A home designed to withstand bushfires while optimising on its surrounding environment has this week been named the winner of the 2022 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards.
The low-impact Kurrajong house by Blue Eco Homes effectively integrates architectural design with sustainable building practices. The dwelling has a northeast to southwest orientation, allowing for the capture and manipulation of northern sunlight while also providing effective cross ventilation and the framing of distinct views.
The occupants are provided with a highly efficient and thermally-comfortable environment through passive heating and cooling, solar power generation technologies and rainwater harvesting. The home surpasses regulatory requirements through its bushfire protection and prevention systems, incorporating external facades and windows that provide both excellent interior conditions while ensuring the maximum protection in the event of a bushfire.
The external walls allow for high levels of insulation, thermal mass and bushfire resistance. All windows are BAL 40 rated with shutters/screens over the windows and the roof structure where required. External cladding and features have been designed with the intention of reducing the possibility of ember lodgement.
The house also won the top award for Custom Built Home.
Other winners in this year’s Greensmart awards include:
– Queensland’s Crest Building Group, awarded the GreenSmart Sustainable Home for its multi-generational dwelling which boasts an impressive 9.3-star NatHERS rating. To suit its sub-tropical climate and coastal location, cross-ventilation is maximised, with the central garden atrium drawing breezes into the home from all directions. Combined with raked ceilings and high windows to allow warm air to escape, a comfortable internal temperature is guaranteed even on the warmest Queensland days.
– The GreenSmart Energy Efficiency award went to Tasmanian firm Skookom for its totally off-grid and self-sufficient home. The single-storey design along the east-west axis allows light and heat to enter the home from the north-facing windows and glazed doors. The homes achieves a 8.6 star NatHERS rating and uses thermal mass, cavity insulation and triple argon-filled glazing to capture and retain heat. All water used in the home is collected either from the roof of the home or the shed, and stored in two 30,000 litre and one 25,000 litre tanks. The water is distributed to the house using a gravity-fed system to minimise the reliance on electricity.
– The GreenSmart Sustainable Home award was given to Crest Building Group for its Queensland home designed around a central garden atrium that not only draws breezes into the house but offers water and food security through the development of a permaculture environment.
HIA Australian GreenSmart Sustainable Home is partnered by Dulux and recognises the best in environmentally-responsible housing. Award winners and finalists make a positive difference to the environment by building sustainable, energy-efficient and comfortable homes.
