Queensland housing developer Ausbuild has utilised a number of innovative Australian building products and bets practice design principles to deliver a new 8-star energy efficient home.
Located in Rochedale, in Brisbane’s South, the display home was created to demonstrate to new homeowners and builders how they can achieve superior energy efficiency, affordability.
The home is designed to take advantage of natural heating, airflow and lighting, in order to achieve comfortable and energy efficient living year round.
It is also designed to take advantage of the orientation of the allotment and minimise the sun from the east and west, with carefully placed windows and correctly orientated rooms.
The 8-star house is constructed with two internal brick thermal walls to offer temperature stabilisation in summer and winter, and incorporates cross flow ventilation and energy efficient lighting to achieve further energy efficiency.
Environmentally friendly fixtures and fittings have been incorporated in the bathrooms and kitchens including 3-star WELS rated tapware and showers, and 4-star toilet suites, in addition to a gas cook-top and a gas hot water system.
Ceiling insulation has been boosted from the minimum requirement of R2.5 to R3.5 and wall insulation has been increased from zero to R1.5.
It also uses the latest roofing materials from Bristile Roofing, the Australian manufacturer teaming up with Ausbuild to help deliver the project.
Bristile Roofing says its Prestige range of flat concrete roof tiles are used on the project both for sustainability credentials and aesthetics.
The company says the tiles are an affordable, low embodied energy, high thermal mass product which have demonstrated excellent thermal properties in recent testing from the University of Newcastle.
According to Michael Monro, sales and marketing coordinator at Bristile Roofing: “Controlling a home’s temperature is key to saving money on your energy bills. Roofing materials play a significant role in managing a home’s core temperature and by choosing appropriate roof tiles, homeowners can reduce the amount of heat absorbed into the building, thereby reducing the need to rely on appliances such as fans and air-conditioners and reducing the household electricity bill.”
