Resources
How building a certified passive house can be cheaper than building a regular energy efficient home
I had an interesting meeting with potential clients, who want to build a new home. They are currently looking at a potential vacant site to buy and we have been discussion the pros and cons. But also, the difference between a home that is designed according to...
read moreNew additions to our Gruen Eco Design Family
Thanks to everyone who has applied for the position of our new lead designer / architect. The position has now been filled. In fact, we had such great applicants that we have decided to welcome 2 new members into our Gruen Eco Design family. We are very excited to...
read moreWhy I can’t wait to move out of my 8.4 star house into my own passive house
Don’t get me wrong. I really do like our current house and I definitely don’t want to sound snotty. As some of you might know, we had renovated our brick veneer unit a few years ago and had turned the cold and draughty 0.8 star house into a comfortable 8.4 star home....
read moreWe are hiring: LEAD DESIGNER / ARCHITECT with Excellent REVIT skills
LEAD DESIGNER / ARCHITECT with Excellent REVIT skills This is a great opportunity for a creative lead designer/ architect who is as passionate about sustainable design as we are to join our Gruen Eco Design family. This role is for someone who is committed to their...
read moreHOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL FOR YOUR ELECTRICITY
Just listened to the radio on the way to work this morning. And what I heard made my pretty sad but also a bit mad. Apparently one of the biggest most pressing issues the political parties are dealing with leading up to the election here in Australia are rising...
read moreThe 3 top tips to increase the energy efficiency of your home
We at Gruen Eco Design are passionate about sustainable design; because we believe sustainable design can and must be affordable for everyone. Even small changes can have a huge impact on your energy bills and how comfortable your home feels. 1 Draught Sealing 1...
read moreWhat makes a home exceptional? What are the most important features your dream home must have?
What are the things you are looking out for when buying or building a home? And for what things are you willing to pay extra? Have you ever considered the health impacts your home could have on yourself and your family? What are the common things everyone is looking...
read moreHOW CAN A FEASIBILITY DESIGN REVIEW HELP YOU WITH YOUR RENOVATION/ EXTENSION OR NEW BUILD?
Are you thinking about renovating or extending your existing home? Or do you want to build a new home but don’t know if you can afford what you want to do and don’t know where to start? Are you to scared to sign up a designer or builder because you don't want to end...
read moreThe 20/20 House Part 15 – Other Little Challenges
The Gruen Eco Design blog about how to convert your dream from an energy efficient home into a reality. Other Little Challenges It has almost been 3 months since I last posted an update on our own passive house and lots of people have been asking me what’s going...
read moreSancutary Magazine Case Study – Renovation: Retrofitting a 0.8 Star brick veneer unit to achieve an 8.4 Star rating proved to be a savvy investment in energy efficiency and better health.
If you want to know more about our own personal story and how we turned a freezing and cold 0.8 star brick veneer unit into a comfortable 8.4 star family home read the full storey...
read moreWalls on Boundaries and why they can pose a Problem
Today I want to talk about a bit of a different subject. Walls on boundaries. I know, this has nothing to do with building a sustainable home. But regardless, it is something to keep in mind. And when building your sustainable home, you might need to build against a...
read moreWe are seeking a drafts person with Excellent REVIT skills to support our team
We at Gruen Eco Design are specialising in energy efficient and sustainable homes, covering renovations, energy efficiency upgrades, extensions, single residences and townhouses and certified passive homes. ROLE OVERVIEWThe role encompasses all aspects of concept...
read moreShould I recycle materials from my existing home?
The main question here is. Why do you want to recycle or reuse certain materials? If there are certain things in the house that you really love and therefore you want to keep them. Yes, go for it. Or if your main drive is that certain elements or items are too nice to...
read moreWhat are the best construction materials to build a sustainable and energy efficient home?
For a house to be sustainable and energy efficient, in needs to be well insulated. It needs high performing windows. Thermal bridges and air-leakage need to be minimised. Ideally the house should have some thermal mass. And the house should have good solar access. But...
read moreIf I build a sustainable home, does it have to look like an eco-shack?
Do all energy efficient and sustainable homes look the same? For me, the answer to this question is so obvious, that I never even thought about the question in the first place. But after some conversation I had over the last few weeks I realised it might not be as...
read moreDoes it cost more to build a sustainable/energy efficient home?
Well, you could also ask: how long is a piece of string? The answer to this question is unfortunately not straight forward and depends on a lot of valuables and can be very different for everyone. In this scenario, size does matter. Simply put, the larger your home is...
read moreThe 20/20 House part 14 – Landscape Design
The Gruen Eco Design blog about how to convert your dream from an energy efficient home into a reality. When designing and building your home the landscape design and the garden is often the last thing on the list and more often than not there isn’t much money...
read moreWhat are the best options to improve the efficiency of my existing home?
Even small changes can have a huge impact on how comfortable your homes feels and on your energy bills. As a first thing I would be looking at draught sealing and weather-stripping your house. Most of us can not afford to replace the windows but weather-stripping them...
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