ABPL20036 Environmental Building Systems Georgia Wyrdeman 2016 (H1)

This family of four consists of Rueben and Tilly, a late middle-aged couple aged 50 and their two children, Tori and Ben aged 14 and 8. Rueben is a semi-retired schoolteacher who works substitute days at the local primary school. He gardens and sketches in his spare time and is an avid cook. Tilly has a successful law career under her belt and is now a judge at the Victorian children’s court. She works 9-5 Monday to Thursday so she takes the kids to school at 8 and Rueben picks them up at 3. This family values spending time together, especially when it comes to the kids doing homework or Tilly doing research, they are very open with each other. They have substantial savings and so intend to pull all stops, including opting for higher capital cost with long term sav-

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will be fully retiring in around 10 years and foresee needing to scale down when Tori and Ben move out. This house will serve as the family home until they are ready and then they will rent it out as an investment property, wanting it to appeal to the next generation of environmentally aware tenants.

The orientation of the house is with the living rooms where the

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th a np u s er m m Services. The water mains are connected to the water tank su tending from the west and strong northerly winds in the winter afternoons. The positioning of the house at the front of the block also allows for the filtration garden which will also cool the strong northern prevailing winds.

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family will spend most time, facing north for ease of controlling sun penetration with eaves. The house is placed as far forward on the block as possible to make the most out of the sun in the northern sky, especially in winter when the shadows at the northern side are longer. The existing neighbors houses on the east and west sides will shade the house from the concentrated sun in the morning and afternoon, being especially useful at blocking the late western sun when it is at it’s most intense. Prevailing winds come from the north

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for when the tank isnt full enough to supply the house and nicipal stormwater system. The gas is connected in consideration of future tenants who may not opt to generate their own biogas onsite. The sewerage pipes runs down the slop of the site from the house to the sewer pit. Electricity is connected from the grid to suppliment the solar panels.

Project Title_ Kookaburra House

Environmental Building Systems

Architect_ Georgia Wyrdeman

University of Melbourne 2016

ID_ 699270

Tutor_ Nayan

site plan

A3.1

scale

1:200

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Northern Elevation Windows

The wall structure will be made up of 400mm wide straw bales. The main feature of this rapidly renewable construc-

tion material is it’s thermal insulation properties. Consisting of packed straw (a mostly hollow crop) sealed within the thick clay render are substantial air gaps which trap air and resist temperature exchange. The clay render acts as a small thermal

R-value rate, meaning as well that extra insulation is not required. The frame is erected with a small cavity running below the walls that protects from moisture rising up into the bales but also acts as a services route, which means there is limited thermal bridging occuring due to services in the walls. All exterior walls are straw, as well as walls between bedrooms and bathrooms for accoustic purposes. the toilet. All other non-structural walls will be stud frame with 90mm Earthwool insulafrom Hempcrete, a breathable natural resource that is dense but highly porous, making it a good insulator but an effective heat absorber. It is located deep in the house and will only absorb heat from the low winter sun, or when the shades on the westerly elevation are open. This ensures overheating is not an issue in summer.

Western Elevation Windows

The roof

Southern Elevation Windows

some solar radiation but, like the straw bales, has a low-density makeup with pockets of air, which insulate well, stopping heat transfer through the roof. The concrete on the northern segment of roof (15 degree slope) will be clad with an external polystyrene board insulation to resist the absorption of too much radiation in the summer, while the southern segment will be covered with green roof. The use of ACC as opposed to standard concrete is for the thermal properties (medium thermal mass, high insulation) but also the need for less cement in production, meaning less embodied energy. It can also be erected quickly, which reduces the risk of moisture getting into the straw bales.

Perspective view, north westerly angle

Eastern Elevation Windows

Window Schdeule 1:50 (greenhouse windows not specified, mixture of louver windows and bifold doors to allow 100% ventialltionin summer)

Windows atively high SHGC to allow solar radiation in and warm the air inside) are used throughout the house in the main structure, single glazed timber windows are used on the greenhouse (High SHGC to relative low U value to allow as much heat to penetrate as possible, not double glazed because the temperature doesn’t have to be controlled as much as it is not a main living area). (lecture 2 Passive residential design).

Straw Bale construction (’Straw Bale’ yourhome.gov)

Natural cross ventilation

to bring in cool changes on a hot day, and to be able to night purge (Lecture 2). The main ventilation routes are through the bedrooms and bathroom and out the northern glazing, to harness the cool southern breeze on summer evenings and carry it through the house to the northern living areas. The house being 10,000mm in width, the windows 2000mm in height, the breezes will penetrate across the entire width and be drawn out (Lecture 2).

