CUTLERS AT THE CAPE - 2017 MBAV Regional Builders Awards
( Best Sustainable Home )
SCOPE OF WORKS
Australia’s premium sustainable housing project, The Cape, in Cape Paterson, has opened its doors to its newest 8.2-star edition, Cutlers. This carbon neutral, energy and water efficient coastal home sits within the top 1% of sustainable homes in Australia. The home features state of the art energy efficient design, construction and fit out, which combines to keep the home beautifully comfortable in all weather conditions, while reducing annual running costs to below $500 per annum, which is around 15% to 20% of the running costs of a state average home.
The Cape eco community is a master planned residential development on the South Coast of Victoria at Cape Paterson. Consisting of over 200 homes surrounded by more than 50% of open, natural space, The Cape has very clear and prescriptive guidelines for all homes. A minimum 7.5 star rating, 2.5kW PV Solar and 10,000 litres of water storage is mandatory.
TS Constructions have been working closely with the developer from the inception of the development. They have built a stylish, 174m² single-story home (144m² of living space) with visually impressive articulation and material selection.
The ground floor consists of a large, north facing living zone and kitchen that opens onto a wide deck with views of the garden. There are three bedrooms, a Study and a large Pantry is this well laid out home. Rooms and windows have been situated to capture both prevailing sea breezes and wonderful views of Bass Straight.
TS Constructions were proudly responsible for all aspects of the build, from the initial site cut through to final landscaping.
The Cape eco community is a master planned residential development on the South Coast of Victoria at Cape Paterson. Consisting of over 200 homes surrounded by more than 50% of open, natural space, The Cape has very clear and prescriptive guidelines for all homes. A minimum 7.5 star rating, 2.5kW PV Solar and 10,000 litres of water storage is mandatory.
TS Constructions have been working closely with the developer from the inception of the development. They have built a stylish, 174m² single-story home (144m² of living space) with visually impressive articulation and material selection.
The ground floor consists of a large, north facing living zone and kitchen that opens onto a wide deck with views of the garden. There are three bedrooms, a Study and a large Pantry is this well laid out home. Rooms and windows have been situated to capture both prevailing sea breezes and wonderful views of Bass Straight.
TS Constructions were proudly responsible for all aspects of the build, from the initial site cut through to final landscaping.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
The home has 10,000 litres of harvested rainwater available for non-potable purposes, including toilet flushing and gardening. All tap ware is 4 star wels rated, with 3 star wels rated shower heads. The garden is extensively planted with indigenous native plants which require minimal watering once established, and the lawn area has been minimised and planted with a durable, water wise species.
The home boasts a 4.6kW solar photovoltaic system that will provide the majority of power required to operate the home for most of the year. A Sanden eco-pump hot water system with stainless steel storage unit is in place for all hot water needs.
The home’s lighting has been carefully selected to suit the purpose of the room whilst remaining efficient, and consists of LED down lights, strip lights and oyster lights. A ‘Greenswitch’ has been installed at both TV point areas which allows for all standby powered items to be turned off with one switch.
The air-conditioning unit is a Daiken Ururu Sarara 7, which has an industry leading 7 star rating. Sweep fans are provided in all bedrooms for air movement and ducted exhausts have weather shields to prevent external drafts.
Passive design and siting of windows provides cross flow ventilation when required, allowing the owners to take advantage of the local sea breezes. When extremes of temperature are present, the home has been designed and constructed so that it is airtight. The home has been provided with an electric vehicle charge point in the garage.
The home boasts a 4.6kW solar photovoltaic system that will provide the majority of power required to operate the home for most of the year. A Sanden eco-pump hot water system with stainless steel storage unit is in place for all hot water needs.
The home’s lighting has been carefully selected to suit the purpose of the room whilst remaining efficient, and consists of LED down lights, strip lights and oyster lights. A ‘Greenswitch’ has been installed at both TV point areas which allows for all standby powered items to be turned off with one switch.
