Results Summary
Project Features
Photovoltaic System + Battery Storage Management System
The triplex development has a 9kW PV system combined with a grid connected battery storage management system. The batteries store renewable electricity generated during the day to be used by the occupants at night. The system however ensures that excess energy that is generated after the batteries are full is still fed back into the grid to help reduce the carbon intensity of the grid.
Low Embodied Energy Materials
After much consideration, the architects decided to choose what’s better for the environment by going for low-impact timber framing, recycled bricks and blast furnace concrete mix slabs for their building envelope instead of only concrete as per their original design. This choice proved to be very challenging due to the need to balance between meeting legislated minimum thermal performance compliance and reducing life-cycle carbon impacts. After much consideration and some design adjustments, compliance was achieved without compensating on reducing embodied carbon impacts.
Energy Efficiency
Passive solar design, ceiling fans, LED lighting, and energy monitoring systems help to significantly lower the operational costs and energy impact of the home.
Gas Cooking and HWS
Gas as an energy source has a lower carbon intensity compared to electricity in WA.
Low Water Use
Low water landscaping and communal rainwater tanks help reduce water demand. Low flow shower heads also have the added benefit of reducing water heating loads.
This assessment was conducted by Fei