We were planning to have our new house built with Timbercrete, for environmental (& aesthetic) reasons, but our builder says it would cost $25,000 more than regular bricks. We are considering paying the extra, but I’m wondering if that money may be better spent on other products that may give more environmental benefit for our buck.
We have already specified and budgeted for many environmental things including:
good solar design
good internal thermal mass including phase change material
solar hot water
the best ceiling fans I could find, in every room
curtains & pelmets
bamboo flooring
R2.5 insulation in walls and R3.5 in ceiling, plus colourbond over glasswool blanket over plywood for roof
combination of LED & fluoro lighting
aluminium shutters (uninsulated) over windows which can shade windows when required.
Is there else that we should really have instead of Timbercrete (which we like because of low embodied energy and lower thermal mass, which since it's outside, we prefer)?
Would double glazing and/or low-e glass or increased insulation be better value (for us & the environment? Is double glazing worthwhile in Sydney?
I'd like to have solar panels too, but I don't think we've budgeted for it. Are they well worth the outlay?
Thanks!