Environmentally sustainable homes

Designed for today with tomorrow in mind.

Designed for today with tomorrow in mind.

Being a homeowner has long been the great Australian dream. But in the face of climate change, we must find more sustainable ways to bring our dream homes to life. Offering a range of resource-efficient elements as standard inclusions, Ecoliv designs and builds for sustainability with each building achieving a minimum 7-star energy rating.

The sustainable home builders at Ecoliv have been leaders in energy-efficient home designs for over 16 years. We can work with you to create your dream prefab eco home that is not only better for the environment but also better for you with sustainable architecture and eco-friendly designs.

Using locally sourced, renewable, and sustainable building materials along with limiting wastage during the construction process, our eco-friendly approach to building design and construction addresses the needs of the present without compromising the future.

Central to our approach to sustainable building are our five environmental goals: energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, sustainable materials, and limiting waste.

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Ecoliv leads in energy efficiency and sustainable living. Our participation in Sustainability Victoria's 7 Star Homes program, on behalf of the Victorian government, underscores the high energy efficiency levels achieved by our homes. Sustainability Victoria has chosen to feature our homes in their case study on prefabricated homes, showcasing the comfort and sustainability we provide to our clients.

Read the full case study here.

Reduced carbon emissions

The building and construction sector is responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions. In order to address the pressing issue of climate change, Ecoliv’s sustainable homes take measures to avoid excess greenhouse gas emissions.

Over its lifespan, it is expected this Ecoliv home* will emit 529 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) less than average or standard buildings providing the same functionality.

This is equivalent to:

3171 Trees Planted
115 Cars taken off the road for 1 year
70 Zero energy Australian homes for 1 year
19589370 Balloons of CO2 gas removed from the atmosphere

*Based on EcoGeneration range 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom designs.

Sources eTool LCA

On the blog: what does it mean to be carbon neutral?
Review our Sustainability report here
Sustainability Report 2023

Energy efficiency

Improving energy efficiency in your home is a powerful way to reduce energy consumption and the associated emissions and make a positive contribution towards protecting and preserving our natural environment for future generations. Here’s how we can create your dream home while still considering the impact on the environment.

Central to Ecoliv’s resource-efficient and sustainable ethos is our commitment to passive solar design. Carefully considering the orientation of the home on your block to leverage passive solar design principles and taking advantage of natural sunlight and shade can make an enormous difference to artificial energy consumption.

Passive designs consider orientation, shading, insulation, glazing, and sealing to work with the climate, not against it. Forget sweltering in summer, Ecoliv homes maintain a comfortable temperature year-round without the need for expensive heating and cooling.

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Did you know that in just 60 minutes, earth receives enough sunlight to power us for an entire year? One of the best ways to harness this natural energy is through solar electricity. to:

Solar power systems act as mini power stations, supplying you with electricity and sending any surplus back to the electricity grid. When power is fed back to the grid, your energy provider will credit your account.

Based on a 2.2kw solar power system, Ecoliv gives you the opportunity to significantly reduce your power bill. How significant is the saving? You can expect your utility bill to be reduced by about 51 percent annually (or about $740). The yearly environmental benefits of your solar system are equivalent to:

58 Trees Planted
964 Litres of avoided petrol
1095 Kgs of avoided coal burnt
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Our LED downlights use 85 percent less energy than halogen or incandescent lighting and have double the life span.

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Providing superior star rated appliances as standard inclusions, Ecoliv is committed to sustainable longevity in all our buildings.

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An invaluable tool for monitoring energy consumption, Ecoliv can include an electricity usage meter in our homes and commercial buildings. Providing instant feedback on energy usage, cost and estimated CO2 emissions, this feature helps you to manage your energy usage

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Hot water systems can account for 25 percent of household CO2 emissions, so selecting an energy efficient system can have a significant impact on the environment. Heat Pump hot water systems use industry-leading technology, where energy is drawn in from the ambient atmosphere and transferred into heat. The result is a system that requires radically less electricity to heat water when compared to conventional hot water systems. In fact, this system will save you up to 80 percent of your hot water energy costs year after year and is equal to taking a car off the road in terms of carbon emission.

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Water efficiency

Collecting rainwater and reducing mains water consumption in your home can reduce water bills and preserve this precious resource. Here’s how we make your Ecoliv home more water efficient.

With the average Australian family using around 1,300 litres of water in the home each day, water conservation is key to maintaining a resource-efficient, sustainable and cost-saving abode. Eliminating reliance on mains water, Ecoliv provides a 10,000 litre water tank in all new buildings located on a single site.

