Next Open Day - 7 August 2010 here

 In early 2009 Alice Springs residents were given the chance to participate in a sustainability make-over of of their own home. Alice Solar City in conjunction with Desert Smart COOLmob, went on the search for a household to become a public showcase for sustainble living.

More than 60 entries were received from the community with six being shortlisted before the final property was chosen.

The owner occupier who owns the the Sustainable Living House purchased the property in 2007 and has since been working to make the home more sustainable.

The energy saving measures coordinated by Alice Solar City have been finalised and  include:

• Solar water heating;
• Solar photovoltaic system;
• Painting the roof white;
• Replacing ceiling insulation;
• Installation of external shading on western wall;
• Energy efficient lighting - 240 volt fluorescent and LED;
• Replacing the fridge with more energy efficient model
• Replacing the washing machine with a more energy and water efficient model and
• Smart meter, Cost Reflective electricity tariffs and in-house displays of energy consumption and generation.

 The coordination of a range of water efficiency measures by desertSMART COOLmob includes:

• Water efficient taps and fittings in the bathroom and kitchen;
• Improved water management for garden;
• Rain water harvesting; and
• Grey water treatment and diverstion system to irrigate the garden.

Open Day

The next Sustainable Living House Open Day will be held on Saturday 7 August 2010, 

The house will be open from 12.00pm to 3:00pm with staff on hand from Alice Solar City and desertSMART CoolMOB to answer your questions.

 A joint initiative between Alice Solar City and DesertS MART COOLmob, the home on Kurrajong Drive has over 18 energy and water saving devices.

If you are looking to make your house more sustainable, don’t pass up the opportunity to come and see, touch and feel a wide range of measures and experience for yourself how effective they can be.

Self-guided tours give visitors an insight to the latest energy and water saving technology. Energy efficient measures include installation of an external skin and adjustable shading, solar hot water, solar power, LED lighting,energy efficient appliances and an LCD energy use display showing energy generation and consumption. 

 Visitors can also view the gardens that have been established along with the native plant identifiction display and get information on the
grey water treatment and diversion system.
 

Alice Solar City adn desertSMART COOLmob would like to thank the following organisations and individuals for their contribution to the project:

• Roche Products
• Power and Water Corporation
• Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sports
• Aird Lands Environment Centre
• Alice Springs Desert Park
• Roger Chapman

The following local businesses have also donated their time to help bring this project to fuitition.

• CKS Electrical
• Barry Harrison Painting
• Flavell Plumbing

More than 250 people inspected Alice Springs Sustainable Living House at the inaugural open day in September 2009.  Since then over 300 people have visited the house during the regular Open Days. 

 At our Open Day held in April 2010, in order to help us make your visit to the house more worthwhile, we asked visitors to give us some feedback on the house.  Everyone who took part in the survey went in a draw to win a book of tickets to the the Alice Springs inemas.   Catherine Veto was the winner.  Thank you to all those that participated.

Open days will be held every 2 months over the next 2 years.

 PLEASE NOTE - THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING HOUSE IS A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DWELLING AND THUS TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THE OWNER, ANYONE INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE HOUSE SHOULD STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE PUBLIC OPEN DAYS AND TIMES ONLY.