Cowaramup 8.5 star house
This new home, situated in Cowaramup, Margaret River, posed a number of challenges, ranging from a sloping block, mandatory design guidelines, and bush fire attack levels. The brief was to achieve a solar passive home, not too far from the norm, in order to maintain a realistic budget. The house has achieved an 8.5 star energy efficiency rating without requiring the use of any non-standard glazing. It uses eave shading, breezeways, casement windows and ceiling fans for cooling in summer; and north-facing glass, a concrete slab and wood fire for heating in winter. Other green features include rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling and solar power. Zero VOCs products have been used on the timber bench tops, concrete floors and rendered masonry walls to ensure the occupants avoid contact with any unnecessary chemicals in the home.