhouse
  Orchard
  Wicking beds
  Worm farm
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
  Make jams/conserves
  Pickle and preserve food
  Recycle
  Swap with friends and neighbours

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES

- Healthy home features
- Airtight house design
  Automated ventilation system
  Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
  Cross flow ventilation
  Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
  Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
  Natural light and ventilation

Nantes House 2023

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Nantes House

Sustainability Features

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