Embodied Energy

Eco Cottage manufactured modular homes have the lowest level of embodied energy when compared to all other homes.

Embodied energy includes all energy required to manufacture and transport building materials, products and construction of a building.

Research by CSIRO has found that an average size house contains about 1,000GJ of energy embodied in the materials used in its construction, which is equivalent to 15 years of normal operational energy use.

Energy ratings do not factor or include the embodied energy of a home.

Eco Cottages (EC) conducts ongoing formal Research and Development (R&D) of EC modular homes and components manufactured in its Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Factory.

A recent audit of EC energy consumption at its purpose-built solar powered factory in Cooroy confirms that over 50% of power produced at the factory to manufacture Eco Cottages modular homes and components is being exported to the grid. (read more)

A key contribution to Eco Cottages low embodied energy is its use of cypress pine; a natural, abundant, underutilised, sustainable, renewable resource.

Compared with all other timber products, cypress has the lowest level of embodied energy because its naturally termite resistance and does not require treatment for termite resistance or intensive energy use in kiln drying.

Over 70% of an Eco Cottage modular home and its components parts listed below are manufactured from cypress pine at Eco Cottages purpose-built solar powered ZNE facility in Cooroy.

• Cypress glue-laminated bearers
• Cypress floor trusses
• Cypress seasoned T&G flooring and decking
• Cypress framing, roofing, bearers, lintels and posts
• Cypress joinery, doors, windows and internal fix-out
• Cypress cabinetry, kitchen cupboards, benchtops & bathroom vanities