Westbury Hemp House - an owner builder continuing journey

House Notes – Westbury Hemp House – an owner builder continuing journey

An owner built (still in progress) hempcrete house on a small (840m) block in the centre of the small village of Westbury, Tasmania. After sustainably renovating a previous property, which was open for SHD many times, the next step was to build a simple two bedroom, small footprint house from hempcrete. The brief was to create a house with as few layers of materials as possible. The mantra is natural, recycled, less waste. Also a house that stores more carbon than it releases was very attractive in the time of rampant climate change. Future proofing with the house all on one level, easy access, wider doors, low bills were also part of the thinking.

This house achieved a NatHERS rating of 6.8 stars using NatHERS accredited software.

Find out how the star ratings work on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) website.

Sustainability Features

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENT FEATURES

- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
  Efficient lighting
  Efficient appliances
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
  Passive solar designed home
  Thermal mass
- Water heating:
- Hot water heat pump
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Low flow shower heads
  Low flow taps
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
  Natural daylight
- Electric Vehicle Type
- hyundai ioniq 38kwh
- Window Protection:
- Eaves

SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED MATERIALS

- Sustainable materials:
- double glazing, solar, battery, insulated slab, wide eaves, clay paint, lime render, recycled materials
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Basins/sinks
  Benchtops
  Bottles
  Light fixtures / fittings
  Paving
  Rocks/stone
  Timber

INSULATION SPECIFICATIONS

- Insulation Type:
- Ceiling
  Internal walls
  External walls
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- Ceiling Rating:
- R7.0
- Internal Walls Insulation Type:
- earthwool (some). Hempcrete
- Internal Walls Insulation Rating:
- R2.7
- External Walls Rating:
- R5.0
- External Walls Type:
- Hempcrete

RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIFICATIONS

- All-Electric Home?
- Yes
- Renewable energy used:
- Energy storage/battery
  Solar PV grid connect
- Size of PV system:
- 9.99kW

COSTS AND COST SAVINGS

- Total cost of home when constructed:
- $390,000 in 2020
- Cost estimate of sustainable home/features:
- $75,000

HOUSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

- House Size
- 110m2
- BAL Rating
- BAL – 12.5: Ember attack with heat up to 12.5kW/m2
- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- Hempcrete
  Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- cement sheet
- Window and Door Types
- Double glazing
  Tilt and turn
- Universal design accessability
- Adaptive design
  Universal access
- Universal Design Features
- 80cm minimum door opening width
  Hobless showers
  Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
  No stairs/steps
  Semi recessed basins
  Shower head on rail for various heights
  Tapware to be easily accessed from outside the shower
- Number of bedrooms
- 2
- Number of bathrooms
- 1

GARDEN AND WASTE REDUCTION

- Garden / Outdoors
- Composting
  Edible garden
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
  Make jams/conserves
  Pickle and preserve food
  Recycle
  Repair
  Swap with friends and neighbours
  Waste free/reduced construction site

HEALTHY HOME FEATURES

- Healthy home features
- Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
  Chemical free cleaning products used
  Cross flow ventilation
  Lime render/wash
  Natural oil sealer/finishes
  VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
  Wax based sealer/finish
- Healthy Home
- clay paint

Westbury Hemp House – an owner builder continuing journey 2020

This house is not opening in person, but you can explore the profile and ask the homeowner a question below.

House Notes – Westbury Hemp House – an owner builder continuing journey

Sustainability Features

View the house tour

Ask questions about this house