Once upon a time………

There was a cold, dark, mud brick house Nth verandah too wide & blocked winter sun Mudbricks are a poor insulator

Then we started…with a slab! the slab is a great thermal mass

Then the framing started…… window spaces to allow more light and solar gain into living areas

And went up real fast! Skillion Roof Line was a part of the design brief...we like the look!

… taking shape!!

We tore down the front of the house…walls & windows & verandah let there be light All windows & mud brick walls removed

& removed walls of mud brick

East Elevation taking shape

Then the deck started……

… .and continued for a while Cyprus Pine decking (macrocarpa) milled from trees in Aireys Inlet

And then took shape!!

Meet our builder…..Gary Setchell

And his assistant…Michael Bradshaw

The cladding…..color-bond Color Bond steel - lightweight and the color is "Jasper"

& rough-sawn plywood Ply cladding is light & has low embodied energy

Then the window & door frames slotted into place Mouldright Joinery made our windows All new windows double glazed, argon filled with low e coating = comfortable living

Window timbers Mouldright Joinery made it easy All window/door frames made from Plantation Hoop Pine

And then we were at lock up! Mouldright re glazed and fitted new casements to some existing windows

Time to insulate the walls and roof space No insulation yet

Then we filled every gap we could find!! R3.5 Bulk insulation - roof

The walls need it too! R2.5 in the walls

Passive Solar Gain…..comfort ++ Sunlight entering from the north this heats up the room during the day Insulation in roof & walls slows the loss of heat at night Double Glazing also slows down heat loss in winter

Plastering sucks!!

The boys needed a break

Feature Posts existing cyprus pine post new cyprus pine post also milled from an Aireys tree!

Plastering and painting done!! sashless double-hung windows great for ventilation Upper casement windows for extra ventilation

The Pergola goes up! North Eave wide enough to keep mid summer sun out Deciduous vines will act as additional summer shading

The North orientation! Winter Sun gets in Summer sun blocked shade line at noon in late Sept shade line at noon in mid June shade line at noon in mid summer

Feature Timber Benches!! Cyprus Pine benches...sustainably minded! Re used timber from old verandah

And for the Floors!! Reclaimed Messmate flooring looks superb...milled from old structural beams

And for the Floors!! The Floor Polish product is called Bona Mega A water based product from Sweden Product Source = Ezi Floors in Melbourne * water based * no discoloring in sun * non toxic

Hot Water from a Heat Pump

Ecological Sustainable Design Principles Passive solar design Maximise insulation in roof, floor and walls Low embodied energy cladding No use of any “un-sustainably” harvested timbers…..compromised with arcs/skirts Re used as much of the old building as possible…timbers, windows, doors etc… Disposed of all chemicals and waste sustainably Use of water based-low toxic paints & wood seals throughout

Passive solar design

Maximise insulation in roof, floor and walls

Low embodied energy cladding

No use of any “un-sustainably” harvested timbers…..compromised with arcs/skirts

Re used as much of the old building as possible…timbers, windows, doors etc…

Disposed of all chemicals and waste sustainably

Use of water based-low toxic paints & wood seals throughout

Compromises along the way Used “Eco-select” hardwood for Arcs and Skirts… KD Hardwood used for the heavy double-glazed French-doors…. Paints were water-based but did not have natural pigments Opted for down lights in some areas instead of pendant fittings with compact fluros

Used “Eco-select” hardwood for Arcs and Skirts…

KD Hardwood used for the heavy double-glazed French-doors….

Paints were water-based but did not have natural pigments

Opted for down lights in some areas instead of pendant fittings with compact fluros

Things most proud of House started with a ZERO energy rating and has ended up better than 5 Locally source timbers for posts and deck….reclaimed messmate flooring The Floor Seal – Bona Mega from Ezi Floors The design and level of comfort – Third Ecology Quantum Heat Pump – Sun Works Eco Plumbing Managed to keep within budget $$ !! We made every attempt to source “greener” products where available

House started with a ZERO energy rating and has ended up better than 5

Locally source timbers for posts and deck….reclaimed messmate flooring

The Floor Seal – Bona Mega from Ezi Floors

The design and level of comfort – Third Ecology

Quantum Heat Pump – Sun Works Eco Plumbing

Managed to keep within budget $$ !!

We made every attempt to source “greener” products where available

People to thank the most Mark Sanders – Third Ecology Pty Ltd Gary Setchell – Carpenter from Aireys Inlet Joe Walkerdon – Sunworks Eco Plumbing Mouldright Joinery – for the windows and doors Ezi Floors – for the Bona Mega product for timber floors & benches Great Ocean Road Floor Sanding – thanks to Lyndon for giving a new water based product a chance

Mark Sanders – Third Ecology Pty Ltd

Gary Setchell – Carpenter from Aireys Inlet

Joe Walkerdon – Sunworks Eco Plumbing

Mouldright Joinery – for the windows and doors

Ezi Floors – for the Bona Mega product for timber floors & benches

Great Ocean Road Floor Sanding – thanks to Lyndon for giving a new water based product a chance