Thermal insulation from Kingspan Insulation helped an award-winning home in South Fremantle, WA achieve an 8-star rating for its energy efficiency. The use of Kingspan AIR-CELL, a reflective flexible insulation product along with a number of passive solar design measures and environmental features helped the home achieve the coveted rating as well as three HIA GreenSmart awards that recognise excellence in green building practices and residential design.

Designed by Evoke Design Group and built by Econstruct, the home features Kingspan AIR-CELL insulation in the walls.

To achieve the 8-star thermal efficiency rating, Evoke implemented, among others, a greywater system, VOC-free paints, a 10,000L rainwater tank, a 1.5 kW photovoltaic system on the roof, and Kingspan insulation.

Mr Steve Kinchin, director of Evoke Design said thermal insulation contributed significantly to the 8-star rating. According to Mr Kinchin, using Kingspan AIR-CELL dramatically reduced heat loss and gain, and really boosted the thermal ratings of the walls. The house doesn’t have air-conditioning, yet the homeowners say there is a significant temperature difference even in the height of summer. For instance, when it is 42°C outside, it’s just 26°C inside.

Mr Kinchin adds that the thermal efficiency achieved by an 8-star rated building cuts the heating and cooling costs by 75% (compared to the average West Australian 3.5-star rated home).

The HIA GreenSmart awards won by the house included the 2010 GreenSmart Design Concept award (WA); 2012 GreenSmart Home of the Year (WA); and 2012 GreenSmart Custom Built Home of the Year (National).

The judges commented that the home was "quite exciting in appearance and showed how easily it was to incorporate environmentally responsible design and construction elements. The attractive rammed earth wall carried through the centre core of the home, providing mass for very effective internal temperature moderation. As well as having an 8-star rating it was such a great example of GreenSmart principles”.