The Wombat III
Healesville VIC 3777 • This is a 2024 featured home. Bookings have now closed but you can ask questions about this home below.
House Notes – The Wombat III
The Wombat III is our retirement home we built after returning from sailing Wombat I in Europe, and our Motorhome Wombat II in the USA. After learning to live off grid on the boat and motorhome, we decided to build our house off-grid.
Living on our boat, Heidi and I decided that we could live without bills and help the environment at the same time! In our off grid home, we have a 100,000L water tank, septic treatment plant, 9kW solar, 15kW batteries, heat pump hot water, thermally separated double-glazed windows and insulation to the highest ratings.
Wombat III is our answer to comfortably living off grid. We are not zealots about sustainability, just sensible. Anyone with the desire can live a normal life in an off grid house, with little or no concessions. Power, water, sewage prices won’t go down! We all need to consider our impact upon the environment. We will be happy to talk to you about our journey.
This house achieved a NatHERS rating of 7.4 stars using NatHERS accredited software. Find out how the star ratings work on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) website.
Sustainability Features
- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
Efficient lighting
Efficient appliances
Energy monitoring
Smart home features
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
- Active heating cooling:
- Ceiling fans
Heat pump
Split system airconditioner
- Water heating:
- Hot water heat pump
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Rainwater storage - Above ground
Blackwater system
Stormwater management
Low flow shower heads
- Average water consumption per day:
- 100Lt.
- Above ground rainwater storage Type:
- Steel
- Above ground rainwater storage Size
- 100,000 Lt.
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
Natural daylight
- Window Protection:
- Awnings (external)
Drapes/curtains
Eaves
- Insulation Type:
- Under-roof
Ceiling
Internal walls
External walls
Floor
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Ceiling Rating:
- R6.0
- Floor Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Floor Rating:
- R2.0
- Under Roof Insulation Type:
- Reflective foil
- Under Roof Insulation Rating:
- R6.0
- Internal Walls Insulation Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
- R2.5
- External Walls Rating:
- R2.5
- External Walls Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- All-Electric Home?
- No
- Energy star rating:
- 7.4
- Renewable energy used:
- Energy storage/battery
Solar PV off-grid
- Size of PV system:
- 9kW Solar 15kW Batteries
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- 11kWh
- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $350,000
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- $30,000
- Estimate of annual savings:
- $3000
- House Size
- 150m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and ignition of debris with a heat flux of up to 29kW/m2
- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- Metal (Colorbond)
Stone
- Wall Materials
- BAL 29 Render
- Window and Door Types
- Awning
Double glazing
Sliding windows/doors
- Universal Design Features
- 80cm minimum door opening width
100cm minimum door opening width
Flush thresholds (no lip) to all external doors
Hobless showers
No Corner cupboards
Pocket doors so that cabinet doors are out of the way
Shower head on rail for various heights
- Number of bedrooms
- 3
- Number of bathrooms
- 2
- Healthy home features
- Airtight house design
Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
Chemical free cleaning products used
Cross flow ventilation
Indoor plants for air filtration
Natural light and ventilation
- Housing Type:
- Standalone House
- Project Type:
- New Build
- Open with support of
- Healesville CORE
- Builder
- Owner
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