house with no bills prototype in Cheltenham listed for sale

A prototype energy-efficient home, dubbed the ‘house with no bills’, is set to go under the hammer tomorrow, on Saturday.

The 199-square-metre, three-bedroom home, is located at 12 Monterey Drive, and was built as part of a study into sustainable living which was undertaken by real estate group Mirvac.

Mirvac General Manager of Residential Victoria, Elysa Anderson, said the complex will be used to shape future projects.

“Designed to look, feel and operate the same way as a typical home, the House with No Bills experiment aimed to help address the increasing pressures of housing affordability and reduce environmental impact with market-based solutions,” she said.

The Cheltenham property was home to the Zimmerman family of four until December 2019.

An Evergen solar and battery system featuring CSIRO-developed intelligent energy management, along with a smart home automation system with environmental sensors controlling internal temperatures, are among the various eco-friendly innovations included to reduce the house’s reliance on grid electricity.

Smart meters and monitoring systems helped the Zimmerman family keep track of where and how their energy was being used, assisting the HWNB in achieving a 75 per cent energy cost saving (approximately $2,000) in 12 months, with the potential to operate with net zero energy bills.

Built in March 2018, the modern two-storey house has an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, two bathrooms and a powder room, and an outdoor entertaining area.

Tiles downstairs are efficient for thermal protection, while upstairs bedrooms are carpeted. There is a single car garage, plus space to park in the driveway.

Mirvac’s Baden Lucas will auction the house, which is being marketed with expectations from $775,000 to $850,000.

Cheltenham’s median house price is $1.267 million.