Right from conception our clients were black and white with requirements for achieving the Passive House principals documented on this home. The client was willing to pull the pin on the whole project rather than proceeding and compromising on the full Passive House vision he had.  The budget was limited when referenced against the vision for the build however, after gaining the Home builder stimulus package the project became achievable again.

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Highcroft House is a fully off-grid home perched above Hobart, with stunning views over the river Derwent.

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The home achieved a 9 star energy rating through the strategic use of insulated thermal mass in a burnished concrete slab, high levels of wall and ceiling insulation and German triple glazed windows that maximises the building's northern orientation.

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Passive House principles were employed throughout the entire build, with the airtight building envelope achieving 0.51 air changes per hour when pressurised to 50 pascals, safely below the strictest standard in the world. When coupled with mechanical ventilation heat recovery that supplies fresh air to the building while allowing heat contained in the exhaust air to be reused, the building returns high levels of comfort year-round with minimal energy requirements.

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Materials were selected for their cost effectiveness, longevity, low maintenance, and capacity to withstand severe fire weather in the building's bush environment.

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Despite being off grid, the home aims to achieve zero emissions through opting for electric appliances coupled with a 14kW solar system that is designed to integrate an electric vehicle.

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Other sustainable features include heat pump hot water, a 140,000 litre water tank, and low-VOC paints. 

 

This home won the 2022 HIA Tasmanian Greensmart Home of the year of which we were very proud to be part of.