PdD Building Designs Sustainable Home & Office 2024

PdD Building Designs Sustainable Home & Office

Paul designed this home for his family to showcase how specifying the correct materials can result in a sustainable house at no extra cost. The house features blockwork walls and an exposed concrete floor for thermal mass. A lot of work has been done to improve indoor air quality, with virtually no treated timber internally and low or zero VOC paints and sealers throughout. The stainless steel kitchen eliminated formaldehyde off gasses normally associated with kitchen cabinets, is easy to clean and reduces bacterial build up and it also looks pretty neat! This build proves you can be sustainable, have a smart looking home and stay well below the average build cost.

In 2018 we added a detached office and studio to the site, this is a solar passive office, that uses recycled materials and good design to ensure a sustainable outcome. Paul is an Accredited Building Designer, Sustainability Design Specialist and Landscape Architect and runs ‘Paul Dolphin Designs‘ – an award winning building design practice from this office.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2017
2019
2023
2024
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances

    • Energy efficiency:
    • Thermal mass/solar gain
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
      Thermal mass

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Wood burner- stocked with wood from site
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Low flow shower heads
      Low flow taps
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Window Protection:
    • Adjustable Shading
      Awnings (external)
      Deciduous tree/vegetation
      Honeycomb blinds
      Shade Sails
      Solar pergola

    • Window Protection:
    • Custom Shades
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Lighting fixtures and fittings
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Appliances
      Basins/sinks
      Bathroom cabinets
      Doors
      Kitchen cabinets
      Rocks/stone
      Sleepers
      Timber

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      External walls
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R5.1
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Earthwool
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • R2.5
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R2.5
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – glass wool
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 6kW
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 1kW
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Total cost of home when constructed:
    • $250,000
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • No additional cost
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $1000 per year
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 203m2
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 12.5: Ember attack with heat up to 12.5kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Concrete blocks
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
    • Window and Door Types
    • Double glazing
      Double hung
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 4
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Composting
      Edible garden

    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Compost all food scraps
      Recycle
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Cross flow ventilation
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
Location
Malua Bay NSW 2536
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • James and Justin McCarthy
    • Designer
    • PdD Building Design

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