The home won a Commendation Award in the Institute of Architects NSW Country Division in the category “Residential - New Houses”, and has just been announced winner in the Master Builders Association Awards, in the Open Category for Excellence in Building Awards Newcastle, for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability.

In judging the entry from Mr Bailey, the judges said, “This project comes as close as it gets to providing for fully sustainable living off the power grid and without access to reticulated water and sewerage systems. This home provides a demonstration of how comfortable sustainable living can be achieved without compromising on any of the standards and features associated with modern living.”

Mr Bailey said the owners, a couple, required space for themselves and occasional house guests in a home which considered environmental sensitivity.

“With no services at the site, the house needed to address issues such as self-reliance on potable water harvesting and storage, generation and storage of its own energy, treatment and recycling of waste water, and both active and passive bushfire protection, all accommodated in a contemporary rural design,” Mr Bailey said.

“The clients demanded a low maintenance environment, with high environmental credentials and excellent passive solar characteristics. Internal temperatures, for example, have been monitored since February 2009, and have ranged from a maximum of 26 degrees C to a minimum of 22 degrees C.

“Passive heating and cooling is supplemented internally by means of ceiling fans and a high efficiency slow combustion heater fitted with a water jacket. All fittings and appliances throughout have been selected for maximum efficiency.”

Mr Bailey said building an energy efficient and environmentally friendly home is not more expensive than building a “normal” home.

“All other things being equal, it costs no more to design a house with the main living areas facing north than it does to face them west or south,” Mr Bailey said.

“It will probably cost less, because measures to shade, heat or cool the house will be reduced thanks to key elements, such as window placement for cross ventilation, and incorporation of thermal mass in the dwelling. In addition, the ongoing running costs will certainly be less, apart from the comfort and amenity of living there.

“I cannot emphasize too strongly the simplicity and commonsense of good house design; if you get the balance right between orientation, insulation, cross ventilation and thermal mass, you’ll end up with a good result. There were a few challenges with the Hannam Vale job, of course. The views are to die for, but they are mainly to the south, whereas good passive solar design requires most areas of glass to be facing north. We organized the house to be “stretched” a bit, with summer and winter decks separating enclosed areas, so the views and orientation issues were resolved without compromise. We also needed to construct the house to meet severe bushfire regulations, as well as to be self-sufficient in every way. The result is a credit to the whole team, including the clients.”

Mr Bailey was the architect for the Hannam Vale project working with local building designer Robert Smallwood, Michael Knowles local builder, and his sub-contractors; structural engineer was Greg Knight in Alan Taylor’s office in Laurieton; the rainwater storage tanks were supplied and installed by Camden Haven tanks; the waste water treatment systems were designed and installed by Rosewood Environmental Services of Wauchope; and the solar power and hot water systems were supplied and installed by Self Sufficiency Supplies of Kempsey.

Look out for Ian Bailey’s upcoming monthly columns in the Camden Haven Courier.