Our research revealed one constant. Minimise leakage and any heat (energy) will remain largely within the volume. Even a running bath will provide heating to such a volume.

We initiated the idea that a centralised THERMAL WALL would provide much of the heating requirements. This wall would be made of sheet steel for its ‘radiator' qualities and would contain as much as possible the energy based services for the building. It would be pre fabricated - able to be added to and reconfigured and filled in parts by sand to create additional thermal mass - all water piping would be integrated and fully accessible if the sand was removed for access. Heat from appliances, light fittings (all located on the wall), water reticulation and people would be caught in a horizontal duct at the top of the wall and distributed as required. Radiant heat would be trapped in ceiling ‘rooms' and returned by ducting and/or water pipe conductors to the central heat duct.

Dropped divisions at each bay and a 2 way sloping roof enable the heat to be managed within the bays or caught at the highest point and returned. ‘Cast in" water pipes sitting on the inside surface of wall and ceiling panels assist in the management of captive heat.

This system would be boosted as required by an efficient energy source/system, preferably high efficiency chip heaters. Fresh air is introduced to the system through ducting that travels underground and thus assists in temperature management, into the thermal wall to be balanced with both fresh air supply and specific ducted air from shower and sink areas (see plan) so that the outcome temperature of fresh air intake is manageable.

Large earth walls are cost efficient thermal mass and barriers and excellent beds for tree growth. The steel blade wall is connected to steel floor planks and subsurface water - and in turn to steel grates at the base of the window. Hot air rises up the window face across the water pipe walls and into ceiling rooms - this hot to cold cycle reticulates the system.

Wall and ceiling panels are 270mm insulated steel (5mm) clad panels with water pipes connected to the inside face (2mm). The panels are bonded - steel sheets are thus isolated and water reticulation pipes are connected to the sub floor water store system in a sealed and controlled loop - heat is evicted into this system.

Triple glazing is located at the base of panels on the south side only - the slope of the wall is to optimise sun incidence in winter and the location of glass is to best effect the cast of sun onto the thermal mass/capacity of the floor - the entire system is intended to be simple and direct. An externally mounted white lightshelf assists to bounce light into the building and multiple highly insulated double hung shutters seal the inside of the building in extreme conditions.

The prefabricated door box is also triple glazed with internal shutters. The garage end is a solid fully insulated room with solid doors - heat from the returning cars is captured by the ceiling water pipes and also transferred back into the central ducted system.

Heated water pipes run through the floor of the north corridor with rising heat again caught by water pipes and/or the ducted air handling system. Warmed air is also ducted vertically on grid and released as required (manually) by floor grilles - the user determines the distribution of heated air and on thermostat controls the distribution of caught ceiling air.

The selective use of southern light is considered of significant emotional benefit to home users. The living courtyard is deliberately to the west for both livability and optimum afternoon sun advantage. It is anticipated this courtyard will be the area of users self expression with regard to additional structures, etc.

The design of the building form has direct correlation with the performance of the building. Optimum efficiencies are being created by managing both the source of all energies and the character of that energy. This building is a simple model of least waste when managed intelligently.

CARDBOARD is proposed for interior finishes. Recent work with cardboard confirms that most interior fitout options could be made up of this material - it would be proposed to develop a kit of parts that could be purchased in any chosen configuration to make an interior, parts would include furnishings and fittings.

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