The air-conditioning unit is a Daiken Ururu Sarara 7, which has an industry leading 7 star rating. Sweep fans are provided in all bedrooms for air movement and ducted exhausts have weather shields to prevent external drafts.
Passive design and siting of windows provides cross flow ventilation when required, allowing the owners to take advantage of the local sea breezes. When extremes of temperature are present, the home has been designed and constructed so that it is airtight. The home has been provided with an electric vehicle charge point in the garage.
COST EFFECTIVENESS
The price differential between an equivalent 6 star home and this 8.2 star design is around $6,600. Based on the reduced energy required to run the home, this additional up front cost is likely to be recuperated within four (4) years.
The passive design initiatives incorporated in the design, combined with a high level of thermal efficiency means the owners will rarely require artificial heating or cooling. The home is visually stunning, with a variety of different materials incorporated in the external and internal design, selected for their environmental performance and visual impact, delivering an attractive home in an affordable manner.
The home was assessed by the ATA as having an annual power bill of only $500, which is around 15 – 20% of the running costs of a state average home.
The passive design initiatives incorporated in the design, combined with a high level of thermal efficiency means the owners will rarely require artificial heating or cooling. The home is visually stunning, with a variety of different materials incorporated in the external and internal design, selected for their environmental performance and visual impact, delivering an attractive home in an affordable manner.
The home was assessed by the ATA as having an annual power bill of only $500, which is around 15 – 20% of the running costs of a state average home.
BENEFITS TO THE END USER
The home owners will have a place to live that will be significantly cheaper to run than a similar sized house that does not have the same level of environmental consideration. The home’s outlook is onto a well-designed and locally sympathetic garden that will become a haven for local fauna, birds and insects.
Day to day benefits include the availability of natural light throughout the home and natural airflow. From a power consumption point of view, all standby appliances associated with the TV and entertainment units are connected to a Greenswitch to permit them to be turned with one switch.
Liveability is also a large feature with materials selected to reduce the amount of off-gassing encountered in the home. Features such as zero or very low emission paints, EO joinery, architraves, skirtings, claddings and natural fibre carpets all add together to create a space that has much reduced emissions and allergens.
Day to day benefits include the availability of natural light throughout the home and natural airflow. From a power consumption point of view, all standby appliances associated with the TV and entertainment units are connected to a Greenswitch to permit them to be turned with one switch.
Liveability is also a large feature with materials selected to reduce the amount of off-gassing encountered in the home. Features such as zero or very low emission paints, EO joinery, architraves, skirtings, claddings and natural fibre carpets all add together to create a space that has much reduced emissions and allergens.
CHOICE AND USE OF MATERIALS
Selection of materials was predicated by a desire to have locally sourced, highly efficient products that were durable enough to last in an exposed and rugged environment. Externally this led to the selection of a range of complementary Weathertex products combined with feature blockwork and shade structures.
The Weathertex range of products is carbon positive. According to the company website, “The trees used to produce Weathertex cladding have sequestered sufficient carbon dioxide during their growth to counter any carbon dioxide equivalent emissions produced at the Weathertex factory during its manufacture.” Weathertex is one of very few Global Green tag “Platinum” Certified products.
Internally the materials selected had to be durable for extended ‘whole of life’ application, and able to perform in a superior manner. This led to materials that were organic and textured in look and feel, such as the feature blockwork walls in the main living areas.
Many materials were selected on the basis of their reduced emissions such as the paints and joinery boards, their recycled content such as the plaster which has a recycled content in both the gypsum core and in the paper wrap, or clever use of technology, such as the concrete slabs, which have a reduced cement content due to the addition of other products such as flyash, which is a by-product of the power industry.
The Weathertex range of products is carbon positive. According to the company website, “The trees used to produce Weathertex cladding have sequestered sufficient carbon dioxide during their growth to counter any carbon dioxide equivalent emissions produced at the Weathertex factory during its manufacture.” Weathertex is one of very few Global Green tag “Platinum” Certified products.
