Designer Construction Group’s Forest Lodge Eco Home has been awarded the 2014 HIA GreenSmart Home of the Year. The prestigious award is the highest accolade at the national HIA GreenSmart Awards which were announced today.
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The national awards recognise the best in environmentally-responsible housing and set the benchmark in progressive sustainable building techniques and products, said HIA managing director Shane Goodwin.
“Consumer demand for practical, affordable and durable environmental solutions for residential housing is ever growing. HIA is dedicated to recognising excellence in the field of environmental construction and design,” Mr Goodwin said.
“The HIA GreenSmart program is a voluntary initiative and one which our members can incorporate into their building practices in response to consumer demand. The GreenSmart Awards recognise the high standards and excellence among these practitioners.”
The winners were wide-spread from across Australia and included:
Designer Construction Group of NSW was awarded GreenSmart Home of the Year and also received the GreenSmart Custom Built Home award. The judges commented: “This home has utilised a garden green roof to collect energy, heat and water, embracing ground breaking technology and age old principles.”
MyStyle Homes from North Queensland won GreenSmart Display Home for an 8.5 star energy-rated home. An environmentally sustainable footprint is achieved with the use of on-site power generation; allowing the home to go off the grid, commented the judges.
Right Homes of Western Australia won GreenSmart Townhouse/Villa Development. “This innovative project maximises the building envelope for these four solar passive designed townhouses,” said the judges. “All units use a range of different building materials to contribute to efficiency ratings of up to 10 stars.
your abode of NSW won GreenSmart Renovation/Addition Project for a light-filled home that was responsive to seasonal climate changes. “Constructing two gable roofs running north-south with windows in each end provides natural light and passive solar heat gain in winter,” said the judges.
MAG Constructions, DNA Architects and Karin McNamara Design of the ACT won GreenSmart Energy Efficiency for a rotating home. The home achieves the best solar orientation and provides constant comfort for the occupants. The judges said: “The clever and compact design minimises space and material waste and is a great engineering feat carried out with finesse.”
Killarney Homes of the Northern Territory won GreenSmart Spec Home. The striking aspect of this home is its distinct architectural character, arising from an appropriate response to Darwin’s seasons, said the judges. “A house such as this not only promotes energy efficiency but also comfort and health for its occupants.’
Positive Footprints of Victoria won GreenSmart Project Home. This home is a holistic example of modern sustainable living which embodies sustainability, commentde the judges. The home has achieved this through the use of reverse brick veneer construction, waffle slab and lightweight claddings.
Jake Hickey of Instant Waste Management, Western Australian won GreenSmart Professional. Jake Hickey recognised a sustainability issue in the building industry and set out to create a solution. He has developed a construction and demolition material recovery facility and recycling system. His initiative reduces construction waste and promotes the reuse of recycled materials, said the judges.
Highbury Homes and Solar Dwellings of Western Australia won GreenSmart Water Efficiency. This house is a first-rate example of a resource-efficient home featuring high efficiency shower heads, tap ware and appliances, repoetd the judges. The house has a direct diversion grey-water system to provide irrigation to the garden and a rainwater tank for all internal use.
GreenCoWater of Victoria won GreenSmart Product for their Pak Flat Tank. The Pak Flat Tank is an innovative product designed to eliminate the high logistic cost of delivering and installing standard tanks, said the judges.