A show-case of sustainable living ideas was successfully held on
Sunday, 14th October 2007
Jamberoo FutureCare community group hosted a tour of four local resident homes. The tour was open to everyone and was an opportunity to view homes that have features including:
* Solar electricity generation
* Rain water harvesting
* Self sufficient hot water production
* Back yard food production
* Hybrid car transportation
* Straw bale housing
* Solar passive design
The Dingles, 297 Jamberoo Mountain Rd
Jim and Sandra Dingle bought their home in late 1986, when it was about 7 years old. It is reasonably well oriented and constructed for passive solar heating/cooling, but the feeling of connection to the surroundings outweighs the more sensible alternative of curtains on windows and doors. The home operates on tank water and a dam, which supplies all household, garden and pool needs. Recently the Dingles have installed a 3kW photovoltaic grid-connect system and replaced their pool solar heating mat with panels.
The vegetable garden has been rebuilt, and usually provides much of the household’s requirements. It is fertilized via a worm farm, compost and manure provided by their pony.
Next on their agenda is a solar hot water system.
The Dare-Ward residence, 38 Churchill street
Our 1920’s Churchill Street residence has been ‘recycled’ now through 4 generations of our family. However in 2004, we were faced with the unavoidable reality that our home needed some serious TLC to meet the continuing demands of a busy five member family. We were presented with a tough choice; knock the old home down and start again or give her a serious green overhaul. After much soul searching we agreed that our environmental ethos could not justify the resource use involved in starting from scratch when the foundations of our home were still in fantastic shape, so the journey towards a total refit began.
To date we have replaced all the ‘internal organs’ of our home including the plumbing and electricity, the plaster and insulation. We have made use of solar passive energy and increased natural light by installing large French doors in place of small windows and a deck which blends the garden and the indoors in an organic flow. Outside we have created extensive food production areas, solar hot water production and have mapped out the sites where 2 rainwater tanks and a grey water system will be installed so that we can harvest and then reuse our own water. Our home is a work in progress but with luck it will see another 4 generations grow and thrive in this gorgeous valley.
The Farrell’s, Fountaindale Road
This home is in the final stages of construction and the owners have been living in the straw bale garage onsite for the past 3 years.
The home is a hybrid of straw bale and Quik-n-tuff, a recycled polystyrene and cement panelling system. The infill straw bale walls are finished with natural clay and lime renders. Solar passive design principals have been employed to take advantage of the northern aspect and the hot water and concrete sub-flooring are to be solar powered.
The Van der Wijingaart-Grady’s residence,
39 Tingira Crescent, Kiama.
When building a new house in 2002/3, Ben & Sharon wanted to be as self-sustainable as possible. The house features 12 x 165 watt solar panels and a power storage capacity to keep the house running for several days in case of grid failure.
Water for all services in the house is primarily rainwater, but with an auto-backup from town water.
The heat exchange hot water system uses < 25% of the power of a conventional system, is not sun dependent and uses solar electricity.
and the whale said
"Thank you for making a difference in our world".
About 60 people joined us for what they commented was an enjoyable and inspiring day.
Due to the level of interest, Jamberoo Futurecare are thinking of repeating this event.