Community Complex Retrofit
The roof windows for the kitchen and supper room are in, and soon to be fully 'flashed' externally with lightweight metal flashing for long term weather protection.
Timber windows do need to be painted to maintain them, but there was a risk that the outside of these windows might be overlooked for painting maintenance, being up on the roof out of sight. Aluminium windows don't need painting maintenance, but aluminium is a very energy expensive material - sometimes described as 'congealed electricity!
It has been difficult so far to obtain hand window winders for the high roof windows. Suppliers prefer to offer electric openers, which we may yet have to use. With hand winders, if a window is starting to stick or get stiff, you get the feedback that some basic maintenance is required. With electric openers, we might not realise there is a problem until the electric motor strains or burns out.
For more detail click image
Trevor Northey has been putting up some nicely curved canopies over north facing windows at the Community House and in the Library courtyard. These canopies are designed to create appropriate eaves for these windows. That is, to exclude summer sun and allow in the lower angle winter sun.
The works have come in under budget so far, despite various repairs and problems encountered along the way, with credit to the trustworthiness of the local tradespeople involved. We have been able to do some additional work, such as tinting of the entry courtyard west facing windows, and we may also be able to put a new, well insulated, ceiling into the library. If there is money left over at the end, and the price is right, controllable louvres outside and above the high north windows in the hall would be good.
Watch for the solar panels going up in February.
This building retrofit part of the EcoLiving Project is drawing to a close. The next stage of the project will engage community members in an Information and
Learning program about energy efficiency, ecological and sustainable living.
If you would like to contribute to the project in any way, including possibly coming onto the EcoLiving Project committee, please contact Kaye Bradshaw on 03 5798 1742, or me on 03 5798 1679. David Arnold