Woy Woy Bay house open on Sustainable House Day
Mr Ian Garrad's Woy Woy Bay house is part of Sustainable House Day on Sunday, September 11.
Mr Garrad's Woy Woy Bay house was originally a fishing shack dating back to the 1950s, with extensions in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Garrad purchased the house in 2009 and, since then, has replaced the deck, reconfigured the interior and given it a sustainability upgrade.
"A primary goal for the 2011 renovation was to make the house more comfortable while reducing imported energy needs," Mr Garrad said in the profile of his home on the official Sustainable House Day website.
"With a family of four, it is possible to live here with net zero energy imports averaged over the whole year," he said.
"The solar systems and passive solar design generate more energy than needed during the summer, while during the winter a bit more needs to be imported when it is cloudy or very windy.
"This ongoing project has involved insulating both internal and external walls, while fibro (asbestos) cladding has been removed and replaced by plywood at the front and Colorbond at the back (to minimise risk during fires).
"Efficient lighting has been incorporated throughout, and all wiring and plumbing penetrations have been blocked to minimise air leakage.
"Some leaky original floorboards are still an issue during cold winter winds.
"All hot water piping has been insulated to conserve energy.
"An all-electric house is preferred for greater efficiency and lower operational costs, but the gas stove top came with the second hand kitchen so was retained and runs on 10kg gas bottles (which avoid costly annual gas daily service charges)."
According to Mr Garrad, recycled and reused materials in the project included timber, windows, doors, paving, glass and the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
"An integrated waste separation system has been built in to enable recycling simplicity and remove the need for plastic bin liners."
Mr Garrad said he has subscribed to 100 per cent Greenpower in the home and has an NABERS energy rating of five.
The house will be open on Sunday, September 11, from 10am to 3pm for the cost of a gold coin donation.
The standalone house is 135 square metres plus a 36 square metre covered deck.
It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and the continuing renovation retrofit has been designed by the current owner and constructed by various builders.
Newsletter, 1 Sep 2016
Mark Mann, Peninsula Environment Group
Website, 1 Sep 2016
Sustainablehouseday.com/Woy Woy Bay House