This document summarizes the sustainable design features and renovations of a homeowner's property in Australia. They moved to a house with better solar orientation, adding an extension with north-facing windows. Renovations included improved insulation, energy efficient appliances and lighting, solar panels, rainwater tanks, and native plantings. Ongoing efforts focus on reducing energy and water usage, producing electricity, composting organic waste, and establishing vegetable gardens to live more sustainably.

1. OUR HOME

2. Before we movedOur previous home had lots of west facing windows (6 out of 13), heated up terribly in summer and then couldn’t be easily cooled when the easterly or southerly cool breezes arrived in the evening.It was also a very cold house in winter, with only one small room (a bedroom) having a north facing window for good access to sun.There had to be a better way of designing a home.So we moved!

3. The house as it was in 2000 Originally built in the 50s.North As it was when we bought it in 2005The site plan as at 2005. The north facing boundary was a major reason for buying this property

4. Plans with new extensionThe aim was to have a north facing living area with shaded glass and good cross ventilation. North

5. The building commences

6. The original back of the house had west facing windows that we wanted to eliminate as much as possible

7. Old sheds at the rear of the block were demolished by hand to salvage as much hardwood timber as possible.Some of this timber was used to build the table on the deck, which also included left over timber from the building of the pergola.

8. At times it was hard to keep the final vision in focus

9. A relocatable home (for Graeme’s parents) being placed in the back yard

11. The door in the centre of the old house became a small bathroom window - the only west facing window in the house

12. The door unit arriving. Looking at various options for higher performance glass, we settled on 4mm thick (standard glass is 3mm) tinted glass in a stackable sliding unit that allows a 4 metre opening.

13. High louvre windows vent hot summer air. Solar panels located on the old section of the house4500L Bladder tank under old section of the house

14. Bamboo floorboards were placed over particle board. Left over floorboards were used as the kitchen splashback.

15. Keeping cool in summerKeeping warm in winter

16. Grapevines planted in 2006 at northern side of deck now create dense shade over the deck during summer, while allowing sun in through winter.

17. All insulation materials are rated for their performance in restricting heat transfer. The R value is a guide to its performance as an insulator—the higher the R value, the greater the insulating effect.E.g., Recommended R values in Newcastle for bulk ceiling insulation are R3 to R3.5 and for wall insulation, R1.5 to R2.

18. 60mm Greenboard (polystyrene with R value of 1.9) was fixed directly to the timber frame

19. On the old section of the house, vinyl cladding was removed and 40 mm Greenboard (R value 1.4) was attached directly to the weatherboards

20. Our house became an esky! Mesh was applied over the Greenboard which was then cement rendered.

21. In 2010 we installed underfloor polystyrene batts, R 1.4 in the old sectionWe also have bulk insulation (combination of fibreglassbatts and loose fill) of R 3.5 in the roof of the old section

22. Draft proofing is critical to reducing heat loss

23. The curtain has helped a great deal in retaining the heat downstairs when we have the heater on.

24. Electricity Production

25. Our photovoltaic system was first installed in June 2008

26. .Expanded in March 2010, it is now a 16 panel, 2.8 kW system, and produces just over 11 kWh per dayIt generates an income of around $2500 per year

27. A 1 kW system was also installed on the unit

28. Energy consumption

29. We consume around 7.5 kWh of electricity per day. (The NSW average is 19-20 per household)Some of the reasons we have lower than average electricity consumption include: Energy efficient appliances – fridge, washing machine, dishwasherOnly 1 fridgeNo air conditionerWe wear warm clothes in winterHeatpump hot water systemEnergy efficient lighting

30. Only 1 TV (and a daggy old CRT at that!)No Playstation, Wii, Xbox etcVery little on standbyLaptop computers rather than desktopsDon’t use a clothes dryerVery conscious of turning off lights and equipment when not being usedWe insulated our hot water pipes (but we haven’t really noticed any difference)

31. We have no air conditioner (though one would be nice for the 40°+ days. Lucky we’re so close to the pool!)There are 6 ceiling fans throughout the house. The timber ones were originally in the living area and weren’t strong enough, but work well in the bedrooms.More effective fans:1. Are metal2. Have longer blades3. Are set as low as is safe4. Have more powerful motors

32. We have a 310 litreHeatpump hot water system that uses about 30-40% of the electricity of an electric storage system.In hindsight we would install a solar hot water system instead

33. Compact Fluros (CFLs) are installed throughout the house, including downlights and bathroom Tastic lights. These typically use about 25% of the power of incandescents.The heatlamps remain in the tastics but we don’t use themThe new downlights use 60 watts per set of 4 instead of 240An 11 watt ceiling light replaces a 60 watt downlight

34. The correct way to use 12 volt halogen downlight fittingsRecycled Robot at Lambton Public School

35. Water management* We have a single water meter for both households so our water usage is for two households ( 6 people)

36. A 4500 litre bladder tank under the old section of the house is plumbed to the back toilet, washing machine and front garden tap.

37. A 3000 litre tank at the rear of the unit is also plumbed to 2 toilets and washing machine

38. ShowersWe use water efficient shower heads (even the big one)And don’t tell anyone – we don’t always shower every day!

39. Other water saving strategiesWe have a frontload washing machine and only use it when fullWe capture water in 3 litre plastic bottles while we wait for hot water to warm up at the kitchen sink which we use to water pot plantsWe use a dishwasher – we aren’t convinced it saves water (nor electricity) but we do love it!

40. Vegetable gardens

41. Established in Spring 2009We aren’t great gardeners but are slowly learning. It was very exciting when we had a meal with 16 different things from the garden!

42. Waste management

43. We have 3 waste systems for organic wasteOur worm farm provides fertilizer for the garden as well as a method of disposing of suitable kitchen waste

44. The Bokashi compost is an anaerobic fermentation system that can compost all organic kitchen waste except bones(We are beginning to question the environmental impact of this system)

45. A conventional compost bin for some garden waste is at the back of the unit, but is not actively composted, just left to its own devices.

46. We share a general rubbish bin, recycling bin and green waste bin with the rear unit

47. Future Plans(Unfortunately very similar to last year)Paint roof of new section with reflective paintInstall external blinds on top louvre windowsInstall underfloor insulation under new sectionChange all blinds in old section to more thermally efficient onesInstall new roof on old section with solar powered ventilationContinue to explore ways of reducing our energy and resource use

48. Cubby house is yet to be retro fitted with sustainable features!