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Ecoliv incorporates 6 stars WELS rated plumbing fittings which control the flow of water, saving up to 14,500 litres of water in an average home each year.

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Research shows that around 10 percent of the average home’s water usage occurs in the kitchen, and the biggest culprit is the dishwasher. An appliance that saves us so much time yet can be a drain on our resources (energy and money) Ecoliv installs appliances that have earned a maximum energy rating and WELS rating.

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Air quality

Designed to increase air circulation, maximise cross-flow ventilation and improve indoor air quality by using materials with low or no volatile organic compounds, you can breathe easy in your Ecoliv home. Here’s how we improve indoor air quality in your home.

Ecoliv sources the highest quality low volatile organic compound (VOC) outgassing paint for our interior surfaces.

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Minimising the use of plywood, MDF and particleboard due to their formaldehyde content, Ecoliv reduces volatile organic compounds by ensuring all our manufactured timber products have a formaldehyde content of less than 1mg/litre.

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We strategically place windows, incorporating both passive and active internal air circulation systems in our buildings to encourage cross-ventilation, which results in significantly improved air quality.

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Materials

Adopting sustainable building practices and choosing sustainable energy-efficient materials for your home is one way to significantly reduce your carbon footprint and curb negative environmental impacts – protecting and preserving our planet for future generations. Here are some of the sustainable building materials we utilise when building your Ecoliv home.

Ecoliv utilises plantation timber sourced from sustainable origins wherever possible. Natural and renewable, timber is the optimal framing and truss choice for our buildings, with research showing that its use can save up to 23 tonnes of carbon per home.

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Saving up to 50 percent on heating and cooling costs, Ecoliv includes high-level roof, wall and floor insulation in each construction. Our glass wool insulation batts are manufactured using recycled glass bottles and sand. They are non-irritant and fully recyclable as well as thermally and acoustically efficient.

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Ecoliv offers a range of sustainably sourced cladding products, all recognised for their durability, lightweight features and low maintenance qualities.

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Sealing your home from drafts and air leakage is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to control indoor temperatures and can reduce bills by up to 30%.

We use a vapour-permeable breathable wrap that allows moisture to escape, effectively preventing condensation and mould growth. This wrap forms a continuous, airtight seal around the building envelope, minimising the need for heating and cooling. As a result, energy consumption is reduced, leading to lower energy costs.

Ecoliv joinery is made to strict Australian quality standards using wood fibre from sustainable forests. Our range is manufactured in factories that meet environmental and social regulations and has been independently certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia. Our benchtops utilise reclaimed material content. Stain, crack, scratch and heat resistant, this is the perfect choice for a sustainable maintenance-free surface.

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Windows can dramatically influence the heating and cooling loads of a building. Up to 40 percent of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87 percent of its heat gained through windows. The good news is that double glazing can significantly reduce heat transfer through windows which in turn saves on energy consumption (and the bills associated). Our sustainable modular homes all feature double-glazed windows and sliding doors with five star Window Energy Rating System (WERS) glass.

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Benefits of using timber

Sustainable plantation timber

Ecoliv construction methods focus on timber sourced from Gippsland’s renewable plantations. Using timber significantly reduces environmental impacts during construction, operation and eventual demolition. Here’s why we prefer timber:

Timber is non-toxic, low in VOCs, is safe to handle and construct with.

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Timber is the most renewable and sustainable material on the planet which provides both environmental and performance benefits.

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Timber can be recycled and repurposed over its life cycle until it naturally breaks down.

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It takes very little energy to convert trees into timber making it the lowest embodied energy of all building materials.

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Timber is made from carbon drawn from the atmosphere which would otherwise be adding to the Greenhouse effect.

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Timber is a natural insulator and can reduce energy needs when used in floors, doors and windows. 

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Its superior versatility and lightweight properties make timber easy to work with simple equipment which reduces energy consumption during construction.

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Waste reduction

The compact nature of each Ecoliv module allows us to minimise wasted space, resources and costs. Incorporating 900mm building material increments into every design, we’re able to significantly reduce construction waste. We also utilise a lightweight footing system that is removable and recyclable, allowing site adaptability and minimal excavation.

  • Maximising the use of 900mm building materials to minimise wastage
  • Prefabrication of frames and trusses reduces wastage by up to 52 percent Recycling excess building materials where possible
  • With 40 percent of building and renovation waste going to landfill, our factory-built structures generate less waste overall
  • When Ecoliv modules are delivered, strict on-site guidelines are adhered to, ensuring minimal waste and environmental disturbance. Widespan joist and bearer footing system ensures minimal site impact with its lightweight and site adaptable properties
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