The Cape Paterson Ecovillage is looking to set a national benchmark for sustainable architecture, aiming to achieve as close to a zero carbon standard as possible, and establishing a reference project for sustainable building for the development industry. With the onset of global warming, carbon trading and increasing costs for water and energy, the types of innovations and sustainability features of the ecovillage will make perfect economic sense.
Sustainable housing is important to reduce our dependence on natural resources. This overdependence is placing enormous strain on the major natural systems of the planet – forests, soils, air, oceans, rivers, wetlands. It is also important for the health of residents.
The Ecovillage will insist on housing that is built to environmentally sustainable principles. Building designs will emphasize:
- the orientation, size, footprint and proportion of the buildings
- appropriate insulation including special glazing
- solar hot water • renewable energy • minimal earthworks footprint on the site
- rainwater collection tanks • grey water treatment
- internally isolated thermal mass • natural ventilation
- use of renewable construction materials including plantation timber
- low energy electrical fitoff
- zoning within each house to reduce energy consumption
- use of non-toxic materials (to avoid toxic off-gassing)
- the embodied energy of the buildings
As you can see from these images, housing built to environmentally sustainable design principles can be creative, practical and very attractive. The Ecovillage will nominate a number of designers who have a proven record in building high quality, sustainable housing on time and on budget. Residents will be able to choose their own designer but all housing will be required to meet high standards of environmental performance and will be passed by a design review committee. The Ecovillage will assist residents and designers with resources and information so that the design, approvals and construction process is kept simple and is as user friendly as
possible.