Internally the materials selected had to be durable for extended ‘whole of life’ application, and able to perform in a superior manner. This led to materials that were organic and textured in look and feel, such as the feature blockwork walls in the main living areas.
Many materials were selected on the basis of their reduced emissions such as the paints and joinery boards, their recycled content such as the plaster which has a recycled content in both the gypsum core and in the paper wrap, or clever use of technology, such as the concrete slabs, which have a reduced cement content due to the addition of other products such as flyash, which is a by-product of the power industry.
INCORPORATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN PRINCIPLES INTO THE BUILDING
The home is in a unique and environmental aware development on the South Coast of Victoria at Cape Paterson called The Cape. Comprehensive design guidelines have been produced that enforce minimum environmental standards that are far in excess of anything else in the region. This home has been designed to far exceed the minimum guidelines.
The design of the home was heavily influenced by this document, addressed all components and exceeded them in many instances. A consideration of the design often overlooked was the avoidance of oversized rooms or wasted space. In a whole of lifecycle approach, the home has been designed to provide enough living space for a larger than average family in a footprint a lot smaller than most other similarly targeted home designs. Passive design principles were paramount, with thermal mass concepts heavily leveraged on. Light and ventilation, critical to occupant health, were incorporated in each and every room.
The design of the home was heavily influenced by this document, addressed all components and exceeded them in many instances. A consideration of the design often overlooked was the avoidance of oversized rooms or wasted space. In a whole of lifecycle approach, the home has been designed to provide enough living space for a larger than average family in a footprint a lot smaller than most other similarly targeted home designs. Passive design principles were paramount, with thermal mass concepts heavily leveraged on. Light and ventilation, critical to occupant health, were incorporated in each and every room.
MANAGEMENT OF EXISTING LANDSCAPE AND NATIVE FLORA & FAUNA
As the new development is reclaimed farmland, there were no mature trees in the vicinity of the home site.
All new plantings are selected from local and indigenous species to encourage wildlife and provide natural habitat.
Retaining walls, fences and other structures were made from sustainably grown and sourced local timbers and hard landscaping such as paving, aggregate mulch, sand and screenings were also locally sourced and supplied.
Controls have been put in place that allow no cats on the estate, and dogs are only allowed on leashes, except in a specific off leash area.
All new plantings are selected from local and indigenous species to encourage wildlife and provide natural habitat.
Retaining walls, fences and other structures were made from sustainably grown and sourced local timbers and hard landscaping such as paving, aggregate mulch, sand and screenings were also locally sourced and supplied.
Controls have been put in place that allow no cats on the estate, and dogs are only allowed on leashes, except in a specific off leash area.
INCORPORATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES OF FITTINGS INTO THE NEW STRUCTURE
The site was a greenfield construction site and as such there was nothing that could be incorporated into the planned design.
THE OVERALL ENERGY RATING / ABRG / GREEN STAR RATING OF THE BUILDING
8.2 star rating (52.9 MJ/m²), as assessed by Phillip Island Energy Ratings (Reg no. VIC/BDAV/11/3121)
SITE MANAGEMENT
During the construction phase, an Environmental Management Plan was implemented that maximised recycling and minimised waste to landfill. Wash down areas were created to wash both concrete into that separated cement from the water reducing leeching into the ground.
Wastes were separated into recycling contents such as timber and steel. The waste skips were then taken to a recycling yard where contents were then further separated into recyclable content.
Throughout the project careful use of bunding was used to ensure builder’s wastes did not enter the stormwater system and delivery areas were established to ensure landscaping was impacted by construction.
Wastes were separated into recycling contents such as timber and steel. The waste skips were then taken to a recycling yard where contents were then further separated into recyclable content.
Throughout the project careful use of bunding was used to ensure builder’s wastes did not enter the stormwater system and delivery areas were established to ensure landscaping was impacted by construction.
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4 MORTIMER STREET, WONTHAGGI, VIC 3995
PO Box 267 Wonthaggi, VIC, 3995 TEL: 03 5672 2466 EMAIL: [email protected] |
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