Australia’s first-ever, flat-pack, off-the-grid tiny house is the star feature at QUT’s Gardens Point campus during the International Conference on Energy and Environment of Residential Buildings, November 20 to 24 hosted by QUT.
Brisbane people will be able to walk through the world-first, patented 13.75-square metre fully equipped house (at set times), built by Sydney company Big World Homes, on Monday and Tuesday, November 21 and 22, QUT housing and energy expert Dr Wendy Miller said.
The house will be on the green lawn between P Block, the Science and Engineering Centre, and the Goodwill Bridge, close to Gardens Point Rd.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Queenslanders to see one of the biggest, albeit tiny, moves in housing growing in popularity around the world in response to environmental and affordability demands,” Dr Miller said.
“QUT will test the tiny house’s energy efficiency by setting up temperature probes on the interior and exterior and performing air leakage tests.
“Our students will also be involved in thermal imaging and air quality monitoring. These tests allow us to assess the house’s ability to maintain comfortable internal temperatures and a healthy air quality.
“The tiny house is fitted out internally with a living room, bed, running water and a plumbed bathroom.
“It has solar panels for electricity and running water from inbuilt rainwater tanks, and is mounted on a trailer for portability.”
Dr Miller said ‘pop-up communities’ of tiny houses were appearing overseas on land targetted for future development.
“Tiny houses may attract people who want a simpler life with fewer possessions and financial obligations, or to have a lower environmental footprint or who have been priced out of the current residential market.
“Regional councils can see it as a way to address local issues, such as Gosford council’s approval for a tiny house development to address homelessness.
“QUT is researching the many issues that must be worked out to enable these communities to establish and function including insurance, finance, town planning, and governance, as tiny houses are neither a caravan nor a house.”
The conference will also feature researchers from Japan, Portugal, Vietnam, China, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the US and New Zealand.
Tiny house public viewing times:
Monday: 7.30am to 9am; 1.30pm to 3pm; 4.30pm to 6pm
Tuesday: 7.30am to 9am; 2pm to 5.30pm
Research presentations from QUT researchers include:
An evaluation of stakeholder management approach for improving energy efficiency outcomes in housing - Sherif Zedan
Building the business case for sustainability in housing - Dr Wendy Miller and Dr Connie Susilawati
Community centre improvement to reduce air conditioning peak demand – Lei Liu
German-Australian research collaborations in housing and energy - Dr Wendy Miller
Low-cost sensor network for indoor air quality monitoring in residential houses: lab and indoor tests of two PM sensors – Xiaoting Liu
The role of simulation in improving the thermal comfort and energy performance of existing aged care facilities – Dr Zakaria Amin
Regenerative sustainability and geodesign in Byron Shire – Amrita Kambo
This subtropical life: are new apartment buildings providing locally appropriate outcomes for apartment living in Brisbane? Dr Rosemary Kennedy
Understanding Australian real estate agent perspectives in promoting sustainability features in the residential property market – Shi Yee Wong
Photos for tiny house media use here.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT Media 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
