Competition to win a year of rent-free accommodation in the home dubbed the ‘House With No Bills’ or the solar house is pretty tough, News Corp reports.
Property developer Mirvac is seeking a “typical Melbourne family” to take part in the experiment, which uses solar energy storage and smart technology to create a ‘no bills’ environment. The shortlist is down to four families.
While modelling shows households could theoretically live bill-free, the 12-month experiment will test if the average household can do so in reality. Mirvac has built the $840,000 house in Cheltenham to test the hypothesis.
Three-bedroom house with embedded technology
The 3-bedroom test house looks much like any other house, but comes with embedded technology:
- Solar panels and solar storage batteries.
- Additional insulation.
- Smart meters and Intelligent controls.
- Energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
- Weather tracking.
- Automated energy load management.
- Automated blind operation.
The results of the test will demonstrate how the average household uses energy. It will also show how well the embedded technology works.
The data and information gathered could also be put to good use in other ways – such as informing green building practices, and enabling the creation of energy efficient communities.
So what is a ‘typical Melbourne family’?
The Melbourne family sought for the experiment consists of Mum, Dad and two kids under 18. They need to have an interest in sustainability, but still be a ‘normal’ type of family you would see in the suburbs.
Mirvac is in the process of screening and interviewing candidates. This includes asking questions about their work and lifestyles, to see how much they reflect the average suburban family.
The successful applicants also have to be willing to do their bit. This includes keeping a video log and continually monitoring energy use.
Could the solar house really be bill free?
It will be interesting to see how the family fared in terms of energy use, and if they became “bill-free”.
The test will also demonstrate the degree to which solar power and home battery systems enable urban households to save on their electricity costs.
If successful in reducing or eliminating energy bills, the experiment could also help towards making home purchasing more accessible, by enabling families who rent to save more easily for a deposit on a home of their own.
