Smart home pays off

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Source: Inverell Times; Published 28/10/2016

Building a home that makes the best use of the natural resources gives Michael Jorgensen a sense of satisfaction.

His next home for his own family will have all the elements that went into a home at Gilgai that won his company a regional NSW HIA award for a green smart custom built house.

Michael and wife, Cate, picked up the award in Coffs Harbour.

Michael said energy efficiency, off-grid homes were becoming more affordable and he predicted they would become more common as people weighed up the economic benefits.

The home in Ponds Road, Gilgai, came in with middle-of-the-road costs per square metre.
And while the home has all the mod cons, its owners will not recieve quarterly power or water bills - ever.

The off-grid home was designed to suit the site, to get the best solar orientation and natural ventilation, using the righ tmaterials to shrug off the need for air conditioning despite temperatures well below zero in winter and climbing to the high 30s in summer.
The only trench into the site was for the telephone line.

It is entirely self sufficient in its water supply and hot water is supplied through a gas boosted hybrid solar unit.
A stand-alone solar photovoltaic system puts the home entirely off grid with a back up battery providing five day’s autonomy.

Anecdotal evidence from the home owners indicated strong performance in terms of energy usage amd livability.
”The owners moved into the home in late January, on the cusp of a prolonged period of extreme heat and subsequent drought,” the award submission said.
”In spite of this, the home retains high comfort values, without the need for air conditioning.”

The concrete slab foundation of the home is a cupolex system made from recycled non-toxic polypropylene.
The system provide thermal heating capacity and uses less steel, leading to a lower impact on non-renewable resources. Stainless gutter guard and non flammable materials were used.

Michael said there was slightly more involved in running a smart home such as monitoring batteries but much of its efficiencies were behind the scenes.

Bringing it home: Inverell builders take home awards

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Source: Inverell Times; Published 21/08/2009; Author: Ailsa Norman

Inverell builders were the over achievers at this year’s HIA Northern Housing Awards held in Coffs Harbour last weekend, with two local builders taking out four awards between them.

Michael and Cate Jorgensen and Dan and Kylie Wilks of Danbuilt, both won two awards each and were also named as finalists in two categories.

Michael and Cate had entered the awards before in 2005 and made it to the finals and Michael said he was happy and surprised to win two sections this year.
”I was surprised to win for the house especially, it is our home and it was good to win it,” Michael said.

The title of Northern NSW Custom Built Home under $600,000 was won for their spectacular five bedroom home in Sunnyside Place. The judges described a lower level with three living areas, kitchen, laundry, office, double garage and a covered deck area.
”A feature of this home is the exposed timber beams in the main entrance, family room and kitchen.”
Michael said he liked to use timber features in many of the custom-built homes he builds, such as exposed beams.

Michael and Cate also won the title of The Northern NSW Renovation and Addition Project under $300,000 for a house in Brae Street. Judges were impressed that the renovation involved realigning floor levels throughout and realigning the roof frame. The existing timber windows were reused and a new entry was created by realigning the fourth bedroom allowing for a federation style front verandah.

Michael said he and Cate wanted to especially thank their clients…and also their suppliers and subcontractors.

“We are very appreciative of all our staff and subcontractors and we would like to really emphasise that we use all local contractors for all our work.”

2 Awards for 2 Projects

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Source: Housing Industry of Australia; Published: 17/08/2009; Author: Toni Bull

MB & CM Jorgensen took away two titles at the Northern NSW Housing Awards on Saturday night for two different projects in Inverell.

MB & CM Jorgensen won the title of The Northern NSW Renovation & Addition Project under $300,000 (partnered by HIA Insurance Services). Judges were impressed that the renovation involved realigning floor levels throughout and realigning the roof frame. "The existing timber windows were reused and a new entry was created by realigning the 4th bedroom allowing for a federation style front verandah", they said.

The title of Northern NSW Custom Built Home under $600,000 (partnered by Omega Smeg) was won for their spectacular five bedroom home. The judges describe a lower level with three living areas, kitchen, laundry, office, double garage and a covered deck area. "A feature of this home is the exposed timber beams in the main entrance, family room and kitchen", they said.

The awards took place in front of a large audience during a gala function at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. Special guests included Federal member for Cowpar, Luke Hartsuyker, State member for Coffs Harbour, Andrew Fraser, the Mayor of Coffs HJarbour. Keith Rhoades, and HIA's NSW President, Martin Walsh.

Congratulating MB & CM Jorgensen. HIA's NSW Executive Director, Graham Wolfe, said the awards were an outstanding demonstration of the housing industry's capacity, innovation and resilience in regional areas of NSW.

"It is no secret that it is a challenging business environment at present, but amidst tentative signs of a turnaround HIA's members have not lost their commitment to excellence, and support for these awards has been outstanding", he said.

"Winners tonight can look forward to progressing to the full state awards in Sydney where I believe they will compare very favourably with their big city counterparts".

"I would not be surprised to see some make it all the way to next year's national competition".

HIA is Australia's peak building body representing more than 40,000 builders, suppliers and trade contractors. The industry is responsible for development projects, new homes, renovations and additions worth more than $43 billion each year and generating about 350,000 jobs.

The association's awards acknowledge the excellence in housing construction, design, innovation and technology and recognise the talent of builders and building companies that design and construct quality housing.