Vision: Support a contemporary Ecovillage community at Narara that demonstrates economic, social and environmental regenerative capacity through Building Standards that encourage the building of sustainable housing.
Mission: Update the NEV Building Standards in accordance the requirements of new legislation (BASIX, NatHERS, council LEPs), the Stage 2 sub division as it affects the Hill Thalis guidelines and other experience gained during Stage 1.
Aims:
- To review existing feedback from the BRP and to research, reflect and consult with specialist individuals, working groups and circles
- To review external standards and the experience of architects, engineers, designers, assessors and builders who have worked with the village during Stage 1.
- To maintain regular communication with the broader membership
- To prepare and present a set of proposed changes to the existing building standards by 30 June 2021 or ASAP
Domain:
- As a sub-circle of the Steering Circle, the Stage 2 Building Standards review circle is set up to research, consult and develop proposed changes to the existing Building Standards.
- The Stage 2 Building Standards review circle holds no decision-making authority but is required to advise its recommendations to the Steering Circle, the Board, the cooperative members and the members of the Community Association who will approve these standards as part of the Community Management Statement (CMS).
Draft Recommendations v1.3 - Information Presentation to Stage 2 Members - 5/2/22
Here is the presentation made to the Stage 2 Members via Zoom on Sat 5/2/22 of the recommendations from this committee, with the assistance of Grant Rickey, Stage 2 Development Manager; Jon Ellis, Secretary BRP; Graham Hunt, Architect from DHW; and Andy Marlow, Architect from Envirotecture.
Graham Hunt's presentation on your home's "Cooling Strategies"
Other References:
John Shiel's BZE book (peer reviewed including by Graham Hunt) free on web - "Cooling Your Home - Home Retrofits, Appliances and Adaptions for a Hotter Future" https://bze.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Cooling-your-home-24-Nov-compressed.pdf
Regular Monthly Meetings on NEV Building Design
One of the popular changes to the building standards was that the current level of support in helping members should be increased, with regular meetings, and communication in various media including in SLACK, in the NELN newsletter and in Despatch emails.
Members are keen to share their designs and are rewarded in our scoresheet for doing this, so these will present opportunities for this, as well as benefits to newer members designing their homes. We are expecting these to begin in November, so please keep an eye out for notices.
Inaugural Members Building Meeting:
Sat 26/2/22 - Dan & Deb Mohr's home design - how to design a sustainable heatwave proof house.
12:50 for 1-3:30pm via Zoom. Talk, plus expert plus breakout rooms and Q&A.
Circles and teams
- Sustainable Design Appraisers (SDAs) – help with your design and scorecard
- Building Review Panel (BRP) – if your design meets the standard, BRP stamps your drawings before they go the State planning portal
- Member building meetings - monthly forum for members to design home, learn, include experts and arrange speakers
- Expert Building Group – members, SDAs, and experts (Architects, engineers, builders, assessors, designers) to help members with designs
- Members and non-members are welcome
Frequently Asked Questions
A set of questions and answers from our presentations can be found here NEV Building & Landscape Standards - Stage 2 Recommendations - FAQs
Questions from members and those in Stage 2
In the area below, please leave any questions for our Building Standards working group.