comfort Story: Cass Proudfoot from the cold The thick walls of this Lucaston rammed-earth house keep out the crisp winds and chills of the Huon Valley. The soft honey-coloured walls on this But the finished property is cosy and comfortable Lucaston home are not just a design in winter, yet stays cool in Lucaston’s warm feature. They are actually made of 45cm-summer months. thick rammed earth, designed to keep out ‘Lucaston in summer is warm for Tasmania,’ the bitter cold of the Tasmanian winter. Justin says. ‘So the site has climate extremes. Justin O’Connor accepts In fact, the entire house has been designed for‘The building performs amazingly well. It sits the 2017 HIA Tasmanian climate comfort, by HIA member Justin O’Connor.at 21C almost the whole time. So it is working,o GreenSmart Sustainable His business, Justin O’Connor Builders specialisesand the owners are absolutely rapt with how Home of the Year award in building energy-efficient homes, or German comfortable they are in the building,’ says Justin. inspired passive houses around the Hobart The house did once reach 24C inside, but thato area. Justin’s business won the HIA Tasmanian was on a rare 38C day, and the owners admit too GreenSmart Sustainable Home of the Year in 2017having a window open, allowing some warm air in. for this property. For this property the thick walls, insulation, Lucaston is a small town in the Huon Valley.tripled-glazed windows, thermal breaks and an ‘It is one of the colder places in Tasmania,’ Justinairtight weather-sealed roof have made all the explains. ‘Being stuck in a valley brings the cooldifference. Justin believes it could be the most air down.’ airtight house in Tasmania. BUILDER: It can get down to -5C overnight in Lucaston,oAs part of his work in low-energy housing, Justin Justin O’Connor Builders with a lot of frost and ice in the area. The build evenO’Connor does blower-door testing, and the LOCATION: saw a dusting of snow on the ground at one stage,envelope of this building returned an air-change Lucaston, Tasmania and some heavy frosts. rate of .48 air changes an hour at 50 pascals. This 22 HOUSING MAY 2018