Horizon Housing are working with Koho Architects and a number of sponsors to deliver affordable accommodation which is intended to be one of the first city-based developments to be effectively ‘off-grid’ for both water and electricity.
The new project in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, has become the first of its kind to earn full EnviroDevelopment accreditation for environmentally sustainable design.
While town planning regulations require connection to the water and electrical grid, the property will target net-zero ongoing energy and water use.
EKO:BODE on Monaco Street gained the accreditation on December 21, 2011.
Nationally, 17 projects 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.
EKO:BODE is being developed by HHC in partnership with the Gold Coast City Council, Westpac Bank and a number of private local sponsors, including James Hardie, Aqua Clarus, A&L Windows, ecolour and Laminex.
