| [ back ]
Location, location
 Design and development
Challenges
Retaining property value
Look and feel
HIA Green Smart Awards
To be continued...
As the community grows more energy conscious, planning for a sustainable future is becoming more and more commonplace, and developers are leading the way. Expected comfort levels in our homes are also rising and as James Phelps from Phabb Built explains, implementing energy efficient measures will have a real effect on property values.
[ back to top ]
Location, location
Phabb Built is in the process of developing and building Quamby Villas, Tasmania’s first 6 star energy rated villa development. Quamby Villas will be built in Westbury, a prime rural location 25 minutes from Launceston. The site was chosen to meet the rapid growth of the region and to provide Westbury retirees with excellent accommodation so that if they chose to leave their farms they would not have to leave the community they have grown to love.
James Phelps explains that a passion for sustainable living is what enticed himself and his partner to undertake a HIA Green Smart course to learn more about how they could get the most out of their investment in the villa complex.
[ back to top ]
Design and development
With the assistance of an energy auditor, designers and architects, Phabb Built were able to ensure that their development would meet the needs of the future residents. James states “even though some of the future buyers may not be concerned with the environmental benefits of the villas, the savings brought on by an energy efficient home would be very beneficial to the demographic”. James believes that it is important to plan for an energy efficient home as this will help retain the future retail value of the property.
[ back to top ]
Challenges
Tasmania’s challenging environment can make some steps towards energy efficient development more complicated. However with the right advice the goal of reaching a 6 star energy rating is still very achievable.
The energy auditor came in very handy by helping to tweak the design to ensure that the 6 star energy rating was reached. One alteration was the tinted windows Phabb Built had initially planned to use. The auditor explained that tinted windows lose .5 of a star due to Tasmania’s lack of solar energy.
Without the proper design or energy saving techniques in place, windows in the home are effectively holes in the wall that only serve to stop the draught. James believes that the pelmets and good quality curtains specifically chosen to address this problem will be just as effective, but more cost effective, than double-glazing.
Another interesting discovery was in regard to the energy efficiency and safety of down lights. Current down lights can reach temperatures of over 200°C and Tas Fire believes that over 20% of house fires can be attributed to old down lights. The new down lights only reach a temperature of 50°C which enabled Phabb Built to install insulation in the ceiling cavity surrounding the down lights where previously heat was escaping through the spaces around the down lights.
James believes that the cost of the villas will be very comparable to existing properties that only have a 3 star energy rating. It is the foresight in design and application that makes the villas more efficient. It is important to carefully consider your energy options at the design stage as retrofitting is always more expensive.
[ back to top ]
Retaining property value
Within two years legislation will be passed that demands that any house sold comes with an energy rating. This in turn makes energy efficiency a factor that will place a great degree of importance on a properties resale price. James estimates that an average couple in one of his villas could expect to save upwards of $400 a year on their energy bill alone.
[ back to top ]
Look and feel
Designing and developing an energy efficient structure does not change the look and feel of the property dramatically, with window and room sizes remaining the same. So as James explained, after the design stage the residents can still benefit greatly from an energy efficient home without losing anything that they have come to expect from a quality dwelling. They can also make considerable savings and help the environment. The great thing is that the residents enjoy all of these benefits without having to actively do anything.
[ back to top ]
HIA Green Smart Awards
Phabb Built were recently National Finalists for the hotly contested HIA Green Smart Awards in the ‘Development Design Concept of the Year’ category. We are proud to report that Phabb Built came in an impressive third place, behind industry heavyweights Stockland and Mirvac.
[ back to top ]
To be continued...
We will be following James Phelps and the team from Phabb Built through the entire process of development, bringing you tips and advice on the process of designing and developing an energy efficient project.
For more information on Quamby Villa's contact James Phelps at Phabb Built on 1300 88 29 39.
[ back to top ]
|
