Sustainable home beats energy-saving odds, sparks new movement in Toowoomba

A test performed on a Toowoomba home has proven just how valuable sustainable houses will be in the city. So why are so many people so opposed?

Geoff Gibson works tirelessly to produce sustainable homes across the Toowoomba region and his business’s latest feat is a major step forward in proving the value in investing in sustainability.

Geoff Gibson Homes are producing a sustainable, environmentally friendly home in Price Lane at the Mort Estate and a latest test has proven just how beneficial the house will be to the environment.

The air pressure test conducted on Tuesday demonstrated the Air Infiltration Rate, which helps regulate temperatures within houses.

The industry standard rate is 12, but Mr Gibson’s home on Price Lane generated a rate of 2.67 – one-sixth of the industry standard.

“It means we’re managing the air so much better and we can set the temperature to whatever we want it to be,” Mr Gibson said.

“Because that envelope has very little penetration of air either way, it can hold that temperature.

“We’ve insulated the house really well and then it seals.

“We decide what temperature we want it to be and then it stays at that temperature.”

Mr Gibson began dabbling in the world of sustainable building 12 years ago and has developed what he says are “revolutionary” homes in Toowoomba due to their sustainability and environmental friendliness.

Mr Gibson said the first step to sustainable living comes down to one simple, but crucial factor: making sure the house is facing the correct way.

“The general part of where we start from is trying to orientate the house correctly and then everything else works so much easier from that point,” he said.

He said the general perception of sustainable living among builders and consumers had become tarnished, viewed as expensive and “too difficult”.

Mr Gibson said lobbying to the local, state, and federal governments needs to become a priority to change the certification under which houses are approved, in order to make them more sustainable.