On Sustainable House Day, houses across the country open to showcase environmentally sustainable designs and innovations, renewable energy installations, recycling systems and other practices that reduce their carbon footprint.
Wayne and Avril Lever’s property in Glenhaven, New South Wales is a great example of the kinds of homes on show. The Lever home was built in 1994 by award-winning energy efficient builders Jen-Vue Homes. In the same year the house won the Baulkham Hills Shire Council Building Design Award for the most energy efficient home in the shire.
This purpose built solar passive/active energy efficient home implements a range of sustainable practices including an 8,000 litre water harvesting system, 12 panel grid connected Kyocera system producing approximately 12 kilowatt hours per day, solar water heating, clerestory double glazed roof windows and heavy duty thermal curtains and pelmets throughout.
Other features of the home include the use of enviro valves and flow restrictors on all tap fittings that reduce water usage, 4.5 Star Energy Rating appliances, Everlast 315 litre solar electric-boosted hot water tank in the linen cupboard with slatted shelves for drying clothes and a lawnmower which is powered by a 24 DC battery pack.
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“There are so many benefits to making your home more efficient, you save money on your power and water accounts, are more comfortable with even temperatures (even without the air conditioning), plus you are doing our environment a great favour,” event organiser Judy Celmins says.
Sustainable House Day is a free event presented by Solar Shop Australia, with some 200 houses open across the country.
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