The eco-friendly laundry dryer by Asko was delivered for testing, with higher energy efficiency and less energy consumption. The old dryer in the test site was replaced by this dryer, which is more energy efficient than boiling a full kettle, meaning less cups of tea and more loads of washing!
We are getting closer to the final specifications for the project and with that the questions are flying thick and fast… What are the products we are to use? What materials? How do we decide? In any circumstance these questions are not easy to answer. The project team has weighed in where their areas of expertise lie and overlap.
Where possible we will be testing the products in the Barley Store Office, for compatibility of systems and functionality in real life context.
Zoo Automation products for the home controls and energy reporting have already started being installed and tested. Security system along with cameras will be next with the custom programming systems.
Direct Energy is on board as one of our Project Partners. Direct Energy is both designing and installing geothermal heating & cooling solutions to provide energy efficient air conditioning and hot water for the Project. The animation below demonstrates a typical Direct Geothermal system:
Today we had a meeting with Craig Chatman (ARKit). At this point we are close to finalising the structure of the build.
Points of discussion included:
– Sewage/ plumbing issues
– Electricity
– Transporting the build
– Material analysis
The following were discussed during the material analysis:
– Walls –wall lining options (e.g. plywood, bamboo, cork)
– Flooring systems –floor structure options
– Internals & finishings –e.g. bamboo, plastic, paperock compressed paper.
– Kitchen appliances –fridge, dishwashers, oven, etc.
– Bathroom finishes
After considering all the possible materials, final decisions are yet to be made. With the help of our other team members, Tai Hollingsbee and Dr Robert Crawford, we’ll be able to compare the embodied energy of each product and choose the most eco-friendly one.
The performance of our building should be finalised by the end of this month in which we will have a clear idea of the materials and appliances that will be used in the building.
At this rate, we hope to begin construction August 2013. Stay tuned for future updates!