One Tree Hill 2021

House Notes – One Tree Hill

My aim was to design and build a beautiful, functional passive solar house which used a minimal amount of purchased power and water. It had to be comfortable and allow me to make the most of the block and the living space inside the house. The house includes:

• Polished concrete Waffle Pod slab
• 6Kw solar panels
• In-ground grey water system
• 22,500L water tank
• Double glazed low-E UPVC windows
• Ceiling fans
• Wood burner and no other heating or cooling
• Ironbark timber cladding
• Low VOC paints throughout
• Heat pump hot water system
• Induction cooktop
• Plenty of insulation

The western side of the house is almost all glass, which allow the sun to warm the concrete slab during the day and release that heat into the house at night. In summer the eaves, pergola, and external blinds mean the sun never makes it into the house and the house remains cool day and night. The house is warm in winter, cool in summer, and is a pleasure to live in.

The water tank supplies the toilets and the washing machine, and the grey water collects from the laundry and bathrooms (not the toilets) and is pumped out onto the garden via an in-ground irrigation system.

I have lived here for almost a year and so far I have had no power bills and water bills are $100 per year. It is just the most beautiful house to live in and visually.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2021
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Passive solar designed home
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Grey water system
      Drip irrigation
    • Average water consumption per day:
    • 130L
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • Water tank
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 22,500L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Awnings (external)
      Blinds
      Eaves
      Honeycomb blinds
      Pelmets
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Timber
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – natural wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R5.0
    • Floor Type:
    • Wafflepod
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – natural wool
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R2.0
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R2.5
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – natural wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 6kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 4.5 kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $600,000 in 2020
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $200,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $3000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 197
    • BAL Rating
    • No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Timber
    • Window and Door Types
    • Awning
      Double glazing
      Low-e, films
      Pocket doors
      Sliding windows/doors
      Tilt and turn
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      No stairs/steps
      No Corner cupboards
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Organic
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
      Repair
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
      Cross flow ventilation
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
Location
Braidwood NSW 2622
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Green Homes SENSW
    • Designer
    • Almargi Design

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