Affordable, sustainable, energy efficient homes
The CORE range aims to change the way we think about affordable sustainable housing. Specifically designed for the Australian climate, the stylish, low maintenance and compact three-bedroom design can be adapted for energy ratings from 6 to 10-star to suit a range of budgets.
CORE Principles
CORE is a collaboration between a team of dedicated building designers and thermal performance professionals who are passionate about sustainability. Our aim is to develop homes for the Australian housing market, balancing optimal energy efficiency, material sustainability and affordability.
Our key principles are contained in the CORE acronym:
Carbon Positive
A carbon positive home uses renewable energy sources to generate enough clean energy for the home’s operational needs and a surplus to feed back to the grid. Our aim is to combine passive solar design, operational energy efficiency, locally sourced sustainable materials and construction methods to minimise embodied carbon and to reduce the home’s environmental footprint.
0 Zero Waste
Although it is difficult to achieve zero construction waste, our objective is to work towards zero waste by adapting designs to use standard material lengths to minimise off-cuts. Selection of materials which are recycled or have the ability to be up-cycled also avoids construction waste contributing to landfill.
Recyclability
Our selection of materials has been influenced by the ability of each component to be manufactured with recycled content to reduce raw material extract, with the ability to be recycled, up-cycled or re-processed after use.
Economics
Our goal is to provide affordable homes to the Australian housing market that balance energy efficient design, optimal thermal performance and operational efficiencies to reduce the cost of running CORE homes. We believe sustainability and affordability shouldn’t be mutually exclusive goals. The CORE home range has been designed to be adapted to multiple energy rating levels and price ranges.
Designers Statement
Over three years in the making, the aim was a create a sustainable house for the Australian housing market, combining passive solar design principles and standard construction practices to create maximum energy efficiency in an affordable home. The design is suitable for the Australian climate and can be adapted to any location. We firmly believe good design principles should be available to everyone who wants to build their own home, regardless of budget. To this end, we created a construction scale allowing the building to be adapted to any star rating between 6 and 10-star.
We also set out to design a house suitable for the modern family, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and opening plan living areas. The design was adapted to increase the northern light and maximise cross ventilation. Through constant refinement we eliminated wasted space (such as hallways and entrance areas) reducing construction costs as well as heating and cooling loads. By using environmentally friendly building products, we’ve reduced the impact of the construction on the environment. In some homes the products used to achieve the high star rating have a detrimental impact on the environment. But in the CORE home, regardless of the star rating, the products specified are environmentally friendly. Construction materials were also selected to ensure minimal maintenance and longevity.
To keep costs as low as possible, we employed standard construction methods, but used them in a different way to increase their performance. For example, the use of the inverted roof truss allows more light into the building but doesn’t require any specialist construction methods or additional costs. The CORE is backed by three years of research and development, ensuring the house performs extremely well compared to other designs of the same star rating. For example, the CORE 6-star home achieves the rating using single glazed windows, due to the design of the external shell and eave lines. The research and development also covered all the products used in the house and the construction methods. Three independent assessments can verify the energy efficiency and thermal performance of the home.
In the course of our research into the cost and the energy efficiency of the design, we discovered we’d created a formula for sustainable design – through a volumetric (or isometric) scale to the house. There is a ratio for the width and length of the build and a separate ratio for the width and height. The area for cladding around the external walls was equal to the floor area and by keeping to this ratio, we achieved extremely high energy efficiency. We are continuing to work on the formula for this ratio and hope that it will one day become a standard reference for builders and designers.
Energy ratings and thermal performance
The cornerstones of any sustainable house include cleverly incorporated passive design features and ensuring the home is correctly orientated on the block. Considering how a house will interact with the elements (particularly sunshine and the prevailing winds) is vital. A lack of passive solar design knowledge and incorrect orientation of a home can be likened to the amateur camper who doesn’t consider the conditions of the site when they set up camp. The decision on where to pitch the tent could ultimately make their time comfortable or a camping disaster. Likewise, ensuring a house design makes best use of the environmental conditions of the site, is a critical factor in ensuring good energy efficiency and thermal performance.
The CORE house is designed to utilize the elements and make maximum use of sunlight, wind direction and environmental factors. With street appeal from every angle, all sides and elevations can be the front of the house, ensuring the home can be correctly orientated on any block. The open plan, shared living space encourages an inclusive social dynamic. The design can be adapted for different star ratings and budgets. While the configuration of the house remains the same, the different energy ratings are achieved through changes in the material specifications. The higher the rating, the better the house performs.
Independent assessments
Three independent assessments verifying the sustainability and energy efficiency claims of the home are available on request.
E-Tool Life Cycle Assessment
Energy Rating Report
Alt-Tech Association Report
Prototype – CORE 9 at The Cape.
Lot 15, 11 Noonflower Close, Cape Paterson, VIC 3995
With the rising cost of energy and the need to conserve our precious resources, a sustainable home is becoming a highly desirable and more economical option long term. To respond to this challenge and demonstrate how this can be achieved the CORE 9 prototype has been built at The Cape. THE CORE 9 integrates sustainable materials with a low embodied energy, and a considered mix of solar power, solar hot water, and rain water harvesting, to reduce and or totally eliminate household utility bills.
Construction Specifications
Passive Solar 9.1 Star Design
• Rectilinear floor plan with extrusion on west and east to facilitate northern sunlight penetration and crossflow ventilation
• Raked roof for passive solar gain and light well
• Inverted truss homogenised to provide for insulation
• Solar PVC system also facilitates northern shading
• Strategically placed windows to facilitate passive cooling
Thermal Mass
• Reverse brick veneer with 100% recycled brick
• Burnished concrete floor with 10% of cement content replaced with fly-ash and slag
Renewable Energy Systems
• 6Kw Photo Voltaic Solar system with 4.8Kw battery storage
• Energy monitoring system with master switch to reduce power standby
• LED lighting
• Sanden Eco Hot Water Pump
• Electric Vehicle Charge Point
Water Saving Systems
• 4 Star WELS rated plumbing fittings throughout
• 10,000 litre rainwater tank for harvesting
• Water saving native gardens
Building Materials
• Thermally broken double-glazed windows
• Green tag certified Weathertex cladding
• FSC certified timber frames and trusses
• Enviro-plaster with 10% recycled content
• Recycled glass insulation
Indoor Air Quality
• Zero emission joinery
• Low VOC paint, stains and carpets
• Ceiling fans to aid cross flow ventilation
