Energy Education Australia Inc.

1. The Task:
Create a model to scale that represents a dwelling on an allotment, designed for a sustainable, energy efficient house and surrounds that could be on any street within your school’s local area with regard to:

• Australian building standards and local building requirements
• State and Local Government requirements regarding
• Solar power and feed back to the grid
• Use of water saving devices
• Use of various building materials to eliminate draught, energy wastage etc
• State and Local Government recommendations re:
• Colour scheme
• Building position on allotment
• Garden requirement(s) e.g.:
  • deciduous trees to allow the house to be warmed in winter and shielding glass areas etc in summer
  • curved paths without lots of concrete etc, to minimise summer heat being reflected into the house
• Water catchments and recycling
• Star Rating System for building approval

• scaled allotment size: maximum 1000mm X 750mm – minimum 500mm X 375mm

2. The Format:
Two main submissions are required.

Some of these requirements will be addressed by completing the following:

• The completed model must be made to scale based on a prepared plan
• Have photographs of the houses in the area of the selected location
• Have a realistic size allotment covering depth, width and any other encumbrance imposed in the area including easements etc
• All local government requirements pertaining to the area to be listed
• The application should consider the Star Rating requirements (reference to Sustainable Victoria’s First Rate software or CSIRO’s Accurate software) applicable for building approvals in South Australia
• With the judges discuss and clarify design decisions made during the exerci

3. Sources of Information:
As well as the star rating program, students would be wise to consult with their:

• local council building inspector’s office
• local nursery or Botanical Gardens
• local builders or members of the Master Builders Association or HIA
• state government’s Department of Energy
• essential services suppliers
• state’s Bureau of Meteorology or power supplier to gauge annual local temperatures
• see the internet links sheet available from www.energy.edu.au/energy_house_comp_links.html

4. What Forms a Team:
A team can be made up of a class or a combined group of students from the same school or educational institution.

5. Entry Requirements:
Entry forms are available from both organisations or may be downloaded in pdf form from Energy Education Australia Inc website – www.energy.edu.au/energy_event_submission.html. Entries need to be registered with the organisers by Friday the 20th June 2008. Judging will be by eminent experts in the field of sustainable housing at Victor Harbor on Sunday 19th October 2008. Please address all questions to either of the contacts listed below.