Project Details

The Challenge

The Healthy House project brought together a multidisciplinary team to produce a prototype low energy, low toxicity house in a suburban environment. The owner occupants worked with designers, contractors, suppliers and building scientists to design a conventional house incorporating readily available products and technology, to set a standard for sustainable design in the area.

The Prosser family's goal was to produce a modern pavillion style Queenslander for their growing family. It is located in a high-density residential area, at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. The site was selected to be within easy walking distance of the beach, the local school and the workplace. The key goals for the family were to minimise harmful, toxic elements in their home, and minimise the impact of the house on the environment.

The design response was to produce a light timber frame dwelling that makes maximum use of passive environmental control features such as: high levels of daylight, controlled solar gain, cross ventilation and stack ventilation. Where possible, low embodied energy, low toxicity, recycled materials have been specified. The impact of household operations have also been considered; appliances have been selected to conserve energy, and electricity is supplied by photovoltaic panels. Rainwater is stored and treated on site for household use, and greywater is treated for use in the garden.

Project details

1. Building type: Detached residential

2. Building area (m2):
House: 251m2
Decks: 51m2
Carport: 17m2
Total: 319m2

3. Number of occupants: Two adults and three children

4. Nature of occupancy (hours per week, days per week): Continual occupancy

5. Activities carried out within building: Living and working

6. Number of storeys: Two

7. Building address: Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast

8. Owner occupied or tenanted: Owner occupied

9. New or refurbished building: New building

10. Total building cost: $315,000

11. Building cost ($/m2): $1043/m2 (for house and deck area)

12. Estimated ongoing operating costs and expected savings compared with reference point:
Electricity: $216 per annum, compared with a Queensland average of $766 per annum (this is an estimate)

13. Completion date: September 1999