Mawson Lakes Primary School
Kooltherm K12 Framing Board & AIR-CELL Permishield XV 70 featured in the school’s recent upgrade.
Case Study4 min read
As the global conversation about energy efficiency continues to gain momentum, there is increased focus on building homes that minimise environmental impact and maximise comfort. This ethos is exemplified by a new home project in Hobart, Tasmania, located in the scenic Lauderdale neighbourhood. The two-storey Class 1a home meets the latest energy efficiency regulations thanks to Kingspan's insulation products, which have helped earn a high energy efficiency rating.
LOCATIONHobart, TAS
ArchitectJAWS Architects
ProductsKooltherm K12 Framing Board, Kooltherm K3 Floorboard, Kingspan GreenGuard GG350, Thermakraft Watergate Plus
Located in the tranquil coastal neighbourhood of Lauderdale, the home exemplifies sustainable design, modern comfort and is aesthetically stunning.
With two bedrooms, one bathroom, a powder room, a spacious living area, an office, and a workshop, the house offers a versatile layout tailored to contemporary lifestyle.
The house belongs to Roland Wierenga, who is both the homeowner and Senior Principal Building Surveyor/ESD Consultant at pitt&sherry Building Surveying. Designed by JAWS Architects and built by Maveric Builders, the house showcases how thoughtful architecture, combined with advanced insulation technologies, can create a home that is both beautiful and energy-efficient.
Driven by a desire to downsize, Roland wanted a small functional home with a large open living space that lets in maximum natural light and offers panoramic views. The idyllic location was carefully picked for its all-day sun exposure and stunning views of kunanyi/Mt Wellington and Roches Beach. “Energy efficiency was our number one priority when designing our house. It aligns with our values of maintaining a small carbon footprint, and while it required higher upfront costs, the long-term pay-offs in heating and cooling make it well worth the investment,” said Roland.
To bring Roland’s vision to life, JAWS Architects were engaged to design a house that would take advantage of natural resources, blend design with functionality making the best use of the space without wasted space such as hallways, and conform to strict energy efficiency standards.
“From the project's inception, energy efficiency of the building was a top priority,” said Catherine Williams, Associate, JAWS Architects. “The project focuses mainly on design gestures that encourage passive ventilation and heating to assist in energy efficiency of the house. We introduced elements such as the north courtyard to bring natural daylight, as well as the winter sun into the main living area. operable windows were placed to allow cross ventilation of living spaces. While on-site water storage and solar panels added self-sustainability to the house, reducing its reliance on electric and water consumption from the grid.”
“We have included Kingspan Kooltherm K12 Framing Board insulation in our wall buildup in order to achieve a higher energy rating for the house,” she added.
A higher energy rating for a home means that it needs less energy to maintain warmth during the winter and coolness in the summer. This attribute of a home is linked to the insulation materials and design used for the home’s roof, walls, floors, lighting, and windows.
“Insulation is the cornerstone of achieving reduced energy demand. In homes with a high ratio of windows to floor area, it is even more important to have high-performing insulation products to be able to balance the overall thermal performance of the building,” Roland explained.
Roland’s commitment to reducing their home’s carbon footprint led to the selection of Kingspan insulation products including Kooltherm and Kingspan GreenGuard, which are known for their thermal resistance and ease of installation, as well as Thermakraft, known for its moisture management.
Kingspan Kooltherm K3 Floorboard was installed beneath the concrete slab floor. Its rigid thermoset phenolic insulation allows for reduced insulation thickness, while achieving higher thermal performance, for the same thickness compared to any other commonly used products.
The walls were another focal point in the energy efficiency strategy.Kooltherm K12 Framing Board was used in the walls of the house to reduce heat transfer and create a more consistent and comfortable living environment. With composite foil facing on both sides, it improves the thermal resistance of unventilated cavities, making it a good fit for timber and steel frame wall construction. The material also possesses notable fire performance characteristics, hardening and charring in fire situations, while giving off very little smoke, unlike thermoplastics that release thick black smoke.
Kingspan GreenGuard GG350 slab edge insulation, a non-deleterious material and resistant to the passage of water vapour, was placed to reduce heat loss through the slab and foundation. The extruded polystyrene insulation is water resistant and has an R-value of 1.0 for 40mm thickness.
In addition to thermal insulation, moisture management and air leak prevention were key considerations for the building’s long-term durability and health. The Thermakraft Watergate Plus membrane, which is designed as a wall underlay behind exterior wall cladding, played a key role. Made from synthetic materials, Thermakraft Watergate Plus is fire retardant, water-resistant, and vapour permeable. Its optimised water vapour transfer rate reduces condensation risk without compromising its primary water barrier properties. Part of the Thermakraft one wrap system, Watergate Plus offers easy installation and keeps moisture at bay.
“The Kingspan products are locally tested products and therefore, their effectiveness is based on the independent test data, and they are fast and easy to install,” said Roland.
The predicted annual energy usage for heating in this home1 is 119.5 MJ/m² which lower than the average Tasmanian household’s heating energy consumption of 176.47 MJ/m² for a 102m² home. This estimate is based on an average household energy use2 of 10,000 kWh with heating accounting3 for 50% of total consumption. It translates to energy savings of 57 MJ/m² per year annually equating to approximately $495 of cost savings annually at an electricity rate of $0.30/kWh. Over a 10-year period, the total savings become significant.
By prioritising insulation products from Kingspan, the house serves as an inspiring model for future residential constructions, demonstrating that that sustainable living can be both luxurious and accessible.
“In using Kingspan insulation products we were able to achieve a higher energy rating, while not needing to compromise on our design decisions for the house," said Roland.
1 First Rate Report generated using First Rate Software
2Average Tasmania household energy use = 10000kWh, https://www.economicregulator.tas.gov.au/Documents/22%202022%20%20Typical%20Electricity%20Customers%20in%20Tasmania%202022.pdf
3% of energy use for heating in Tasmania is 50%, https://www.energy.gov.au/households/heating-and-cooling
3Tasmanian household heating and cooling = 50% of total energy use, https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/24841/SAVEenergy_SAVEmoney_-_Changing_your_power_habits.pdf
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