I think it's about time I posted here!
I will upload a few plans later, but basically we are building carefully designed double brick and steel home in the wheatbelt in WA.
We're using a small boutique builder (who it seems no one else on here is/has used) and we've gone to town on one of their not quite released new plans and made it our own.
A lot of little things - windows that are higher so that there is less sun time, eaves at 90cm (the recommended is 86cm but we live in the balmy hot desert country so we're going a smidge more again), increased thermal mass (double brick and steel and significant concrete path around) to help with the winter frost temperatures, using the carport to shade the western side of the house and pergolas on the southern side to provide a microclimate for an alfresco area in summer (cover it in grapes for cool leafy green) and allow sun in during winter months. All main use rooms are located on the northern face of the house (main bedrooms, living area, home theatre/study) and all wet areas are located on the southern side (advantage - simpler plumbing). Roof vents and extra insulation, double brick for insulating properties, windows to have double and triple layers of curtains - as if not more effective than double glazing and has added bonus of managing heat as well as cool.
At the time of build we're including grey water and rain water collection and tanks - very cheap to include at this point in time we've discovered.
We've signed the build contract, done what everyone else is calling preselection? Picked tiles and taps and designed the kitchen and selected doors basically. Now it's waiting on the bank to say they like it, then it's all systems go.