Valentine: Funky & Beyond 2025

Valentine: Funky & Beyond

I was listed for SHD last year and I’ve made more improvements since then. With my old 1950s house I installed awnings over my two North-facing windows and I also had insulation blown into the external walls of the older part of my house (front and sides). My old house has been assessed and it got a really high rating.

Over this last year I undertook the huge job of getting a 1 bedroom granny flat built in my backyard – a long process. Backyard Grannys – who are doing the build – have given me a hand-over date of Monday 28th April, just before Sustainable House Day. The sustainable features I worked on with my Granny Flat include:
* Good orientation for living area,
* Upgraded ceiling insulation to R4 and walls are insulated as is the underside of the slab,
* Low E glass for all windows and door
* Enlarged the window on the NNW face to enable good solar gain in Winter and called for double hung (sash) windows for the living area and the bedroom to enable good cross-through ventilation. Double hung far surpass sliding or hopper windows in this regard,
* Wider eaves – 450mm, rather than the standard 300mm – and then the gutter takes it to around 600mm width,
* I increased my solar battery capacity to 15kWh to incorporate the Granny Flat into services my house supplies.

My Funky Old House – built in the 1950s – has all the features as follows: Good insulation, PV solar panels, battery, heat pump, shade sails, awnings/ canopies, heat extractor for roof that is amazing, solar lighting instead of skylights – no holes in the roof, lots or planting and other environmentally friendly features.
I have a back-up system for power if the grid goes down – which is very reassuring that my solar and battery system will all automatically work at that time. I also charge my MG EV car from home – mostly trickle charging. How good is that.

On my property I will now have a repaired and retrofitted old 1950s house and a brand new small dwelling – a bit of both worlds. It has been very interesting to see sustainability in practice.