25 Lanark Street
East Brunswick
Victoria 3057
tel: 03 9386 3700
reception@sunpowerdesign.com.au

Solar efficient home at Hawthorn

This exciting renovation to a humble 1960’s brick veneer home has transformed both the visual amenity of the site and our client’s lifestyle. Situated next to a public open space in Mary Street Hawthorn the home has incorporated as many sustainable features as possible, at the same time providing a dynamic spacious 2 bedroom family home with two home offices and two generous living spaces. The garden has been sensitively landscaped in harmony with the large Sydney Blue gums on the adjacent
public open space. The home incorporates a 12 panel photovoltaic power system, solar hot water, greywater recycling, energy efficient lighting and a Greenheat heating system. All the timbers are either recycled or from plantation sources.

Sustainable House features:

Energy Efficiency
House is North facing to maximize solar efficiency
Concrete slab to create thermal mass
Double glazed windows and doors
Effective seals on all windows and doors.
High quality aircell insulation supported by standard batts in walls.
Adjustable external shade blinds for all glass surfaces facing west and north.
Effective cross flow ventilation supported by ceiling fans in summer.

Heating
Slow combustion wood heater
Greenheat hydronic heating

Solar grid interactive power system
12 x 165 watt BP solar panels (1.98 kilowatts) mounted on a roof structure integrated into the house design.
Sunnyboy grid interactive inverter provides capacity to feed excess power into the main grid, at a feed-in tariff of .60 cents per kilowatt hour (set by the Victorian Government).
Estimated to provide 70% of our annual electricity demand (assuming full time occupancy).

Hot water system
Evacuated twin glass tube technology and ready hot recirculation system to minimize water usage.
The Apricus Evacuated Tube Solar Collector works in all seasons and is much more efficient than solar panels. They aren't dependent on direct sunlight, which means they work in cloudy conditions. As the tubes are round, they passively track the sun, providing stable heat output.

Light fittings and appliances
All lighting and appliances are energy and water efficient with at least AAA or 4.5 star ratings.
Clothes drying rack that can be elevated to take advantage of warm air near the ceiling of the laundry is a great alternative to a conventional clothes dryer.

Water supply and waste management/grey water system
Water tanks on the property provide 13,500 litres capacity
Mains supply connection to provide back-up during dry spells.
A Wattworks SmartPit grey water system redistributes grey water from showers and washing machine to the garden.

Sanctuary Issue 10, 2010