Suburban context The proposal satisfied City of Port Phillip’s Elwood Neighbourhood Character Study because it maintained the existing pattern of single houses. This is not therefore a project which seeks to achieve environmental credentials due to higher density of persons per sq.m, but rather by its application of ideas born out of the owners’ concern to upgrade an existing house type. Environmentally sustainable materials Much of the old house was retained, but upgraded with higher levels of ceiling insulation, weatherstripping, etc. Materials for the new construction are: plantation timber, veneer, recycled wood and Cypress Pine; clay bricks for thermal mass in internal walls; render, concrete strip footings, plasterboard, polyester batts, foil insulation and metal roofing. Joinery is plantation plywood. Kitchen doors are solid recycled plastic, joinery in bathrooms incorporates recycled Australian timbers. Passive solar Designed to combine north-facing windows with thermal mass and high levels of insulation to create warmth in winter. External windows and doors are double-glazed. For summer coolness, east and west windows are minimized, north windows are well-shaded. At night, windows are openable. Solar air heater The spa room/drying room has a polycarbonate roof which quickly heats up on sunny mornings. Heat is drawn off via ducts to the Study in the old part of the house, and to the Kitchen area on the south side of the extension. Natural summer night ventilation The ‘tail’ of the Gryphon is both a chimney and a duct

for cooling air on clear sky nights in summer. It is made of steel which radiates its heat directly to the night sky, which is below zero celcius, enabling the temperature of the steel to fall below air temperature. Air in the chimney is cooled and falls, exiting via fireplace. The stairway leads up to the ‘head’ of the Gryphon, creating a stack effect which draws warm air up and out through the ‘eyes’ (openable windows). Grid-connected photovoltaics The electricity generated is enough for the house during daytime, often with plenty left over. Excess is fed into the electricity grid, and redrawn as required. Rainwater tanks In the front yard, concealed under a pond, is a 22,000 litre concrete tank which receives water from the roof of the house. Another tank of 7,000 litres, located underground behind the house, receives water from the shed roof. Greywater recycling All of the waste water (except toilet) used in the house goes to a 2,500 litre Gardensaver tank. This grey water is used for toilet cisterns and garden watering. Permaculture landscaping The garden is by Amadis Lacheta, a Landscape Architect with an interest in permaculture and suitable planting for dry, sandy locations. Microprocessor-controlled electrical system The house is wired to allow functions to be controlled by building automation. Now used to control lighting settings, but will be extended to monitor internal and external temperature, and to open the high windows for night ventilation in summer.