The HIA 2017 Australian GreenSmart winners were announced online on Tuesday 5 September 2017 with Victoria’s The Sociable Weaver taking out the main award. Here’s a full wrap up of all the winners:
Australian GreenSmart Home of the Year
Winner: The Sociable Weaver – Victoria
With a distinctive butterfly-shaped roof for optimal solar penetration, the 2017 Australian GreenSmart Home of the Year is a stunning 10 star home designed to maximise energy efficiency. It is a superb example of how a home can be beautiful, modern, functional, affordable and sustainable. http://thesociableweaver.com.au/
Finalists:
DJG Projects – Queensland
Right Homes – Western Australia
Eco-Essence Homes – Queensland
Positive Footprints – Victoria
GreenSmart Custom Built Home
Winner: DJG Projects – Queensland
This home is an impressive off-grid sustainable house controlled by smart automation. A photovoltaic system runs the building management system, offering real time data on the home’s energy and water usage. It monitors the energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, Wi-Fi and shower, even cutting off the water supply if wastage is detected. https://www.facebook.com/djgprojects/
Finalists:
Ambe Engineering, Pierre Dragh Consulting Engineers, ModArch Architects and Feature Homes – ACT/ Southern NSW
Kenick Constructions – North Queensland
Carty Homes – NSW
South Coast Constructions – South Australia
Paradigm Construction – Tasmania
Sage Homes and Constructions – Tasmania
Valley Workshop – Tasmania
Beach House Constructions – Victoria
Homes with Integrity – Victoria
SO’R Construction – Victoria
Working Dog Construction – Victoria
Econstruct – Western Australia
GreenSmart Display Home
Winner: The Sociable Weaver – Victoria
This display home is built with a zero-waste philosophy that is carbon positive and has been built to achieve a 10 star energy rating. It is a prime example of a comfortable and sustainable home. The solar system complements phase change material in the walls and ceiling, which store and regulate heat. The home entirely self-heats and cools resulting in no utility bills. http://thesociableweaver.com.au/
Finalists:
MyStyle Homes (QLD) – North Queensland
Geoff Gibson Homes – Queensland
GreenSmart Townhouse/Villa Development
Winner: Right Homes – Western Australia
With an emphasis on using recycled and renewable materials, and implementing GreenSmart principles, these 8 and 9.5-star townhouses are cost-effective and energy-efficient homes. Each home features low-VOC paint, six-star tapware, 4.5-star and above toilets, low-E glazed doors and windows, 2.4 kilowatt photovoltaic systems and solar hot water units. http://righthomes.com.au/
Finalist:
Living Green Designer Homes – Hunter
GreenSmart Renovation / Addition Project
Winner: Positive Footprints – Victoria
This home was transformed from a ‘leaky, creaky, dark rabbit-warren’ to a bright environment for a growing family. Several features make this house carbon positive. The roof is designed to maximise solar access. Phase-change sheets installed in the upper ceiling mitigate overheating, while insulation was added to the existing house. Power is supplied with a 4.7kilowatt photovoltaic grid connect system. http://positivefootprints.com.au/
Finalists:
Blue Eco Homes – NSW
Sowden Building Solutions – NSW
Phil Kelleher Homes – Western Australia
GreenSmart Spec Home
Winner: Eco-Essence Homes – Queensland
With a NatHERS thermal performance rating of 8.5 stars, this home has been designed to take advantage of passive solar heating and Queensland’s year-round natural light. With a north-facing kitchen, living area and multi-purpose room, this comfortable home has reduced reliance on artificial heating and cooling. http://www.ecoessencehomes.com.au/
Highly Commended:
Rustic Touch – Hunter
Finalist:
Mirvac Homes (NSW) – NSW
GreenSmart Energy Efficiency
Winner: Skookom – Tasmania
Completely off-grid, this home relies on a 4 kilowatt solar array and 250 watt Trina panels, with surplus energy used to recharge the homeowners’ electric car. Energy-efficient features include optimal orientation, a light-coloured roof, cleverly situated stone fireplace and a 400-litre roof-mounted hot water tank. http://www.skookom.com.au/
Highly Commended:
True-As Maintenance Contractors – ACT/ Southern NSW
Finalists:
Living Green Designer Homes – Hunter
Steele Associates – NSW
Killarney Homes – Northern Territory
Finlay Homes – North Queensland
Geoff Gibson Homes – Queensland
MacKenzie Homes & Commercial – South Australia
Ecoliv Buildings – Victoria
Econstruct – Western Australia
GreenSmart Water Efficiency
Winner: Right Homes – Western Australia
This contemporary single-storey home was designed to meet the customer’s hopes of having a modern, comfortable and efficient home. The measures taken to reduce water wastage resulted in a house that Right Homes says will consume 80 per cent less water than the average home. http://righthomes.com.au/
GreenSmart Professional
Winner: Michael Moriarty for Killarney Homes – Northern Territory
Michael Moriarty is no stranger to building green and building smart. A forward-thinking and enthusiastic GreenSmart Professional, Michael was the first builder in the Northern Territory to install solar hot water systems as standard – refusing to install inefficient systems. Michael is an expert in minimising cost and waste on his jobs. https://www.killarneyhomes.com.au/
Finalists:
Heather Ghidella for MyStyle Homes (QLD) – North Queensland
Rachel Whymark for Kenick Constructions – North Queensland
GreenSmart Product
Winner: Econ Wall and Econ Slab by Ambe Engineering – ACT/ Southern NSW
The Econ Wall and Econ Slab solutions harness the thermal mass properties of insulated concrete. The products act as a thermal battery to absorb, store, and later release thermal energy. Ambe Engineering is proud to provide affordable energy efficient building options for Australians. www.econwall.com
Finalists:
Trex Contour Decking by WCT Distributors – Western Australia
For more information and more images of all the winning projects visit http://housinglocal.com.au/hia-awards/greensmart-awards/17winners.aspx
