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The idea: build an environmentally friendly, passive solar house in the hills, with a small ecological footprint that will keep us warm in winter, cool in summer. The solution: Strawbale, mudbrick, stone house in the Adelaide hills The challenge: Keeping on budget, getting trades people to take us seriously, build it in less than 18 months. The outcome: Slightly over budget ;-) In Summer 24c inside when 40c outside. In Winter 18c inside when 4c outside. Halved our energy bills. |
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1. Passive solar with true north facing windows to bring in winter sun *
2. Eves that keep out summer sun
3. Solar Hot water on north facing roof
4. Solar electricity cells on north facing roof
5. 90000 litre water tank supplying year round water
6. Strawbale walls on exterior to provide high insulation (and low footprint)
7. Mudbrick walls inside for thermal mass
8. Stone wall in middle to absorb heat and keep temperature constant
9. Double glazing on windows for insulation
10. Clerestory windows to allow light into southern rooms and hot air out in summer
11. Marmoleum flooring - low allergy and natural material
12. Biolytix septic system that waters our orchard underground
*North facing because it is in southern hemisphere and true north not magnetic north
Our vision was to build an ecofriendly house within our budget and close enough to the CBD (Adelaide) to keep our jobs. Sound familiar? We took 5 years looking for a property only to find land prices sky rocketed while we did so. Eventually we landed a 10 acre block 20 minutes from the city and our dreams began to meet reality.