Septic System Off Grid Home in Healesville
A sustainable home featuring a worm farm septic tank
This property is truly unique. This eco-sanctuary off grid home in Healesville was built on 40 acres with one purpose in mind. Sustainability. In 2011 we installed a gravity feed worm farm waste system to handle all wastewater, sewage and organic waste.
Sustainable Living, describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and ones personal resources.
Gravity system for the off grid home in Healesville
Healesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne’s central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Healesville recorded a population of 7,589 in the 2021 census.
Project Manager: Alan Duke
Project Facts:
- 3000 litre poly tank
- Gravity system
- 90m slotted pipe x 700mm
- Council Yarra Ranges
7 sustainable living features of this amazing home
1. Environmental footprint
A double storey is a smaller footprint, so a smaller slab is needed meaning less concrete and less excavation for the site.
2. Ecological rating.
Choosing a concrete slab allows for cooling in the spring, summer and autumn. Hot water in these seasons are heated by a solar system. In the winter the water is heated through a wet back from the fireplace.
3. Electricity.
The property is off the grid, which means it is made from the sun and stored in 12 Batteries. This system was installed in 2012. There is also back up generator.
4. Thermal store.
A concrete wall which was installed through the centre of house stores heat from the solid fuel fire which is installed on the ground floor, keeping the house warm long after the fire is out.
5. Cooling
The ground floor stays beautifully cool from the concrete slab, the upstairs has been cleverly designed to be opened up. The Windows are placed in such a way as to draw cross ventilation, so with all Windows open there is a lovely cool breeze, in the same way a traditional Queenslander house works.
6. Worm Farm Septic Systerm
A worm farm waste system has been installed. All plumbing from the house empties into this, as does any food scraps.
7. Fire safety
- The house has a flat roof with no intersecting roof pitches, so no sparking embers don’t have a chance to get caught underneath the roof.
- The house is clad in Hebel panels, which is aerated concrete, meaning the walls are very fireproof.
- The windows are double glazed and they are made from sustainable sauced Merbau which has an extremely high fire rating due to its density (same with the decking).
- The Decks uprights are ex marine timbers.
