Product and material considerations
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When building or renovating, the products and building materials used can affect the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the home.
The Research House project undertook an extensive process to determine outcomes that were reasonably inexpensive and achievable in most homes and to select products and materials which could be evaluated for their effectiveness in creating a Smarter House.
A combination of products and materials now complement the design of the Research House to make it more comfortable, safe, secure, environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient.
Practical solutions to everyday housing needs were sought when selecting products and materials such as the hot water system, insulation, door handles and wall and floor coverings.
Innovation was also a key focus when deciding new products and materials to be used in the house which had the potential to influence the future direction of sustainable housing. These innovative products included the use of flyash masonry blocks, solar panels and a hot and cold filtered water dispenser.
To learn more about the decision making process for specific products and materials used in the Research House, read the products and materials fact sheets.
Last updated 07 July 2005
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