Toowoomba passive home, 16 Sorrento Drive, sells for $630k

A Toowoomba home that can be heated by a hairdryer in 20 minutes has gone off the market once more, with more sustainable homes to be built in the Garden City. See what makes it unique here.

A unique home that can be heated by a hairdryer has recently gone off the market, with more similar properties to hit the Garden City in coming years.

A passive home is an energy efficient building that has extra insulation to achieve thermal comfort, airtight seals, and has quality windows and doors with reliable ventilation systems with heat recovery.

This means any heat pushed into the air, by a hairdryer or oven, can remain in the house and warm its occupants, while using 90 per cent less energy.

Richard Cocozza and David Johnson of Upside Realty recently sold the three-year-old 16 Sorrento Drive in Kearneys Springs for $630,000 up from $530,000 in 2021.

16 Sorrento Drive is a passive home, iconic for its eco-friendly design. Thursday, September 1 2022. Picture: supplied.

“It is quite unique and you pick it when you drive around the street – it stands out,” Mr Cocozza said.

“It’s getting a reputation for being a unique home, but I think it will become an iconic home for Kearneys Spring in the years to come.”

One of only 52 passive homes in Australia, the popular European design is 150 times more airtight than a standard home.

16 Sorrento Drive is a passive home, iconic for its eco-friendly design. Thursday, September 1 2022. Picture: supplied.

The home was built by passive home designers, and has drawn interest by potential buyers who have taken interest in its unique style.

“The first time we sold it we had about 70 people come to look at the place, and at least 50 per cent were there to see a passive house and see what was special and different about it,” Mr Cocozza said.

16 Sorrento Drive is a passive home, iconic for its eco-friendly design. Thursday, September 1 2022. Picture: supplied.

“A lot of people had heard about them before, and some wanted to see how they built it in Toowoomba and if they could do it.

“It does cost a little more to build a passive house … but it all adds up to make sure you’ve got a much more comfortable home and much more environmentally friendly.”

Mr Cocozza said passive homes would become more common in Australia streets into the future, particularly with the property’s ability to cut bills, and the cost of living rising.

“There’s another one being built at the moment (in Harlaxton),” he said.

“There is also another builder in town that has been asked about building a passive house as well, which could be a duplex or triplex in the next 12 to 24 months (in Harristown).”