Quote:
Building with super-integrated energy and water systems, uses a Living Machines setup for water treatment, solar panels, etc. I want a house like this!
Dave:
I can design you one!
Our house in the outskirts of Brisbane, Queensland in Aus, has been designed (and built by me!) to be almost self sufficient in water, power and food as well as leisure facilities.
It has a 1.5KW PV cell installation for grid interactive power supply ( we even got a cheque from our power supplier for what we put back into the Grid last quarter!), rainwater harvesting and collection (but we still pay water rates because the mains passes our property), composting toilet, planned natural swimming pool (not constructed yet), Chooks and Muscovies for eggs and meat, AP system for herbs and salad greens, garden plot for vegies (to be converted to AP system in the near future) and it is not air conditioned nor otherwise artificially cooled or heated. All water taps and the like are maximum star rated for efficiency and I have designed and built our own waste water system which re-uses treated water for outside use and vegetable gardening.
The courtyard is designed as a large evaporative cooler by the use of a water feature, all external cladding materials are no maintenance cedar siding and mini-orb corrugated iron with oiled local hardwood structural members. All windows are energy glass fitted, air tight and lockable louvred windows (which are the only window which can acheive a 100% opening!). We have a bushfire shelter planned (now that the Government has released a long awaited Standard on fire resisting construction after the bushfire devastation in Victoria recently) that also provides "prep" for other "disasters".
We have used bamboo flooring throughout, 'Modwood' (recycled timber and plastic composite) for decks and veranda flooring, local plywood ceilings, LED lighting (240V GU10 fittings, no power hungry 12V transformers!) and very efficient 'Sycamore' ceiling fans to both bed rooms and outside deck areas.
We have planned an outdoor cooking area with a wood fired 'pizza' oven (hand built, not a commercially bought unit), solar oven for bread making etc and light weight structures for vines etc.
I have a small distillation unit for 'essential' oil production and an earth coupled cellar area. Our 1 hectare block has not been cleared of the native scrub but "her in the garden" has created a mini-rain forest with her green thumb skills for about 2000 square metres! We have minimum lawn, not watered!: and her garden is designed for nil watering.
All in all, I believe that we have designed and built, a comfortable, energy efficient and environmentally responsible home without compromising on aesthetics or good design principals. We are not "Greenies" or environmental activists by any measure, but we do have a concern for the way we treat our ambient environment and what we can leave to our grandchildren (who love coming to Nana's "farm").
I also have an underlying desire to provide responsible residential design without "going over the top" for modernity or "trendy" design.
Whilst I admire some of the underlying responsible principles in the design and construction of the Building depicted in the link, I wouldn't like to live in it!! To me, it is a "trendy" attempt to promote short lived politically correct and commercially motivated environment fads without a genuine commitment to it's perceived goals.
Wow, I almost scared myself with that little diatribe!!
So, if you lived down under, in Queensland and had the desire to live in a functional, comfortable and environmentally responsible custom designed home . . then I'm your man!
Cheers IanK
Vietnam and Philippines added extra problems driving on the WRONG side of the road:)
sun still sets in the west? 