Working with the belief that there is no need for energy efficient homes to be complicated, expensive or unusual looking I have completed a design study for an affordable home that can be purchased (and amended to suit client or climate requirements if needed) and used by anyone no matter where they are building in Australia.

The design criteria for this home was:

1) An attractive but simple to build design that will not be out of place in Australian suburbs and will be within the financial and aesthetic scope of the average buyer.

2) A home that rates very highly no matter what orientation the lot is (many lots in traditional suburbs are less than ideally oriented).

3) Use of materials that are available in most area's of Australia for ease and standardization of construction so that any builder can easily build it.

4) Predominant use of building materials that have low embodied energy (such as plantation pine and fibrecement cladding products) in a modern lightweight construction.

5) No expensive 'green' add-ons or unusual construction methods required to achieve good ratings - just good design.

6) Simple enough for an owner builder to build or project manage.

7) Provide a good starting point for a future owner to add on other sustainable options like rainwater tanks, solar hot water and photovoltaic panels if required.