Geelong West residence

Providing a simple yet striking example of how to create a sustainable renovation project, the Geelong West Residence successfully links 'old and new' to provide a generous, comfortable setting for modern lifestyles whilst also respecting the heritage values of the existing house and streetscape.

From a passive solar perspective, the home incorporates a new northerly orientataed living/dining/kitchen space with high thermal mass, cross ventilation, shading and insulation - including high performance double glazing and double insulation to walls and ceilings. The existing areas of the project were also afforded the same treatment, with walls being cost effectively insulated with a foil faced insulation board. Well placed and energy efficient lighting complete the transformation to create a home which reduces electricity and gas consumption by over 50% compared to the average household. The grid connected solar power system further reduces electricity reliance - with no electricity required to be imported during the summer months.

The home also features numerous water conserving appliances and fittings - from 3A and 4A tapware and appliances (now star rated under the WELS labelling scheme), to 'Smartflush' toilet suites, to featuring a waterless urinal. Further, the whole home is supplied with UV sterilised and filtered rainwater from a 9,000 litre underground tank system. A simple yet sophisticated grey water diversion and irrigation system provides for all garden needs - including small lawn areas, fruit trees and a more traditional front garden featuring roses, cameilias, daphne and bulbs. In overall terms, the home currently uses less than a third of the water compared to the average Victorian home, and would be 100% self sufficient if rainfall was around 50mm per month.The use of sustainable materials also features prominently. Low 'VOC' joinery and floor finishes, a polished concrete slab floor, zero 'VOC' paints, recycled timber benchtops, plantation timber windows and doors and plantation/wind break timber used for structural needs and extensive decking, complete the picture.

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