Scruburban House 2015

House Notes – Scruburban House

Scruburban House is a small scale sustainable urban renewal project. The original dwelling at 74 Wellington St was constructed over two adjoining Torrens Titled allotments, created during the 3^rd survey undertaken in South Australia in 1858. During demolition several artifacts in the form of bottles and ceramics were uncovered, along with original Baltic pine flooring, hardwood joists, doors and architectural fittings. These were recovered and reused in the new building, along with locally sourced recycled hardwoods for verandah and pergola beams and posts.

The house has been constructed with an extensive full cover green roof to both living areas of the building. The roof is constructed over a standard steel deck supported on timber structure. This helps to control storm water runoff and curb air pollution, and is held to assist in reducing the impacts of increased temperatures, intense rainfall, habitat loss and increased energy use in cities, turning suburbia into “scruburbia”.

Recycled materials, timber framing, “Weathertex” cladding, Magnesium Oxide cement board are all low embodied energy materials which assist in keeping the overall embodied energy of the structure low.

The house uses clear finished concrete floors for thermal mass, exposing areas to direct sunlight during winter to help heat the home, and shaded during summer heat to maintain cooler inside temperatures during summer. BioPCM is also used to mimic thermal mass in wall elements.

North facing windows heat the concrete slab during winter, eaves and verandahs shade these areas during summer. High level windows and large openings induce south west cooling breezes, and seals to all opening windows and doors exclude drafts when they are not needed.

The building incorporates high levels of insulation to walls, roof and ceiling, in addition to the the “living green roof” over living areas.

BioPCM™ absorbs and releases heat using bio-based phase change materials that melt and solidify at room temperature. When installed in ceiling and wall panels the product works day and night to stabilize indoor temperatures.

The amount of carbon released during the manufacturing process of this board type is substantially lower than traditional Portland cement based products. MGO cement is lightweight and is consistently more durable, and over 200% of the emitted carbon dioxide is sequestered during the curing phase, which takes only 12 months (unlike Portland cement).

This house has a 2kw PV array, grid connected, providing 100% of power (subject to occupant usage), roof mounted solar hot water, low energy lighting (LED and compact fluorescent), and occupant sensors in each area to control essential and non-essential power

A 9kL tank system, “cold water leg diverters” to the showers, and the green roof water run-off via a “rain garden” system all help to keep rainwater on site and productive.