North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre

House Notes – North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre

North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre is a residential facility controlled by Education Queensland for up to 50 school students at a time and for community groups at weekends. The Centre occupies a lease in a National Park and the island is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The site was formerly a basic tourist resort and there is a mix of renovated and new buildings. The Centre is off-grid for both power and water so the students gain an experience of sustainable living during their stay.

Sustainability Features

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES

- Energy efficiency:
- Efficient lighting
  Efficient appliances
  Energy monitoring
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
- Water heating:
- Solar hot water (flat panel)
- Water heating:
- Gas boosting
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
  Compost toilet
  Grey water system
  Low flow shower heads
  Low flow taps
- Average water consumption per day:
- 60 litres
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- Concrete and fibreglass tanks
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 950,000 litres
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
  Natural daylight
  Tubular skylight
- Window Protection:
- Eaves
  Louvres
- Window Protection:
- Deep verandahs along two sides

SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS

- Sustainable materials:
- New cabins elevated to allow air circulation

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS

- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
  Ceiling
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Ceiling Rating:
- R2
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- Reflective foil
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- R1

RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS

- All-Electric Home?
- No
- Renewable energy used:
- Energy storage/battery
  Solar PV off-grid
  Wind
- Size of PV system:
- 30kW solar plus 10 kW wind
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- 3kWh

COSTS AND COST SAVINGS

- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $3 million
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- $200,000
- Estimate of annual savings:
- $60,000

HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- Lightweight construction (timber frame)
- Window and Door Types
- Louvre windows
  Sun Tunnel/SolaTube
  180 degree opening doors
- Universal design accessability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Universal Design Features
- 100cm minimum door opening width
  Flush thresholds (no lip) to all external doors
  Hobless showers
  Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
  Minimum 110cm wide hallways
  Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
  Rocker style light switches
  Space around toilets for ease of access in wheelchairs
  Strong fittings like towel rails that can be used as hand rails
  Window openings easily accessible
- Number of bedrooms
- 2
- Number of bathrooms
- 1

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION

- Garden / Outdoors
- Soldier fly larvae digest food scraps
- Garden / Outdoors
- Composting
  Greenhouse
  Local indigenous plants
  Native plants
  Natural swimming pool
  Swales
  Water wise plants
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
  Recycle

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES

- Healthy home features
- Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
  Cross flow ventilation
  Natural light and ventilation

North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre 2020

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House Notes – North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre

Sustainability Features

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