The sky windows in the bedrooms will also be effective in releasing hot air through natural convection (hot air rising). The southern windows in the bedrooms are quite high on the wall and so capture the hot air at the roof level and carry it out of the house. In the shoulder seasons, the northerly breeze coming from central Australia will draw fresh warm air into the house in the morning. Casement windows on the west side open to catch either the north or south breeze depending on the angle opened at. As bedroom 1 and bedroom 3 do not have southerly win-

Internal plantation shutters to block light reaching the thermal masses in summer and trap heat from escaping the building in winter==

External adjustable shade louvers to allow or block sun from reaching the thermal mass at the centre of the house

Warm Northerly

Cool Southerly

Project Title_ Kookaburra House

Environmental Building Systems

Architect_ Georgia Wyrdeman

University of Melbourne 2016

ID_ 699270

Tutor_ Nayan

house plan

A3.2

scale

1:100

Sky Window

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Electricity (mains) Metre Electric Switchboard Inverter PV Metre Smoke Alarm LED Ceiling Light

Reverse Capability Ceiling Fan

Exhaust Fan Double Input Powerpoint

Solar electricity generation. There is limited need for electricity during the

Solar PV Electricity Generation System

day, but high requirement in the evening and morning so a smaller, 4kw system (30 panels) was chosen coupled with a battery, so that there isn’t too much wastage in the day. The battery provides 6.4 kwh of electricity in those peak times which is ordinarily enough to handle loads. The house is also connected to the grid in case of failure. The aim is be independent of the grid to reduce electricity costs as well as using a renewable resource. I haven’t accounted for putting spare electricity back into the grid because you may as well spend less money on less panels, and any power generation that isn’t used immediately can be stored and used at night

Single Light Switch Double Light Switch Premises Connection Device psu

Power Supply Unit

ntd

Network Termination Device

Electricity Loads. Max. Load 8kWh 5-9am: winter:

8 lights on Washing machine Hot water (2 showers) Hot water (4 hydronic panels) Kettle Toaster

9-3pm: winter

ntd

5-9am: summer

2 lights on Washing machine Hot water (2 showers) Kettle Toaster

9-3pm: summer

Hot water (1 Hydronic panel) Washing machine

2 fans Dishwasher

Hot water (2 showers) Hot water (5 hydronic panels) 2 exhaust fans Oven Kettle Microwave 13 Lights on

13 lights on 5 fans on 3 exhaust fans Hot water (2 showers) Oven Kettle Microwave

3-7pm: winter

psu

3-7pm: summer

All lights are warm white LED spots or globes, providing good light, higher Watt to lumens ratio and arent making a thermal bridge because they arent The roof is angled at 15 degrees at the northern side and 30 degrees on the southern side. The 30 degrees on the south side is the optimal angle for solar pv panels in melbourne (lecture 4) so they can be installed flat.

And the lower angled northern roof is to provide more shade to the house in summer, butalso to account for more solar panels to be mounted at 45 degrees and not shade the southern panels.

meaning in winter they can be used to push risen warm air at ceiling height back down to occupation level. In summer they help our bodies with natural evaportaive cooling, and also pomote circulation of air to stop romms becoming stuffy.

Project Title_ Kookaburra House

Environmental Building Systems

Architect_ Georgia Wyrdeman

University of Melbourne 2016

ID_ 699270

Tutor_ Nayan

electricity

A3.3

scale

1:100

N

Mulch Failure Bypass Gas Line Closed Hydronic Loop Hot, Potable Water Cold, Potable Water Rainwater Collection Plumbing

Heat Pump

Methane Generator

Methane Generation Gas Mains Meter

Gas.

gas was the only option for the stove. However, with peak oil upon us, and gas prices rising exponentially, we needed a renewable alternative.

Methane is excreted naturally from rotting organic matter and so with a homemade biogas digester, the methane can be collected and stored in a batch process (see methane generator diagram). Gas is collected over a period of time and stored, and then used as another batch digests. The system will need to be tweaked and cutomised over time, but Rueben is happy to work it out in his spare time in semi-retirement.

Dropping from a future chicken coup and vegetation cuttings as well as compost can be used. Gas mains are hooked up as an alternative.

Hydronic Panel

Hot + Cold Tap

Water Mains Meter

Rainwater Tank

Mulch Water Heating System: I’ve chosen to heat the household hot water (at least partially) with the help of a mulch pile. It is a self imposed, low-tech DIY system that harnesses the natural energy released from decomposing organic matter. Coils of piping are placed within the mulch pile, through which cold water is pumped and heated through conduction. A pile this big (about 3m high) will provide hot water for 15 months, after which the pile will be removed and used in the garden/sold and another pile replacing it. The heat pump will be used in the periods when the mulch pile is inoperable, and will act as a thermal booster when demand is high or productivity of the system low. There are two coils going through the pile, the closed, hydronic loop, and the open rainwater loop.

