Whether you’re considering building a new ecologically sustainable home, renovating an existing one, or simply interested in sustainable building methods, there are many different points of entry to ecohomes – depending on your budget and level of commitment.
In terms of new builds, there’s a massive difference between building a new ecohome from scratch to constructing simple earthen structures in your back yard – and the choices you make will result in massive variations of living standards, comfort and energy and emissions ratings.
Back to basics
For those not ready to undertake their own eco-build or without the means to renovate their own home, a good place to start is taking part in a community-run earth building project. Laura Marini runs workshops in Melbourne and regional Victoria educating children and adults about sustainable living and eco-friendly building methods using earthen materials.
Marini says she was first introduced to building earth homes in Italy, adhering to a traditional “cob method” using massone (bricks made from the earth) while doing her master’s degree in architecture. She later honed her skills at the Auroville Earth Institute in India.
Marini says houses are like our “third skin”, yet most people lack the knowhow or ability to make more environmentally friendly architectural choices. “Everyone needs to know you can build with what is under your feet and you can do it with your own hands and feet,” she says.
Find your options
If you are a home or apartment owner contemplating eco-renovations, ecohouse owner Richard Keech says the most important thing is to take your time, consult as widely as possible and immerse yourself in what options are available to build an understanding of what a high performance ecohome actually means.
“Don’t rush. Give yourself the time to get it right,” he says. “Read as much as you can and really immerse yourself in it.”
After completing an ecologically-focused renovation of his own period home in suburban Melbourne, Richard Keech and his wife, Kate, say they were able to reduce their energy and water consumption levels by around 75%.
“Improving your home is a journey. People need a road map for that journey. A good consultant will let you see your house differently and make things very clear,” he says. He also recommends joining online communities such as My Efficient Electric Home, which can be particularly useful for free expert advice and discussions with other eco-renovators who may have faced the same challenges.
Keech recommends prioritising passive improvements to your home (such as window glazing and proper insulation) over home improvement devices. “The basics of improving the thermal envelope aren’t sexy, but they make a huge difference to comfort and running costs. And when they’re sorted, heating and cooling needs are reduced.”
He says the single most significant improvement he and his wife made was getting off gas and installing solar PV. “All-electric homes offer the most efficient options with the lowest running costs,” he says.
“Rooftop solar PV, combined with all-electric efficient homes is a killer combination. Many homes can then reasonably aspire to be net energy positive, meaning they can generate more solar energy than their home consumes.”
after newsletter promotion
Top-of-the-range
After their successful eco-renovation, Richard and Kate set their sights on building a high-performing timber home in Cape Paterson, about 130km south-east of Melbourne, near the Gippsland town of Wonthaggi.
The home is designed to make optimal use of the elevated and sloping site, with views over Bass Strait. It incorporates many thermal and energy performance features, including triple-glazed windows, airtight design meaning almost no heating or cooling is required, highly insulated raised floors, narrow ribbon windows and passive solar elements that maximise winter sun.
“Our home, known as Straithouse, is a high-performance timber house that gives us great thermal comfort and very low energy bills. We’re lucky that it also happens to look stunning,” he says. The couple picked many of their favourite features from homes they had visited before eventually settling on this house from designer Luke Middleton.
Give yourself time to get it right
Of course, not everyone will be in a position to build such an ambitious home as the Straithouse. Keech says one of the best pieces of advice he can share is to give yourself as much time as you need to understand which options are right for you.
For those wanting a new build, he recommends using a designer that specialises in energy efficiency from the outset. To help find a designer, you can look to the industry’s peak body, Design Matters National; for builders who understand efficiency, see the Sustainable Builders Alliance.
To build your understanding of energy efficiency, there are plenty of eco-friendly short-stay apartments and houses available that give you the chance to experience features of energy efficient homes first-hand. This is an excellent way to glean some ideas for your own.
A final piece of advice is to set an energy performance target for yourself, and then ensure your new build or renovation meets it. “In Australia, 7.5 or 8 stars is a sweet spot,” says Keech, “offering excellent comfort and low running costs while still being achievable and affordable”.