Ross Creek Retreat 2016

House Notes – Ross Creek Retreat

This home began as an experimental project 8 years ago. I had a dream to create a fully sustainable house, unconventional to the typical build of the era. No bills, a place to create a peaceful existence was the drawcard to its beginning.

I found a home in Anglesea with an appealing design and from there drafted plans for my build. It was to be a home for one but after meeting my wife and her two children quickly became an adjusted family space. 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and two living areas.

Originally I chose as our main power source a 25 kva generator to be stored in a shipping container but after further research and a change of heart I had a 2.5kw solar power system installed. It includes 12 Exide Deep Cycle 48 volt batteries and a pro logic invertor. I am currently looking to add more panels as our needs have changed with a growing family but to date this has been a great system running most modern appliances.  We are now a family of 6!!

The home has loads of features and characteristic. timber floors, modern appliances, recycled windows, energy efficient lighting and established native and hardy gardens with a boastful orchard and a supply of 75,000 litres of tank water.

My wife and I are still very passionate about the place we call home and still love showing it off and talking about the leap of faith I made all those years ago.

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2016
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Smart home features
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans

    • Active heating cooling:
    • Two Wood Fires
    • Water heating:
    • Solar hot water (flat panel)
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Greywater system
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Bricks
      Timber
      Windows
      Paving
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal and external walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Timber
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R25
    • Floor Type:
    • Timber Flooring
    • Floor Rating:
    • R30
    • Internal / External Walls Type:
    • Plaster
    • Internal / External Walls Rating:
    • R15
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Solar PV off-grid
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
    • $200,000
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $6,000 yearly
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 14sq
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 1
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Water wise plants
      Organic
      Native plants
Location
Ross Creek VIC 3351
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Robert Stewart

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