A new affordable housing project in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, has become the first of its kind to earn full EnviroDevelopment accreditation for environmentally sustainable design.
EKO:BODE on Monaco Street gained the accreditation on December 21, 2011.
Nationally, 17 have so far reached the standards required to receive full certification in all six EnviroDevelopment elements — Ecosystems, Waste, Energy, Materials, Water and Community. EKO:BODE is the first small scale affordable housing project in the country so far to achieve the honour.
Due for completion in June 2012, EKO:BODE will contain eight units on a site with a total area of 405m2 . The project will strictly be a residential complex with 3 — 6 month leases available to suit those moving to the Gold Coast to find work or current workers needing to reduce rent in the short to medium term.
EnviroDevelopment national manager Kirsty Chessher said: “The intent of the project is to demonstrate that sustainability initiatives can be delivered on a small scale with significant site constraints and in a cost effective way to deliver improved comfort and reduced operating costs for tenants,” she said.
“The project is targeting net-zero ongoing energy and water use, designed to provide financial benefit to tenants. All internal and gardening water for the development will be collected from the roof and stored via two large underground rainwater tanks, and a 6KW solar system will be installed to generate electricity equal to or greater than the amount used by residents."
“The design of this project makes the most of natural cross ventilation with louvre windows fitted to living areas. Sunhoods have been fitted to most north facing windows and insulation used throughout. No air conditioning will be fitted, with ceilings and cross ventilation designed to deliver comfort to habitable rooms.”
EKO:BODE will comprise a number of shared amenities, including kitchens, laundries and lounges, plus a communal vegetable garden and ample bicycle parking on site. The development is well collocated with high frequency public transport, with the new Gold Coast Rapid Transit line 100 metres from the project.
Chessher commended the developer, Horizon Housing, for its commitment challenging the notion that ‘green’ housing is a more expensive option.
“EKO:BODE has set a new benchmark for affordable development being delivered on this scale,” Chessher said.
“The project has been designed to not only deliver an innovative solution to housing sustainability but will also address a growing community need for short term affordable housing on the Gold Coast ,” she said.
