Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 26, 2009 11:08 am 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 2Apr 26, 2009 12:19 pm Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 3Apr 28, 2009 11:00 am Our house thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18335 Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 5Apr 28, 2009 3:47 pm Our house thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18335 Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 7Apr 28, 2009 6:59 pm Sure do....what is it exactly that you would like to know Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 8Apr 29, 2009 10:12 am ![]() Sure do....what is it exactly that you would like to know Everything? Our house thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18335 Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 9Apr 29, 2009 10:24 am Getting back to the main point, I think some builders do make the most out of having to make your house '5-star rated'. Its definitely a question one should ask when investigating builders, some builders cop the costs to make the house 5-star, I know ours do and have for us. But other builders will charge you good $$'s to upgrade insulation, solar panels etc, which we copped at contract stage with a different builder - no mention of it prior its just there as a large figure when they have you with pen in hand to sign so I completely understand the concerns! I don't think this thread is a rant about having to be sustainable and spending some extra $'s - I think the point is some builders use this as a money making scheme and are not reasonable about it. ICK So glad the building is over, never again. Loooove our house, but still not quite sure it was worth all of the stress they put us through! Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 10Apr 29, 2009 10:58 am ![]() I don't think this thread is a rant about having to be sustainable and spending some extra $'s - I think the point is some builders use this as a money making scheme and are not reasonable about it. IMO they should make the laws so no builder can advertise a non-5 star compliant plan, presuming it was on a flat block and whatever direction they choose for facing. Advertising a house that under no circumstances would pass 5 star is like advertising a non-roadworthy car. Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 11Apr 29, 2009 11:14 am ![]() I don't think this thread is a rant about having to be sustainable and spending some extra $'s - I think the point is some builders use this as a money making scheme and are not reasonable about it. I agree. Btw grey water refers to water from your washing machine and shower. Some systems simply hold it temporarily but if you don't do anything it is released automatically to the garden within a certain time (24 hours I think) and it needs to be used with an irrigation system in the ground rather than sprinklers or a hose so as not to create spray mist. Other systems, obviously more expensive, actually treat it so it can be stored for longer and doesn't need quite the same precautions as untreated grey water. Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 12Apr 29, 2009 6:02 pm hmmm this issue seems to be similar, well allow me to draw summary: "they were 'forced' to add approx 15K of additions to their house for sustainable living improvements" * there can be 2 possibilities here: A. they were not 5 star rating. so they need to be standardise to 5 star rating B. they were 5 star rating, but their location is too good, hence council required them to be "above" 5 star rating. Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() Final stage Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 13Apr 29, 2009 6:22 pm we got our 5 star easy without using solar or sustainable stuff not a big deal for us not sure why now stay safe happy building Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 14Apr 29, 2009 6:26 pm ![]() Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() If the front of your block faces north that isn't so good, unless all your living areas at the front of the house (highly unlikely). North is best for the living areas, usually the side or rear of the plan. Plus if your block faces north, many estates will not let the solar panel on the front of the house, that means it has to go on the side (east or west) and will get less sun, hence the need for an extra panel. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 15Apr 29, 2009 6:49 pm I guess the other question about being 'forced' to take certain actions is whether it was an estate requirement- my estate requires a rainwater tank of a certain size (based on block size). Joles' estate requires certain colour choices. These estate requirements are what you agree to when you purchase a block in that estate. Of course, I'm not sure if this was the situation for Desmondp's friends, but just a thought! Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 16Apr 29, 2009 7:35 pm hi joles i am on corner block, facing east. the long side facing north. (my living area is facing north) i wonder if i still be required to add another panel ? thought north side is the best side ? ![]() ![]() ![]() Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() If the front of your block faces north that isn't so good, unless all your living areas at the front of the house (highly unlikely). North is best for the living areas, usually the side or rear of the plan. Plus if your block faces north, many estates will not let the solar panel on the front of the house, that means it has to go on the side (east or west) and will get less sun, hence the need for an extra panel. Final stage Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 17Apr 29, 2009 8:24 pm ![]() Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() This is interesting. The back of my house where the living area is, also facing north. They did tell me it is a good location too but didn't say that i need to add more panel, just the standard one will do. Is this something to do with council or the land developer? Blog - http://clageonewhouse.blogspot.com/ Building Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10886&hilit=milan I am in, with my husband and my beautiful bunny Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 18Apr 29, 2009 8:30 pm ![]() ![]() Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() This is interesting. The back of my house where the living area is, also facing north. They did tell me it is a good location too but didn't say that i need to add more panel, just the standard one will do. If your block faces North, like d3p has said hbis does, then the rear is South facing and the ideal location for a solar panel is North but you wont put a solar panel on the roof at the front of your house. So, if the front of your house faces South, like mine then the rear is North and ideal for a solar panel and my living areas are North and West which is great ![]() 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 19Apr 29, 2009 8:33 pm ![]() hi joles i am on corner block, facing east. the long side facing north. (my living area is facing north) i wonder if i still be required to add another panel ? thought north side is the best side ? ![]() ![]() ![]() Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() If the front of your block faces north that isn't so good, unless all your living areas at the front of the house (highly unlikely). North is best for the living areas, usually the side or rear of the plan. Plus if your block faces north, many estates will not let the solar panel on the front of the house, that means it has to go on the side (east or west) and will get less sun, hence the need for an extra panel. The North side is best, but if you are on a corner and the North faces out ward to the street, your estate may not allow you to have one on the North side so they may have relocated it. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Getting Conned by Forced Sustainable Living Additions 20Apr 29, 2009 9:16 pm ![]() ![]() ![]() Interestingly enough, went to builder, i was told, because my land facing North, which is good.... council probably require me to install another one solar panel in addition to my current 1 panel solar hot water plan. I am like what ?? Basically what they are trying to say: because i own land in very good position, they ask me to put some more $$$towards my solar panel ? doesn't it suppose, the government should give me $$$ instead ? hm.... ![]() This is interesting. The back of my house where the living area is, also facing north. They did tell me it is a good location too but didn't say that i need to add more panel, just the standard one will do. If your block faces North, like d3p has said hbis does, then the rear is South facing and the ideal location for a solar panel is North but you wont put a solar panel on the roof at the front of your house. So, if the front of your house faces South, like mine then the rear is North and ideal for a solar panel and my living areas are North and West which is great ![]() The aspect of our block is identical to yours Lisanne. I am all for the 5 star rating and more, it's a big part of why we are moving as the current place is very cold in winter and the power bills are huge. No thought was given to how it faces on the block so all the living areas face south. And on the east side there are big floor to ceiling windows that cop the sun in summer and make it hot and uncomfortable early in the day, then we are stuck with a hot house all day. Anyway, the new house is position correctly on the block, we upgraded the ceiling insulation and added wall insulation. Also added an extra solar panel on the roof for the HWS and we purchased land in an estate that uses recycled water. Oh, and most of our windows in the east side have only a 700 drop and the west side will have a big pergola running the length of it, or walls with no windows. Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." 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