Building a sustainable home is a dream for those of us who care about the environment.

Cameron Rosen, the founder of Australia living, has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged 4 new home owners to build sustainably.

The homes are the first to use environmentally conscious building materials that had formally only been used commercially. Even though Australia is far behind Europe Cameron suggests that we can make the most of this by learning from their mistakes and using the information to our advantage.

Thermal comfort

How to use less energy to heat and cool the house is an essential question for building sustainable homes. The way Cameron managed internal climate control was by analysing the heating and cooling needs of each room not  just the whole house. “So that we can limit the (heating/cooling) needs.”

Cameron designed the insulation, shading, aspect maximisation, and double glazed the windows to maintain an internal temperature of 19-26 degrees all year round. As well as the traditional use of insulation in the roof the walls are fully insulated. Cameron uses the analogy of the human body- the layer of fat in the body is like insulation.

The Use  of Timber and Recycled Materials

The choice of materials is key. Concrete is an excellent material for thermal mass. Storing heat in the winter and keeping cool in the summer.

Timber is used for the window frames and external cladding. Aluminium is a temperature conductor so framing windows with aluminium is like having big gaps around your windows. If it is hot outside the aluminium becomes hot and transports the heat inside. Bricks have a similar effect conducting temperature.

The walls have phenolic resin insulation, concrete then the timber cladding externally.

The concrete is recycled industrial waste slurry and the timber cladding is recycled. The internal posts are recycled formally from a bridge.

Recycled Water

Water has become a huge issue for Australia. But think about how much water waste we generate in our homes through washing and gardening.

However in Cameron’s house things are different!

The grey water is recycled for use in the garden.

Water is defined as:-

White - fresh water.

Grey - is from the shower, sinks and laundry.

Black - is sewerage and not yet recyclable.

Permaculture Garden

The garden is a mixture of natives local to Rose Bay and edible trees and plants. The core philosophy of permaculture is that it should maximise effect and minimise work. If you plant natives that will thrive on the rainfall it shouldn't need watering. The design is in harmony with both nature and life and should be sustainable as in providing food for it's inhabitants. The permaculture garden was designed by Cameron Little from Sustainability Services.

Design

In the centre of the house there is a courtyard. The walls connecting to the home are glass. The external wall will be a green wall planted with natives. The roof is an interesting horizontal panelling that can be opened in the winter and closed in the summer.

The benefits are numerous:-

1. The exposure allows the sun to filter through to the southern part of the home (often an area that is too cold in winter). The sunlight hits the concrete floor (the thermal mass) and keeps the room warm all day and night.

2. The ability to close it off in summer adds to the cooling effect of the house. Again it is the thermal mass not being exposed that will keep the room cool.

3. It enables the family to step outside without having to be exposed to the elements, getting some much needed fresh oxygen provided by the green wall.

4. It adds an unusual aesthetic to the home- pleasing to the eye and the senses.

Ultimately Cameron suggests that the cost is comparable to that of a conventional home but the ongoing costs are minimal and the long term savings on water, energy and food are tremendous. Although the NSW energy regulations for a new home is at 3.5 these homes are rated at 8!

Why wouldn't you go for a sustainable home? The initial cost is comparable, the ongoing costs minimal, the aesthetics beautiful and at the end of the day you can feel like you have really accomplished something  when living in it! What more could you ask for in life?

By Molly Niumuqun.

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