Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Consulting Services

Empowering Better Home Design and Building Practices for a More Sustainable, Healthy Future.

Professional Consulting to Support Residential

Concepts and Design

NatHERS Modelling and Whole of Home Assessments

Conscious Solutions for Resilient, Efficient and Healthy Homes

Support for Homeowners, Architects, Designers and Builders

Client Services

Residential Design, Construction and Specification Advice for Energy Efficiency, Thermal Performance and Building Health.
Thermal Optimisation Reports.
Site Climate Studies.
National Home Energy Rating Scheme Modelling and Certificates.
Whole of Home Assessments and Certificates.

Consciously Designed

We are passionate about creating homes that are healthy, efficient, self-sustainable and beautifully functional while treading lightly on the planet. What better way to show what's possible in this space than by doing it ourselves!

We design and project manage our own developments, working closely with skilled local builders and trades to create better homes for a better future.

Our first project, Shindy's Beach House is also our own home. It's been quite the journey and there's lots to share. Follow along @shindysbeachhouse_build by clicking below.

FOLLOW ALONG HERE

My teammate, Building Designer Mark Edmonds @unmarkedearth and I are very proud to have met the True Zero Carbon Challenge for 2024 with our entry, Mura House. Whilst we may not have won we are very proud of Mura House and everything it was able to achieve. This home, designed for the Canberra climate zone, achieved an 8.0 star NatHERS rating, a 122/100 Whole of Home rating, and with a total Embodied Carbon calculation of 149.8 tonnes, it paid off that carbon debt by 2048 becoming True Net Zero. It would've been 2045 without the steel garden shed, pesky garden sheds with short life spans 😂

We created this home to be an example of how relatively easy it is to build a True Net Zero home using standard construction techniques (timber framed construction, vapour permeable membranes with ventilation cavities throughout, concrete slab foundations) and readily available but consciously chosen materials (Ecopacy concrete, recycled brick, Weathertex cladding, recycled timber flooring etc).

We also incorporated aspects of Healthy Home principles (healthy material choices, conscious positioning of services etc) and self-sustainability (rainwater capture and use, food production, solar energy generation and storage, all-electric home appliances).

But it all starts with good design for orientation, harnessing the warmth of the sun when you need it and shading it out when you don't. Mark did a wonderful job of this and I'm so grateful and proud of everything we created and learnt together through the challenge.

Thanks Mark and thanks to Design Matters and particularly Jeremy Spencer @positivefootprints for all the knowledge and support along the way.

Huge congratulations to all the winners this year!!

Back in 2021 when I first started the design journey for our current build, I gratefully stumbled across Undercover Architect. I had already been studying different elements of design and sustainability but this was like finding an expert voice of reason that finally helped slot all the dominoes in place.

Amelia Lee is a phenomenal force in the industry and a trusted ally for many homeowners, like me, as they embark on the journey of creating their homes, however it is they choose to do that. I have learnt so much from Amelia through the Home Method course and fellow Home Method members, when I was given the opportunity to share our current project experience and what being part of this program has meant, I jumped at it. What an absolute privilege and a joy it has been to have this conversation. Here’s Part One, I hope you enjoy!

https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-a-new-home-build-with-family-and-sustainability/

#undercoverarchitect #secretally #consciously #consciouslydesigned #sustainablebuild #newhomebuild

Our first project is a special one, our own home! I’ve spent 2 years designing, testing and specifying materials for this project and it’s an ever evolving labour of love and discovery. Working with the fabulous team at @hlwprojects_ we’re excited to see this come to life in 2024! #consciouslydesigned #energyefficienthomes #sustainablebuild #coastalhome #beachsidebuild #greensmartbuild #healthyhome #7starplus

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