Passive Resistance House
Passive Resistance House
The Passive Resistance House features a combination of lightweight timber construction and reverse brick veneer, Axon Scyon cladding and colorbond corrugated iron, with a few zincalume panels on the front.
We have polished concrete to all rooms except bedrooms, which are carpeted, and in-slab hydronic heating (2023: now cooling as well) with slab-edge insulation (low-insulation carpet underlay in bedrooms to permit heat transfer).
The windows are double-glazed with UPVC frames to all windows except corner windows, which are 12mm single-glazed with clear low-e. Kingspan Aircell insulation wraps the building. Plywood is used as a ceiling lining, with expressed shadow joints extending out to soffit.
The house also has a 4kW solar PV system and solar hot water using 30 x Apricus evacuated tubes.
The 16,200L rainwater tanks are plumbed into every tap in the house. Every drop of rain that falls on the block stays on the block.
There is ironbark timber decking. We were unhappy with Kapur alternative due to its sourcing from old forests in Indonesia.
The internal courtyard receives northern sunlight into the back section of house. All except two lights in the house are LEDs.
A community garden, tree house and swings have been installed at the front of the house and a newly added beehive.
New for 2022 is the addition of a 3kW offgrid PV setup with overnight battery storage in the form of old 12v car batteries.
New for 2023 is the DHW Heat Pump and the separate infloor heating/cooling Heat Pump.
Sustainability Features
- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
Efficient lighting
Efficient appliances
Energy monitoring
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
External planting
Passive solar designed home
Shading
Thermal mass
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
Heat pump
Hydronic
Split system airconditioner
- Water heating:
- Hot water heat pump
Solar hot water (evacuated tube)
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
Stormwater management
Low flow shower heads
Low flow taps
Drip irrigation
- Average water consumption per day:
- 0.1
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- 3x 5400L poly rainwater tanks
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 16200
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
Natural daylight
- Window Protection:
- Adjustable Shading
Deciduous tree/vegetation
Drapes/curtains
Eaves
External window hoods/surrounds
Shade Sails
- Sustainable materials:
- Exposed polished slab, reverse block veneer, UPVC double-glazed windows, in-slab hydronic heating (2023: cooling added), slab-edge insulation, Kingspan Aircell, roof blanket.
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Sleepers
Timber
- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
Ceiling
Internal walls
External walls
Floor
- Ceiling Type:
- Ceiling type: plywood sheets with expressed shadow joint
- Ceiling Rating:
- R5.0
- Floor Type:
- Exposed polished concrete, slab-edge insulation
- Floor Rating:
- R1.5
- Internal / External Walls Type:
- Reverse block veneer, Kingspan Aircell wrap to entire fabric
- Internal / External Walls Rating:
- R4.0
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- R4 batts, plus roof blanket
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- 5
- Internal Walls Insulation Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
- 3
- External Walls Rating:
- 4
- External Walls Type:
- Bulk - glass wall, 40mm air gap, R1 Kingspan Aircell
- All-Electric Home?
- No
- Renewable energy used:
- Solar PV grid connect
Solar PV off-grid
- Size of PV system:
- 4
- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $650,000
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- $240,000
- Estimate of annual savings:
- $1800 p.a.
- House Size
- 215m2
- BAL Rating
- No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- Lightweight construction (timber frame)
Reverse Brick veneer
Timber
- Window and Door Types
- Awning
Clerestory windows
Double glazing
Sliding windows/doors
Stacking windows/doors
Tilt and turn
- Universal design accessability
- Adaptive design
Multi-generational
Universal access
Wheelchair accessible
- Universal Design Features
- Flush thresholds (no lip) to all external doors
Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
Minimum 110cm wide hallways
No stairs/steps
No Corner cupboards
Ramps and path gradients must be less than 20:1
Shower head on rail for various heights
Slip resistant flooring
Space around toilets for ease of access in wheelchairs
- Number of bedrooms
- 3
- Number of bathrooms
- 1
- Healthy Home Materials
- Cross flow ventilation
Indoor plants for air filtration
- Garden / Outdoors
- Bee keeping
Bee hotels/friendly
Community vegetable garden
Composting
Drip irrigation
Edible garden
Organic
Permaculture
Native plants
Water wise plants
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Book exchange/library
Compost all food scraps
Recycle
Recycle coffee grounds from nearby cafe's
Toy exchange/library
Swap with friends and neighbours
- Healthy home features
- Cross flow ventilation
Indoor plants for air filtration
- Housing Type:
- Standalone House
- Project Type:
- New Build
- Builder
- Beechwood
- Designer
- Canvas Projects
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