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| Peter and Suzanne Davies have rebuilt their home since being damaged during the 2011 floods and have made it with greener and resilient building principles to better enable to it to withstand another flood. |
HAVING to rebuild a home after a flood is an experience Peter and Suzanne Davies don't ever want to repeat.
And hopefully, thanks to a bit of ingenuity, they won't have to.
When the time came for Mr and Mrs Davies to restore their Chelmer double-storey brick home after the 2011 floods they embraced the chance to 'build back better'.
Now the house is not only more environmentally sustainable but includes a range of features to better withstand another flood.
They include a prototype modular kitchen that can be removed with 24 hours notice.
A special wiring system was installed, with separate electrical circuits for each level of the house.
"That way, in the event of another flood, if the water doesn't reach the second floor, the electricity to the upper level won't be affected," Mrs Davies said.
"We could then continue to live on the upper level while the downstairs was being dried out and rebuilt."
A solar hot water system replaced the old electric heater.
Plumbing allowed rainwater to flush toilets and insulation reduced the home's energy requirements for heating and cooling.
Architect of the project Mark Thomson said the biggest challenge was building back sustainably within the constraints of the insurance process.
Mr Thomson, who volunteered his services to help the homeowners, said cost had been a major consideration.
"The goal was to prove that we could still build back green while working within the budget set by the insurance company," he said.
Mr Thomson said the project was a major achievement and a proactive solution for lifestyle thinking.
"If residents believe they could be flooded in the future then they should consider putting in ideas and principles that will help them respond to disaster," he said.
Mr and Mrs Davies' home has been case studied on the Green Cross website at:
http://builditbackgreen.org/ bushfires/in-the-media.aspx
www.TheSatellite.com.au
22.8.12
