Sustainable home Mackay

Location

23b Charles Hodge Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Mackay.

Display period

Now closed.

Project summary

Sustainable Home Mackay is a unique duplex design, which is the first of its kind in the Sustainable Home program in Queensland. The form of the building has been inspired by the region's tropical and coastal aspects of North Queensland. Only one of the units is open for public inspection as part of the Program.

Key facts

Bedrooms
Three bedrooms plus flexible use room at ground level that can easily be converted into a fourth bedroom

Bathrooms
Two way accessible bathroom /en-suite upstairs and an accessible bathroom downstairs

Local council
Mackay City Council

Climate zone
Sub-tropical – Climate Zone 2

Architect/Designer
Mark Nicholls Architect

Builder
Peter Town Homes

Project Manager
Peter Town

Major Sponsors

Boral
James Hardie
Hyne
Turfgrass Mackay
EcoSmart Mackay
A1 Batterypro
City Gate Fencing
Ideal Electrical Suppliers
Lifestyle Granite
Porters
Mackay Natural Light & Ventilation
Laminex Industries
Aerobin
Rod Jorgensen Plumbing
Hanson Building Products Pty
Carpet One
Just Joinery
Mackay & Whitsunday Locksmiths Pty Ltd
John Donnelly- The Good Guys
Floorsafe Mackay
Carpet Choice
Beaumont Tiles
McGuire Air

Construction
Commenced: December 2006
Completed: Late January 2008

Lot Size
Land: 350m²

House Size
Living Space: 200m²
Garage: 42m²
Total Floor Area (GFA):267m²
Covered Outdoor Area: 25m²

Land Cost
Approximately $295,000

Sustainable design features

Social features

Patio space designed to allow a section to be easily converted into an extension of indoor living space
An extra fully accessible bedroom can be inserted in the ground level Living Area if required.
Floors run under cabinet work and bracing will be designed in walls to allow for future accessibility aids to be installed with minimal effort.
External sunshade pergolas to outdoor living areas and roof-deck.
High level of natural daylighting
Existing tree in the north east corner has been kept to provide shade over the children's play areas.
A choice of outdoor spaces has been provided for different climatic conditions.

Energy efficiency features

Slab on ground construction minimises building volume resulting in reduced amounts of materials required for construction.
Outdoor covered living spaces to create a sense of a larger space with minimal additional materials.
Sustainable harvested lightweight timber construction with very low embodied energy is used.
Structural system uses laminated veneer lumber (LVL) which uses smaller sections of timber reducing the impacts of timber harvesting.
Insulated light weight building envelope construction
Building orientated along central east-west axis of site to maximise northern / southern exposure with minimal glazing to the eastern & western walls.
High performance glazing proposed to increase thermal comfort and reduce energy costs
Mixes of deciduous and evergreen planting will be designed to allow winter sun penetration while blocking summer sun and cold winter winds.
Vegetation is provided outside windows on the northern / southern side of the building to cool air passing into the house and on the southern side to provide sun shading in late afternoon.
Timber sunshade pergolas to all outdoor living areas with shading to all external openings
Floors walls and roofs are insulated with thermal foil insulation.
Solar hot water system and electric Induction stove to be installed providing energy savings.
Energy efficient appliances will be installed (min. 5 star)
Energy monitoring system providing feedback on energy consumption to be installed.
Photovoltaic ( solar BP ) electricity generation proposed. It is intended that the house will use 100% greenpower in association with Ergon Energy.
Large, high, open able and adjustable window openings and doors to the north, south and east to catch prevailing breezes and promote cross ventilation.
Ceiling fans throughout to facilitate air flow when breeze is inadequate.
Ventilated roof skylights and internal void space to encourage air flow and convectional cooling
Vented openings above doors to encourage internal cross ventilation with minimum 2700 high.
Rangehood flued to outside & bathrooms have access to fresh air and light to prevent mould build-up.

Water efficiency features

Instantaneous solar water systems to reduce the amount of water.
Water efficient taps, showerheads and toilets will be used for greater cost-efficiency as well as front loading washing machine. (minimum AAA for fixtures and AAAA for toilets)
Wet areas grouped to minimise pipe runs & resultant water wastage.
Water efficient species are used in the garden.
Roof water is collected in two rainwater tanks and piped throughout the house to toilets and washing machine
A small front rain water tank is supplied to hand water plants in the front private pergola area
The compact form maintains permeable surfaces over the site to reduce runoff from the site.

Waste efficiency features

House designed to standard sizes of materials to prevent off cut waste.
Pre fabricated cabinetwork used to control waste in factory setting.
Building detailed for disassembly; permanent fixing and composite materials will be avoided to allow for disassembly & recycling.
Suppliers are assessed on their packaging strategies to ensure that waste is minimised. Cut and fill has been minimised through the siting and form of the house. A construction waste management plan will be implemented as part of the construction process.
Kitchen contains facilities for recycling.
A Green no tilt no odour compost bin is supplied to the back yard area.

Materials

Durable, pre-finished materials are to be implemented externally in exposed or difficult to reach locations to minimise the maintenance inputs required.
Sustainable harvested timber framed walls FSC. Certified Australian grown timber proposed.
Mixed palette of cladding systems including Hardies Axon ,Linea, Hardiflex cladding & insulated concrete block-work.
Internal linings which provide acoustic and thermal benefits.
Reconstituted stone bench tops are to be used.
Joinery carcasses and window and doorframes are from plantation hoop pine plywood.
Use of PVC minimised by substituting HDPE pipes for plumbing applications.
All materials will be light coloured including paints to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Non-toxic or Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints & joinery used internally to minimise off gassing.
A physical Stainless steel termite barrier will be used in preference to chemical treatment.

Rainwater Tank(s)

Size: 2 X 4000 litre tanks
Rainwater Application: Water from the rainwater tanks is fed to the upstairs toilet and washing machine

Hot Water System

EcoSmart solar hot water is used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
EcoSmart Water Guardian water recirculation system reduces household water consumption by recirculating cooled water sitting in pipes
Heat tempering valves regulate the water temperature to prevent scalding injuries

Related Links
Mackay City Council

Last updated October 2008