Carbon-neutral home to be built

The SA State Government’s Land Management Corporation (LMC) and its partner in the ‘Zero Carbon Challenge’ competition, the Integrated Design Commission (IDC), have issued an expression of interest that invites professional teams with expertise in architecture, structural engineering, construction costing, building services, water-sensitive urban design, sustainability and industrial design to register their interest in building a carbon-neutral home.

The brief is to design a three-bedroom home, considering the embodied and operating energy that minimises the impact for the life of the building.

Following the EOI, up to five teams will be selected to take the project to full design stage at the LMC’s Lochiel Park Green Village development.

The overall winning design will be built at Lochiel Park Green Village in Campbelltown, demonstrating the possible future direction of housing in South Australia.

LMC Chief Executive Wayne Gibbings describes the Zero Carbon Challenge as a ‘perfect fit’ for Lochiel Park.

“Over the past few years, Lochiel Park has developed into a thriving community where residents benefit from the very best sustainable building tools and technologies,” Gibbings said.

“The Zero Carbon Challenge will deliver a home for the future in a location that has put South Australia on the map for innovation in green living,” he said.

Homes in Lochiel Park are highly energy efficient with each house fitted with photovoltaic solar cells and, in addition to normal utilities, serviced by a non-potable water system. The Zero Carbon Challenge will encourage competing teams to build on this leading-edge work and to push the boundaries of established construction practice.

Commissioner for Integrated Design SA Tim Horton says commitment from all parties is a vital ingredient in the success of the Zero Carbon Challenge.

“The Zero Carbon Challenge builds on a tradition of environmental leadership in South Australia and promotes clean sustainable technologies. It does this by harnessing the design intelligence of architects and the experience of South Australian builders who are committed to setting a ‘new norm’ for sustainable living. Achieving a genuinely sustainable urban form will take a joint effort between industry, government and the research sector. But most importantly, a willing and enthusiastic South Australian public,” Horton said.

The winning team will also be required to work with an appointed Carbon Verification Consultant to verify the winning submission in accordance with the federal government’s National Carbon Offset Standard. This will independently verify the carbon performance of the house over its whole of life. This verification will then be submitted to the federal government for certification.