Sustainable Living
A Worm Farm Waste System is a vital part of sustainable living
In March 2016 we installed a Worm Farm Waste System for Anne Macrae who was building a sustainable living solution in Drysdale just outside of Geelong. On 15 October 2017 we attended the Sustainable House Day along with Anne, a very content sustainable house owner. For more information regarding our environmentally sustainable system call 03 5979 1887 or contact us via email.
Anne Macrae’s story
My own power, food & water
“As the years have progressed I have become increasingly aware of our dwindling resources on our planet. This linked with a passion for healthy living started me dreaming about living as sustainable and natural a lifestyle as possible.
The opportunity to build became available in the middle of a 100 acre sheep paddock. My brief to the architect (Tim) was to build a house oriented to benefit maximum thermal performance whilst taking in the extensive bay views to the east. Other critical components were to have an outdoor space protected from the S-W winds and to feel as if the outdoors was coming in.
‘At one with the land’
The predominant living area is in the north/south wing, with the west wing for family and visitors and is currently being set up for future Air B’nB (to help generate an income in retirement).
Throughout construction to achieve sustainable living, the builder and I researched and selected materials, fixtures and fittings to maximise quality, aesthetics, value, energy efficiency and overall sustainability. We reused, recycled, repurposed as much as possible including using the clay from the foundations to build rammed earth fireplaces to house the wood heaters.
The next part of the project which is under construction is an edible garden, planting of native and indigenous trees and plants and a zen garden providing multi-sensory relaxation area.
The home was a 2017 National Finalist in HIA (Housing Industry of Australia) Greensmart Awards.
Anne’s story
Sustainable living features
Catergory
Features
House type
Newly completed in 2017
Lifestyle
Farm change, future Air B’n’B, self-sustainable living, building for the future, minimising cost of living, minimising carbon footprint
Building type
Split face block veneer, two-story
Sustainable design
Passive solar house requires an active owner to maximise benefits
Sustainable living materials
Split face concrete blocks, Australian cypress timber (pergolas, deck and some internal) hardwood windows, upcycled vanity units, low VOC paints and oils, water based floor sealer, recycled fence palling bed heads, recycled flooring feature island bench and upcycled furniture
Energy efficiency
7 star rating, LED Lighting, electric low energy appliances, low flow tapware, cool store room, double glazed windows, additional draft sealing and insulation
Renewable energy
5.2 kW PV solar system with future battery pre-wiring, power monitoring
Heating & cooling
Combustion wood heater (installed in rammed earth fire places for extra thermal mass) with air transfer ducting, passive cooling – cross flow ventilation, ceiling fans, concrete floor for thermal mass
Water heating
Sanden heat exchange pump
Fixtures & fittings
Low energy consumption electric appliances, water saving taps, external rotary clothes line
Water harvesting
2 x 22,500 litres tanks connected to whole house
Garden/outdoors
Under construction: edible garden, indigenous planting – edible, shrubs and trees, native tree shrubs and trees plus a zen garden
Waste management
Worm farm waste system
Acknowledgments:
- Building designer and energy rater: Tim Adams from f2 Design
- Builder: Shamus O’Reilly, SO’R Constructions
- Rooftop solar PV specialist: Phil Hapgood, Radiant Energy Systems
- Worm sewerage: A&A Worm Farm Waste Systems
Anne Macrae’s new house in Drysdale