Explore our sustainable Icelyn display home
Focusing on sustainable design, Hotondo Homes Mid North Coast recently opened the doors to their innovative and eco-friendly Icelyn 243 display home. Located in the Sovereign Hills Display Village in Port Macquarie, the home is situated on York Street, which is the largest and most sustainable display village on the Mid-North Coast.
The team made extensive design choices to improve energy efficiency and incorporated eco-friendly products and finishes throughout the home. The team were motivated to be able to demonstrate to clients how they can make more environmentally conscious and affordable choices for their home.
The home achieved an exceptional NatHERS rating of 8.6, with 8.3 points awarded solely through smart design and orientation. Located on an east/west facing lot, with the north to the side and the west to the rear, the home has been positioned down the south boundary, as far back as possible. This positioning takes advantage of the morning sun from the east, and the sun during the day from the north.
To reduce overheating from the western sun, extra insulation has been added to the west side walls and all bathrooms have been situated on the west side of the home. A reverse brick veneer wall on the north side helps store heat from the sun in winter, which radiates back into the room.
The remaining .3 from NatHERs was achieved by using fans in the living and dining areas and a double-glazed sliding door to the alfresco. The alfresco also features a motorised pergola roof, to allow sun into the home in winter and keep the sun out in summer.
A number of sustainable materials were used to construct the home. Coastal blackbutt was used for the facade as it is naturally termite resistant, fire resistant and is sustainably harvested in state forests.
The team chose polished concrete floors on the north side of the home, as here they can absorb heat from the sun during the day and return heat to the room during the evening. Cork flooring is also utilised throughout the home. A highly renewable resource, cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, which grows back every three years and does not require the tree to be cut down.
Benchtops throughout the home feature Laminex Reclaimed Denim Fibre, which is a sustainable laminate made using fabric offcuts from denim clothing manufacturers. Laminex Tinted Paper Terrazzo is used in the study, which is made from recycled paper.
Permeable grasscrete in the driveway and a permeable path help to mitigate drainage issues that occur from the use of extensive concrete in residential areas, with houses today being bigger, in closer proximity to each other, with less land. Permeable grasscrete allows water to drain through to the ground, keeping the surrounding areas and trees healthy.
The home also features a plunge pool made from a recycled water tank, a veggie patch and a chicken coop.
Located at 2 York Street, Sovereign Hills in Thrumster, the Icelyn 243 display home is open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm.
Visit the Mid North Coast team at their eco-friendly display home, or take a virtual tour online today.