Kawanda Muna - "North in front"
Norton Summit South Australia

Built in 1998, the home is complete in energy efficient design with many innovative additions.
The owners, John Smith & Jillian Miller say the house faces due north to make best use of the Sun,
the existing trees and the breezes. Correctly-sized eaves control the amount of solar gain.
Maximum insulation has been used throughout and the house incorporates a high level of
thermal mass storage in the form of concrete slab-on-ground floor and rammed-earth
walls made of local quarry rubble compacted on site.

Roof: Corrugated Colorbond steel
Glazing/windows: Insulating blinds and “shrink-wrap” double glazing.
Appliances & equipment: A Dowmus Biolytic Filter treats food, cardboard, and human
wastes using earthworms, slaters & slugs. Appliances such as the dishwasher and washing
machine have been selected for their AAA water ratings, five star energy ratings,
performances and durability. The fridge, the lights, the gas hotplate and oven, and the
instant-gas boosted solar hot-water system have been selected to minimise the use of electricity.
The hot water can be boosted in winter by the slow-combustion stove or electricity.
Special features: Trombe wall for thermal storage and release and the house has its
own grid-interactive, 986 watt PV (photovoltaic) cells on a tracker and these provide up to
60-90% of electrical needs, depending on the season and the behavioral changes of the occupants.
Energy Rating/consumption data: Warm in winter and cool in summer with no need for
air-conditioning or artificial heating. The January-March 2002 quarter cost just $30, of
which $4.50 was for the electricity used & the rest for the supply charge but the
winter quarter is closer to $80 (for two people). As well the home uses
60-70 Kg of LPG each year which costs about $100.

Other: Recycled bluestone and Oregon timber used to best effect. The 16 external doors,
the fans and the casement windows, and a phase-change Trombe wall are used to remove
excess heat, or draw in cool air from outside. Careful attention has been paid to the detail
of the house to minimise both embodied and running energy, water use and waste. Smartflow
gutters collect 45000 litres rainwater, which is stored before being pumped (by the sun) to
the whole house. And all this cost less than a $1,000 per square metre, completed.

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