Tarlo River Passive House 2024

House Notes – Tarlo River Passive House

Tarlo River Passive House is a certified, pavilion-style Passive House located in the Southern Tablelands of NSW.

The house is largely off-grid and built to withstand the extreme weather experienced at its bushfire-prone site, including temperatures ranging from -10 °C to 46 °C.

The house was designed by GAEA Architects, with architect Sue Connor creating a floorplan that maximises the site’s views from every room.

It was constructed by Eclipse Passive House, using their prefabricated system tailored to Australian environments to build high-performance houses efficiently.

Other features of interest include the house’s KNX-based home automation, rainwater collection and distribution system and bushfire-resistant decking and landscaping.

Tarlo River Passive House was also constructed using sustainable materials wherever possible.

The house – completed in early 2022 – meets and exceeds the site’s BAL29 requirements while delivering a visual style that works well with the landscape.

Photo credits: Evan Maclean Photography

Sustainability Features

Years Open
2024
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES
    • Energy efficiency:
    • Draught proofing
      Efficient lighting
      Efficient appliances
      Energy monitoring
      Smart home features
    • Passive heating cooling:
    • Cross ventilation
      Heat recovery ventilation system
      Passive solar designed home
      Shading
    • Active heating cooling:
    • Ceiling fans
      Heat exchange ventilation system
      Split system airconditioner
    • Water heating:
    • Hot water heat pump
    • Water harvesting and saving features:
    • Rainwater storage - Above ground
      Blackwater system
      Grey water system
      Stormwater management
      Hot water recirculation
      Drip irrigation
    • Above ground rainwater storage Type:
    • 25,000 l water tanks (x 4)
    • Above ground rainwater storage Size
    • 100,000 L
    • Energy Efficient Lighting
    • LED lights throughout
      Natural daylight
    • Electric Vehicle Type
    • Nissan Fuga (Hybrid)
    • Window Protection:
    • Honeycomb blinds
SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS
    • Sustainable materials:
    • Pre-fab offsite construction
    • Recycled and reused materials:
    • Aggregate
      Benchtops
      Decking
      Rocks/stone
INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS
    • Insulation Type:
    • Ceiling
      Internal walls
      External walls
      Floor
    • Ceiling Type:
    • Bulk – cellulose fibre
    • Ceiling Rating:
    • R 7.0
    • Floor Type:
    • Bulk - cellulose fibre
    • Floor Rating:
    • R 7.0
    • Internal Walls Insulation Type:
    • Bulk – cellulose fibre
    • Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
    • R1.7
    • External Walls Rating:
    • R 5.5
    • External Walls Type:
    • Bulk – cellulose fibre
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS
    • All-Electric Home?
    • Yes
    • Renewable energy used:
    • Energy storage/battery
      Solar PV grid connect
    • Size of PV system:
    • 10kwh
    • Average Daily Energy Consumption:
    • 10 kWh
COSTS AND COST SAVINGS
    • Estimate of annual savings:
    • $3000
HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
    • House Size
    • 180M2
    • BAL Rating
    • BAL – 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and ignition of debris with a heat flux of up to 29kW/m2
    • Roof
    • Insulated panel (sandwich panels)
      Metal (Colorbond)
    • Wall Materials
    • Insulated panels or blocks
      Lightweight construction (timber frame)
      Metal (Colorbond)
      Timber
    • Window and Door Types
    • Pocket doors
      Tilt and turn
      Triple glazing
    • Universal Design Features
    • 80cm minimum door opening width
      Hobless showers
      Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
      Minimum 110cm wide hallways
      No Corner cupboards
      Pocket doors so that cabinet doors are out of the way
      Slip resistant flooring
      Washing machine/dryer on plynth for easy access
      Window openings easily accessible

    • Universal Design Features
    • KNX allows control of lights and HVAC systems via phone app in addition to physical switches
    • Number of bedrooms
    • 3
    • Number of bathrooms
    • 2
GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION
    • Garden / Outdoors
    • Drip irrigation
      Edible garden
      Frog friendly
      Local indigenous plants
      Orchard
      Organic
      Native plants
      Swales
      Water wise plants
    • Waste Reduction Practices:
    • Book exchange/library
      Recycle
      Repair
      Swap with friends and neighbours
      Waste free/reduced construction site
HEALTHY HOME FEATURES
    • Healthy home features
    • Airtight house design
      Automated ventilation system
      Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
      Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
      Chemical free cleaning products used
      Cross flow ventilation
      Formaldehyde free cabinets
      Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
      Indoor plants for air filtration
      Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
      Natural fibre furnishings
      Natural light and ventilation
      Natural oil sealer/finishes
      VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
      Wax based sealer/finish

    • Healthy Home
    • AWTS treats waste water to irrigation standard
Location
Greenwich Park NSW 2580
    • Housing Type:
    • Standalone House
    • Project Type:
    • New Build
    • Builder
    • Darryn Parkinson, Eclipse Passive House
    • Designer
    • Sue Connor, GAEA Architects

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