North Facing Deck

• Decking – recycled Jarrah from original home 
• North facing windows.Deciduous trees for winter.
• Windows are shaded by shade sail over summer.  

Landscaping

• Native and waterwise plants used throughout garden plus mulching.
• Sir Walter Buffalo lawn. 
• After landscaping and reticulation was installed, watering twice per week with reticulation used 10kL per week.  To reduce consumption we:
  1. Removed some sprinklers and replaced full heads with half heads to avoid excess watering (saving 2kL per week)
  2. Garden beds watered once per week on reticulation instead of twice (saving 2kL per week) and
  3. Water garden beds by hand instead of by reticulation (saving 1.5kL per week).
   
  • Total watering has been reduced by over 50% by implementing these measures.
  • We have chosen not to install a rainwater tank or greywater treatment as we believe it is not cost effective and our builders had difficulty installing non-standard items. 

Paving

PV System

• 5 panels located on rear roof with remaining panels above living and garage.
• System is 2.0kW and generates approximately 3,200 kWh per annum.
• Current consumption is around 2,500 kWh per annum, with excess being fed into the grid. 

• With the $8,000 Federal rebate the 2kW system has a payback of around 27 years.A 1kW system has a payback of around 10 years. 
• The payback is based on the current feed in tariff of 12-13 cents per kWh.  Other states have introduced higher feed in tariffs – up to 60 cents per kWh in Vic. 
• The 2kW system cost around $13,000 after including the $8,000 rebate and selling the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) for $2,000. 

Solar Hot Water

• 300 litre tank designed for a family.
• Only turn on booster in the evening after an overcast day and turn off overnight to save power as it is electric boosted.

Roofing

• Chose Colorbond as it does not retain heat as much as tiles.
• Includes a layer of 50mm anticon insulation under roof sheeting to reflect heat.
• Roof includes MBR eco-vents that open automatically in warmer weather and close in cold weather.
• Rear (east) and front (west) ground floor roofing extends to upper floor to shade brickwork from morning and afternoon sun.

Glazing

• Highlight windows used on east and west facing walls to reduce heat gain.

Shade Sail

• Sail over rear garden blocks sun from north facing windows.

Master Bedroom

•  Louvre over North East window shades window from morning sun – angled louvres allow sun in during winter. 
• Location of windows on North and South side of all rooms to allow for cross-ventilation – Note it is very important to have windows on both sides of a room for cross breezes, simply opening a SW facing window does not adequately allow hot air to escape. 
• Carpets are sisal – low allergy and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 
• Paints are Bauwerk - low allergy and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  
• Heavy curtains and pelmets used in bedrooms to regulate temperature – pelmets important in reducing convection around the window.

Living Room

•  Location of windows on North and South side, with additional ventilation provided through entry. 
• Door to living room / entry is designed to be kept closed in colder weather to hold heat in the living room to maximise the heat absorption into the floor and walls. 
• Glazing – Pilkington ComfortPlus laminated glass is a 6.38mm laminated glass with a low ‘e’ coating on inside to act as insulation. 
• Blinds – Verosol blinds over North windows to improve thermal efficiency. 
• Tiling – coarse textured tiles with matt finish chosen to increase heat absorption over winter. Compare temperature difference of brown & white tiles on floor. 

Study / Entry

•  Timber floors have a water based finish to reduce VOC’s. 
• All lighting provided by compact fluorescents (CFL). 
• Example of Draft-stoppa vent cover, which is used on exhaust vents (and located in roof). 
• Switch for HWS booster located in laundry – easy to access & turn off at night.