Project Title_ Kookaburra House

Environmental Building Systems

Architect_ Georgia Wyrdeman

University of Melbourne 2016

ID_ 699270

Tutor_ Nayan

potable water + gas

A3.4

scale

1:100

N

Grey Water

Grey Water:

Black Water

water cannot be held for more than 24 hours, I’ve designed a system means there’s always enough grey water for As water comes into tank 1 from the bathrooms and laundry, the meter will divert the input into tank 2 once tank 1

Grey Water Tanks

Sewerage Vent

den. When tank 2 begins supplying ceeding day. There is an input meter and an output meter and a control centre that can be programmed to adjust this sytem. All grey water goes through a light carbon filter before entering a tank.

To sewer pit

To Filtration Garden

Filtration Garden: is made up of hardy, native Australian plants that are relatively not chemically sensitive

(Strelizias, Dionellas, reeds etc.) as well as varying size rocks, The roots and rocks of the garden will act to absorb ter for extraction into the irrigation system cooked up to the sub soil of the vege boxes at the bottom of the site.

It is water below ground so there is no risk of chemical poisoning from water leaves of edible plants. The soil and

Rainwater: A dry system collecting from one central box gutter, plus the collection from the small garden shed at the front of the house, no water is stored in the pipes, it is all collected in the tank. A 10,000L tank is being installed after a tankulator.com analysis has concluded that even after a November downpour, there is no

Tank overflow to Municipal Storm Water

Project Title_ Kookaburra House

Environmental Building Systems

Architect_ Georgia Wyrdeman

University of Melbourne 2016

ID_ 699270

Tutor_ Nayan

in time of drought to last long periods without water (household uses approx. 476L a day). The tank will supply 80% of household water needs. The box gutter runs down the centre of the roof between the seams of the two ACC panels t a slope of 1 degree toward the eastern side of the house. A pipe will then carry the water (using gravity) to the southern side and into the tank. The shed at the front of the block will also collect rainwater and input into the tank via an over-head pipe (also using gravity) to maximize rainfall gain.

electricity

A3.3

black + grey water

1:100

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DESIGNING FOR RESILIENCE Georgia Wyrdeman 699270 Nayan

into the future, a property to lease when they have to downsize, so they wanted to take steps in ensuring it has value and appeal to future tenants. Part of this is ensuring the materials used have a long life-span, so the embodied energy in them is offset by not having to demolish the building. Straw bale, AAC, tyres, concrete are all materials for designing for resilience is ensuring the house can function comfortably in the climate conditions that we will be facing in the next 10 years. Threats to be manage are: • Fire storm • Heat wave • High Winds • Violent storms • Resource depletion • Population growth • Terrorist attack • Social in cohesion This house is equipped to deal with heat waves because of it’s effective insulation and ventilation properties, needing split system could be installed in the study to serve as a

A green roof can be an effective measure of control against

features, the CSIRO testing a positive 2 hour resistance to

is an effective insulator so stops heat escaping in winter and stops solar radiation from penetrating the roof in summer.

The plants store water and so on hot days, when this water is evaporating; a cooling effect is achieved through evaporative cooling. It can also act to protect the roof material itself from solar degradation, making the roof last longer. It also increases property value (Tutorial 5) and appeals to the younger, more environmentally savvy investors of the future

not having large vegetation around the building to avoid leaves gathering in the gutters or having burning branches roof to stop embers catching. The house can also function under the depletion of resources. It is set up to produce all of the gas needs on site, so when the fossil fuel runs out, the house wont be affected. The solar panels account for most of the household electricity consumption and so could survive without supplement from the grid. With the battery, even in the event of a power outage at nighttime, there would still be electricity to run essential systems such as cooling, lighting or hot water. If electricity demands become more heightened however, there is space on the land to put a small panel array on the ground to supplement the array on the roof. The house is almost entirely self reliant for water, and in the event of a drought, can store enough water to last 23 days of regular usage without top-up. The grey water system can be re-programmed added and bigger diverter allowances so it can be sent to both the washing machine and toilets for example).

Potential green roof positioning for cooling the north facing solar panels and cooling any air that goes into the skywindows

The house is not currently designed to resist strong winds as the roofs are angle up toward the prevailing winds, which means they could act as sails and be blown right off. A means to approach this is to focus on bracing the roof to the frame in construction with strip bracing for example. In terms of the social issues of the future, one of our biggest defenses to environmental disaster is social and community cohesion.

To share resources and support each other is to survive (lecture 5, Paul Harr) so engagement in community events, support groups, helping others to make environmental changes. This house could serve as a learning node, where people can come and see the mulch system or the gas generator or the straw bales and get inspired to do the same on their own house.

In the context of this house, the priority is on the collection of water for use in the house, being hydro independent, and so that could be collected. However, if for some reason the climate became wetter, with more volumous rainfall, a greenroof would alleviate the effects of the system being overwhelmed, including reducing the urban stream syndrome effect of overAn extensive green roof with succulents covering 30% of roof area would reduce conditioning energy by 8.6% and reduce water collection by 10.3% (green roof calculator).

I would design the green roof to run underneath the solar panels to cool them down in summer to improve productivity.