Nantes House 2023

House Notes – 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 ratings work on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) website.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2021
2023
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
Location
Newtown VIC 3220
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Open with support of
    • Geelong Sustainability
    • Builder
    • Otway Builders Pty Ltd
    • Designer
    • Hive Architects (Original Design)/ Projekt Evolve

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