Matt+Adam

Zero Impact Home Melbourne, Australia 37.82 degrees South, 144.90 degrees East

Why build "Zero" Impact Homes?
A zero impact home is a home with a minimal amount of impact possible, and off sets what impact it does have on the environment. Reducing fossil fuel source electricity and heating usage is good because fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, which is accelerating the greenhouse effect and causing unnatural climate change. Overuse of groundwater would deplete the source. Depleting ones own water source would result in water coming from outside sources. This requires the use of fossil fuels, such as gas powered trucks, to replenish wells. The depletion of local water sources hurts the entire ecosystem. Runoff from homes can cause water sources to become polluted. Chemicals that are used soak into the soil and then collect in the runoff, which then goes into water systems like ponds and streams. This will affect the fish and living things in these bodies of water.

In order to refrain from using a lot of electricity to heat your house, and assuming you want your house to stay warm year round, you want to angle it so you get the max amount of sun during the winter and less amount of direct sunlight in the summer to keep the house at a comfortable temperature. If you want to live uncomfortably, then don't pay any attention to this.

Site Considerations
- There will be more mid-seasons and temperatures due to the proximity of the ocean. There will be four seasons but not drastic temperature changes. In Melbourne, the sun rises in the east - northeast or southeast depending on the season, and the high point is in the North between thirty and seventy degrees above the horizon. > **Design Features**
 * The average temperature in Melbourne is 10.4 degrees Celsius. The yearly temperature range is between 20.4 degrees Celsius and 11.4 degrees Celsius. The hottest month is January with an average temperature of 19.9 degrees C, and the coldest month is July with an average temperature of 9.5 degrees C.
 * The average rainfall in Melbourne is 54.6 mm. October is the rainiest month with a medium average of 67.3mm, while February is the driest month with a medium average of 47.3mm.
 * [[image:climograph.jpg width="494" height="168"]]
 * During the summer season (December) The Sun rises East, southeast, it sets at west by southwest, and its noon high point is North. In the Winter season (July) the Sun rises in the Northeast, sets in the Northwest, and its noon high point is North.
 * The Sun is 70 degrees above the horizon at its noon high point in the summer, and at 30 degrees above the horizon in the winter.
 * [[image:melbourne sun path.png width="1" height="262"]]

- This is an irrigation timer for my gardens and landscape. This will make sure that the use of water is at the right times of day so it won't be used when it's too sunny, which will cause quick evaporation and dry out the water beds. It is also good for droughts, as it allows for maintenance of waterbeds and minimizes the amount of water being used.



This is a rain chain, a series of containers that diverts and guides the rain water to the rain barrels. Rain chains use less material than regular gutters and increases the amount of water the rain water barrels collect, which helps to minimize run-off and maximize the amount of water saved. It is also an eco-friendly decorating idea.

This is a rain barrel to collect rain water to water plants and use for reasons instead of using tap water. This will minimize run-off because the rain is being caught instead of collecting in the ground. The barrels are also good for droughts, which are common in Australia because the water can be stored and used to water plants if there is a ban on using tap water.

Solar panels would collect energy from the sun and convert that energy to help power the house, which are most effective when they are pointing in the direction of the equator. In the Southern Hemisphere, that is in the north, so the solar panels will be on the north side of the house. By using solar panels, I am using renewable heat from the sun instead of using fossil fuels, which give off carbon dioxide, increasing the greenhouse effect.

Skylights would be installed in order to get as much natural light in the house as possible, so the use of artificial lights and electricity can be minimized. Having reflective light colored walls within the house will also help to spread the light better.