As part of our commitment to creating more sustainable lifestyles, we undertake Projects to develop sustainable housing. What we mean by 'sustainable' will be a large part of lively debate on our web site, in our newsletter 'Sustainable Living' and at our workshops. We currently have two projects underway with a major project of an eco village in Oyster Bay as a 5 year plan.

Our Projects examine the inputs, outputs, waste and re-use of products and materials in retrofitting existing and building new housing. Included will be questioning of how the design and structures create patterns of behaviour and use of systems and spaces.

We report on our progress through the Sustainable living Newsletter, magazine, and this web site. In our Workshops we share the debates, the choices, the decisions and the debacles - see subscriptions for details about how to stay in touch or email to register your interest cj06@eco.com.au

Daylesford Eco Home Workshops 2004

In Daylesford Victoria, EcoProperty will be holding a series of workshops throughout 2004 and 2005 to demonstrate on-site the design and building of a suburban eco home and achieving EcoProperty certification.  You are welcome to attend one or all of the workshops.

Workshop 1: August 8, 2004: 9-12 noon
Site Selection and Design, the EcoProperty Certificate.

Workshop 2: August 8, 2004: 1-4 pm
Design and use of materials, Community, Infrastructure

Workshop 3: September 12, 2004: 9-12 noon
Summary of Workshops 1 & 2 - Site selection, Design and Materials
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Workshop 4: September 12, 2004: 1-4 pm
Final Design and Town Planning

Workshop 5: November 20, 2004: 9-12 noon
Summary of 2004 Workshops - Site selection, Design, Community, ECOproperty Certificate, Building Materials and Town Planning.

Workshop 6: November 20, 2004: 1-4 pm
Selection of Builder, Building Materials and Town Planning, Permaculture and Edible Landscape, Infrastructure.

2005 Series
Workshop 1: February 2005: 9-12 noon
Summary of 2004 Workshops - Site selection, Design, Community, ECOproperty Certificate.

Workshop 2: February 2005:1-4 pm
Selection of Builder, Building Materials and Town Planning, Permaculture and Edible Landscape, Infrastructure.

Workshop 3 - March 2005
Morning - Final Design, Final Materials and Final Infrastructure, Building Underway

Workshop 4: March 2005
Afternoon - Permaculture and Edible Landscape, the ECOproperty Certificate.

Workshop 5: April/May 2005
Morning : Building and Landscaping Underway. From Decisions to Reality - the Progress, pitfalls, successes so far.

Workshop 6: April/May 2005
Afternoon: Completion of House 1 -What We Know Now and Lessons Learned about designs, materials, trades and suppliers.

Workshop 7: June/July 2005
Completion of House 2, What We Know Now and Lessons Learned. The critical path of sustainable housing.

Workshop 8: EcoProperty Certificate, Real Estate and Property Development. Celebration, Final analysis, CD launch.

(Dates are subject to approvals, timelines and the weather please contact the office for confirmation)

Workshops will be held on site in Daylesford

Additional workshop dates may be offered. Special workshops available for groups or on consultancy.

Price: Individual Workshops: $38.50 per person.
        All day workshops: $77.00 per person. (includes shared lunch)

Register your interest by emailing
admin06@eco.com.au or phone
EcoProperty on (03) 5348 1546

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Daylesford, Central Victoria

In 1994 a 2200m2 block of land in the Central Victorian country town was purchased with the plan to build 2-3 houses with home office/studios and other shared resources. Key aims were energy efficiency, to counter the emerging public image that 'green' housing only provided limited choice in design, to use recycled materials and environmental products.

The first house was built in 1995 easily achieving well above the 5 star Energy Victoria rating. This included easy options like passive solar design, having the stairs to the attic bedroom closed off from the living area, a wood heater rather than an open fire.

The use of materials was not part of the rating we but used second hand windows or windows made from recycled timbers, second hand doors, and recycled timber for the kitchen, the stairs and bathroom cupboards. It was curious and joyful living in a house which did not feel new, neighbours and visitors commenting about the nice renovation!

As Daylesford is in the middle of the Wombat State Forest we chose a timber house specifying no rainforest timbers. A cement slab provides the thermal mass. The garden has been developed to be an edible landscape of fruit and nut trees, with productive crops such as garlic and cut flowers.

The next stage of the project commenced with the inaugural OzECO Design Competition for a Concept Plan for the other 1-2 dwellings and studios/home offices and shared resources. Currently in this township the block of land could be sub-divided into three titles.

The key aims of the Competition were to consider embodied energy efficiency, particularly in the building materials. This included materials such as straw bale, rammed or poured earth, mud brick, new or secondhand timber, new or second hand brick. Despite being a wet and cold climate the recent drought had increased the emphasis on water retention. Grey and black water systems and composting toilets were to be considered with the overriding principles for site development being Permaculture.

This project will continue during 2004, to be involved in project, see workshop info above.

Erskineville, Sydney, NSW.

A 300m2 inner city suburban block with reasonably good solar access and a rear lane on to a park. The first step of this project was assessment of whether the old Victorian weatherboard and fibro cottage could or should be retained. This was to include retrofitting and incorporation into a new building, or if not, whether the materials could or should be recycled. For example, considerable pest damage 10 years ago, which was 'nuked' with traditional pest control methods. Solar power, possibly through the building materials, and Grid connection, were to be considered, as well as water retention, black and greywater systems and composting toilets.

During 1998 two teams developed their Concept Plan for the site. The brief included two energy efficient dwellings, home office/studios, Permaculture and embodied energy efficiency.

One of the teams who considered the existing dwelling and sheds should be demolished was selected and the Concept Plan was submitted to Council for discussion.

Council's response was that an Heritage Assessment should be undertaken before demolition could be considered.

A Heritage Architect was engaged and the following assessment indicated the dwelling should be retained as a fine example of inner Sydney architecture from the early 1900s. Consequently, we are now in the process of adjusting our Brief to retrofit the existing dwelling to retain the heritage aspects.

This Project will continue during 2004.

We welcome your feedback and input about our Projects. In particular we would welcome information about similar Projects being undertaken around the world.

If you have a question or comments please email us - cj@eco.com.au.