Hi all,
its this time of the year:
http://sustainablehouseday.com/
on 7th and 14th September
Pretty lean selection for Canberra this year.
Not saying anything about those that are opening up (im sure they are great and good on them for doing it) more a comment on the number of houses open.
It was only a few years ago when I think there was 10 or more to choose from. It was more of an event as you could spend a morning looking at a handful of amazing (and not so amazing) approaches to sustainability. The local architects of a sustainable persuasion seemed keen on it. Seems to have gone out of favour with them. wonder why?
Maybe i will have to think about opening mine next year when its less of a work in progress.
its work in progress forever. Am more interested in retrofits, because I am like probably most of the people am trying to fix a -5 star home.
humble question please-
Are there any domestic dwellings in NSW or VIC within local govt area that are constructed predominantly from shipping containers, where these dwellings are compliant to building regulations, and local govt approved for occupation as privately owned housing ? ?
Existing actual finished dwelling please - NOT theories, underground "gardens", mooted
projects, internet dreaming, mine sites, prisons, dongas , schools, sheds, kinders, crèches, temporary accomm ...etc...etc.)
unlikely. Check the map?
This could be a possibility in VIC,
http://sustainablehouseday.com/item/the-beasys-house/
In the description it says the Beasy's house has been constructed from refrigerated containers, so I assume they're talking about refrigerated shipping containers.
I do like a good container home
I saw one on TV recently, it was on... Ummm, Better Homes & gardens I think. Maybe have a search there, it looked pretty nice for a compact dwelling.
d.d tks for that...I cannot get further info from the site...diverts to another house (might be my/computer fault?)
Would appreciate any further info that might come to light
Scipe, looks like there's pics up on the site now. Doesn't look like your average container home, but I think I can see elements that look like containers. Below is the description, & some images, in case you're still having problems with the site.
THE BEASY’S HOUSE
269 Illowa road, Illowa 3282
DAYS OPEN
Sun 7
FEATURES
Sustainable Design and Energy Rating: passive solar design, passive house
Building and construction: highly insulated foam walling ( made from refrigerator containers)
Windows and Doors: single glazed, double glazed, aluminium, roller shutters
Recycled and Sustainable materials: insulation
Water Heating: gas/electric pv powered
Water Harvesting and Water Saving: above ground tanks, tanks connected to garden/whole house, grey/black water system, storm water retention, low flow shower heads, low flow taps, washing machine, dishwasher
Heating: passive, gas, cross ventilation, evaporative
Renewable: PV off grid, wind, power monitoring
A great display of sustainable ingenuity- Alan has designed and constructed everything on the property himself. The two story house has been constructed using refrigerator containers and is a practical example of compact living. The house is completely of grid and was originally wind power only, Alan has since built 2 wind generators (including a vertical model) that he has designed himself after the breakdown of the original turbine, He has added 2.4KW of PV panels, and the first array he installed to track the sun, the second is installed on the well designed chicken house. The solar passive design includes roller shutters, and an under house cooling system. Their hot water is on instantaneous gas with the ability to heat the electric tank if extra power is generated via PV. Water is collected via 3 tanks that circulate, keeping the entire supply clean.
A native garden with a dam creates a beautiful surrounding to the house and is visited by the native birdlife, the dam will be home to perch fish soon. The veggie garden and the chickens supply the couple with fresh food.
tks for doing that d.d, I owe you a drink
Fantastic house.
I will persist with site. 'Alan' should be a front runner in the sustainable
Olympics Maybe he has his own site telling his story ?
Tks again.
arttt said:The local architects of a sustainable persuasion seemed keen on it. Seems to have gone out of favour with them. wonder why?
I can answer my own question. The local architects run their own "solar house day" a little earlier in the year. I only worked this out after stumbling on an old newspaper article. It's a bit of a different format with a bus tour. Sounds like they are catering to a narrower audience.
Seems a pity that they Don't join in to make a bigger thing of the national event.
I'm sure they have their reasons but it would be nice to see broad audience catered for to show the public what is possible.
they want to promote themselves? Whereas SHD is for a broader audience to get some ideas how to retrofit their existing houses, or get them thinking at all? Some questions of the audience are shocking and the usual houses have a long way to go. Does not suit architects promoting their new designs to an audience with a slightly bigger budget.