Winter sunshine benefits
A few cold, but sunny, days allowed our home to show off what it can do with sunlight. Light streaming through the large north facing windows quickly warmed the house in daytime. Solar panels produced more than enough electricity to supply our all-electric home's needs.
ARENA video showcases our home
Hey, our development features in a video made by ARENA! They're using it to promote the environmental and financial benefits of including sustainability principles in the design and construction new houses.
Winter solar and battery experience
After the first winter in our all-electric home, it’s time to look back over the numbers and tease out useful lessons. What worked well and contributed to our objective of ...
Offgrid power system is back
During Unit 1 construction, the team showed that an offgrid power system could meet the electrical requirements for all but the most demanding users. Based on that experience, the system was reassembled to power Unit 2 and 3 construction.
Gentle art of natural air circulation
Imagine it’s the end of a baking hot summer’s day, perhaps one of those 45 degree plus crackers. The home’s insulation, thermal mass and shade did a fantastic job keeping ...
Insulating concrete slab edge
Insulating the concrete slab edge reduces the heat lost from the thermal mass during winter. There are a variety of ways to install the insulation along with the termite barrier. After considering the likely cost/benefit, our design uses a garden bed to cover exposed concrete edges.
Heat pump in service
Using heat pump technology for both the reverse cycle air conditioner and the hot water system is an efficient way to meet those needs. Despite the warm weather, the air conditioner is yet to be fully tested as the passive cooling features in the house have kept this heat pump on standby duty.
Glasswool insulation installed
Once the house was weatherproof, the focus shifted to interior work. Thoroughly insulating the walls and ceilings is a critical component of passive heating and cooling design. Putting plasterboard on the walls has clearly defined the rooms.
Double glazed windows ordered
Double glazed windows were a non-negotiable item right from the start. Expert advice from organisations such as the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) clearly spelled out the insulation advantages. From a ...
New sustainable home rating method
Not everyone interested in sustainable home design has the opportunity to start from scratch with a blank sheet of paper like we did. I’m sure many people steadily upgrade their ...- 1
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