Executive Summary
o 'Tullerooke' was originally built in 1985-86. As a typical house of its era, mostly double brick with some cladding and lightweight walls, the house had some northern orientation, but was too small for the new owners, and oppressingly low with its slightly less than 2.4 m ceilings, especially given that one of the new owners is 6' 6.

o The brief included:
- increase footprint and the accommodation (including extending living area, addition of music room, guest room, and parents' wing);
- update the existing bathroom & add another;
- maximise views, from north all the way around to south-east;
- increase ceiling height, or at least perception thereof;
- terracing of landscape and removal of ring road; and
- make the building function more efficiently with the incorporation of solar passive design features as well as active systems. Given the extremes of climate, located in the New England, the new building needed to cater for hot summers and cold winters. Both passive and active measures were to be employed, including maximising the existing hydronic heating system, previously gas-fired, with an updated and extended solar-heated system.

Green Building Factors:
1. Site & Landscaping
o The existing location afforded excellent views from NW around to SW, though they were not necessary taken advantage of. Fortunately, the gist of the living areas of the house also already faced north.
o Nestled by the side of the hill, this also offered the opportunity to build a cellar into the side of the hill, creating natural insulation to the room.
o Extensive landscaping has been used to maximise the slopes and native vegetation, removing the unsightly ring road, with terracing and steps rather than the previously existing steep and unusable hillsides.
o Planting is in progress, using locally sourced shredded paper waste and straw for mulching in preparation for the coming spring. An assortment of productive vegetable beds, natives and flower gardens are planned.
o The previous ring road has been removed, as well as the bland expanses of concrete driveway. The new driveway along the western side of the house is standard road base topped with locally sourced gravel for a low maintenance and sympathetic finish, that also drains well rather than providing an impervious surface.

2. Water
o Although connected to the town water supply, two rainwater tanks have also been added, collecting runoff from a major section of roof. One tank is plumbed directly to the kitchen sink, for cooking and drinking (permissible and in fact encouraged in this city), whilst the other leads to the garden irrigation system.
o All new plumbing fixtures are rated for water efficiency, and a front-loading washing machine has also been installed in the laundry
o Landscaping is designed to minimise water demand, including layering of terraces, swales, mulching and choice of plants

3. Solar Passive Design
o The renovated house is significantly more energy efficient than it was previously. Maximising solar gain into northern facing rooms ensures maximum opportunity for appropriate solar gain, and, as well as a solar tube in internal areas, provides ample natural day-lighting, thus reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
o Further the use of eaves, pergolas, and double glazing all mitigate the reduction of unwanted heat gain in summer and unwanted heat loss in winter. The double glazing also allows for the positioning of south-facing windows in the living room to maximise the view without undue heat loss.
o An existing veranda along the western face has been extended to help reduces unwanted summer sun, though this is also partly sheltered by the side of the hill.
o However, in winter the same hill causes overshadowing and by strategically placing clear sheet roofing over the windows, there is still light allowed into those rooms located along this side of the house, that would otherwise be very dark (as they were prior to the renovation work).

4. Thermal Comfort
o Given the extremes of the New England Climate (mid 30's in summer, -10, snow and frost in winter, and a diurnal range of 25+ degrees in spring and autumn), the need for an adaptable house is essential.
o The use of shading by eaves, pergola and veranda reduce unwanted heat gain in summer, and along with adequate breeze paths, allows for ample cooling of the house in summer, without the need for active systems. For winter, whilst the sun penetrates well into the house during the day, all windows are now double glazed, and all ceilings and external walls fully insulated, additional heating is still needed, though with a reduced loading due to the improved solar passive nature of the house overall.
o The existing house had an in-slab heating system based on a gas-heated water tank, with oil back-up. The new system, ex-tended from the old system to separately controlled zones in the new areas, re-places the gas and oil with a solar heating system, with gas back-up and if absolute-ly necessary, additional electric off-peak back-up. However, even with the recent cold snaps, the booster has not been necessary as the 20 roof-mounted panels more than adequately supply enough water to both heat the slab and supply hot water to bathrooms and kitchen.
o The system, redesigned and installed by local specialist, Don Partridge, works as follows:
- An array of 20 Beasley flat plate solar panels on the roof heat the water, and run by a low wattage solar pump, controlled by a solar differential controller, the heated water provides both the floor heating systems, and general hot water use. A 420 litre copper storage tank preheats the hot water that is fed into the 315 litre Beasley tank. From here, water is either used for general hot water use, or run through manifolds to feed the hydronic floor heating system. Different areas have different temperatures, due to the nature of the flooring (terra cotta tiles versus floating timber floor). During poor weather, the main tank is boosted by an LP Gas hydronic boiler, or using off-peak electricity to run the internal elements. However, with the large array of panels, some 40 sq.m., the boosting is rarely needed, even during the recent snow.
o The addition of the fireplace in the living room, whilst providing a wonderful heat bank, is more for aesthetic appeal than need.

5. Materials
o Walls: Given the nature of the existing building, walls were retained where possible, and even with changed room layouts and uses, internal walls were kept in many cases. The low ceiling (2.1 m in some places) was deemed unacceptable, so the whole top plate was raised to 2.7m.
o Additional demolished materials were able to be reused to some degree, and as it was not possible to match the existing brickwork, reused bricks, plus left-over commons, were utilised and the final building rendered with a natural earth render. Ochre was used in the mix to obtain the desired colour, so that the coating will not require painting.
o The bagging extends to the garage and exposed areas of the cellar, as well as the retaining walls to the terraces. These walls are also topped with old railway sleepers to provide suitable terracing, whilst the northern wall to the hillsides has been reinforced with second-hand timber pallets placed on an angle. These will eventually fill with plants to assist in stabilising the wall.

o Windows & Glazing: All windows and glazed doors are now double glazed. All existing windows were replaced so that they could be double glazed, except for the bathrooms, retaining the existing opening sizes where appropriate.
o Aluminium windows were chosen over timber due to the minimal maintenance required.
o Clear sheet roofing has been placed in sections over the western veranda to allow sectional light into the otherwise dark western rooms (due to overshadowing from the western hill).o Macralon covering has been installed over the NE pergola, provide protection from rain, allowing light in in winter, but summer shade and filtered protection in summer.

o Insulation: Whilst the existing fibreglass insulation was maintained where possible, all new insulation used was polyester-wool blend, with R2.5 to all external walls, and R3.5 to all ceilings.
o All new external walls, as well as the roof, are sarked.
o In the living area, as a compromise to a full raked ceiling, the area has scissor trusses instead, allowing for some ceiling space and full insulation between trusses and roofing above.

o Floor coverings: a natural terracotta tile is used throughout most of the house, with low maintenance, as well as their aesthetic appeal, a requirement of the Clients. Timber strip flooring was installed in the new bedroom wing, and a pure wool, locally made carpet in the remaining bedrooms.

o External paving: the pavers to the courtyard and around the perimeter of the building are natural earth block, sealed to prevent deterioration.
o The driveway is locally sourced gravel and road base.

o Eaves: the eaves were lined with mini-orb so that no future painting maintenance will be required.

Client: Eric Baker and Astrid Knirsch
Architect: Mahalath Halperin Architects, Armidale, NSW
Builder: Ross Hammond Building Services, Armidale, NSW
Structural Engineer: R F Wright & Associates, Armidale, NSW
Solar Heating System: Don Partridge, Armidale, NSW
Landscape Design: The Clients; Susie Ross, Sydney; and the Architects;
Landscape Construction: Greenscene, Armidale, NSW