Why consider AlterecO2?

By and large, the custom-designed home industry is inherently fraught with construction budget blowouts. Square meter rates just don’t apply to a building that has a unique design and a customised specification tailored to each individual. Staying on top of costs and hitting our clients construction budget is of utmost importance. As players in the custom-design market, ensuring construction cost from the outset is becoming increasingly difficult. 

We’ve joined forces with Certified Passive House Builders who have Pre-Costed your home, ensuring complete transparency and clarity. 

By collaborating on design, detail and specification, we are able to deliver homes that; meet Passive House standards, have been pre-costed and come with an affordable price tag. We haven't compromised on functionality or the architecture. Nor have we compromised on material selection, taking into account suitability and recyclability. The exterior products have been chosen on the merits of their durability and longevity, and the interior finishes chosen on their levels of toxicity and functionality.

Our forward-thinking PH certified builders will ensure that the design objectives are achieved and your expectations are exceeded.

The custom design process is a marathon, not a sprint. There are endless decisions to be made from choosing the taps, to the tiles, to the light fittings.

The AlterecO2 process takes decision fatigue away; from day 1 we’ve created an efficient pathway through design, selection and approvals.

With most of the big decisions already locked down and documented, this means a much quicker process from signing on through to commencing construction.

Known as the Indoor Generation, we spend 90% of our time indoors in artificial environments. Indoor air quality is 5 times more toxic than outdoor air. In 1998 the CSIRO estimated that the cost of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in Australia may be as high as $12 billion per year (2).

2 https://www.healthyinteriors.com.au/articles/indoor-air-articles/csiro-media-release-beating-the-12-billion-cost-of-polluted-air-s-brown-1998/#:~:text=Home-,CSIRO%20Media%20Release%20%E2%80%93%20Beating%20The%20%2412%20Billion%20Cost%20Of%20Polluted,a%20senior%20scientist%20has%20warned.

Australian building standards have not developed to meet world class standards. Our standards fail to address build quality, the longevity of buildings, air quality and airtightness. This has allowed the building market to build down to a minimum standard, rather than set a benchmark for optimal performance, comfort and energy demand.

We want to ensure that the health of people who occupy our homes is paramount, by creating a safe, healthy and comfortable environment.

Passive House buildings are designed to be comfortable all year round. With an ambient temperature of 20C in winter, you can swan around in a pair of thongs and a singlet if the mood takes you or stay comfortably and effortlessly cool in summer with indoor temperatures not exceeding 25C.

A filtered ventilation system (MHRV) will guarantee low carbon dioxide levels, humidity control and low particulate matter levels, resulting in a safe and healthy indoor environment.

It comes as no surprise that the cost of gas and electricity continues to rise and impact household expenses. The higher-performing a house is, the less artificial input is required to create a comfortable indoor temperature. 

In Victoria, by far the majority of the cost on heating and cooling is on heating, given that the average house is 1.7 Stars we are spending approx $1500 to $2000 per year on heating alone (1).

1 https://apricus.com.au/2015/06/09/how-much-does-the-average-australian-household-spend-on-energy/

We strive to demonstrate how NET-ZERO housing can be achieved using conventional building methods and readily available materials.

You’ll benefit from a Net-Zero home, designed to generate as much energy as it demands. This will offset your greenhouse emissions and ultimately result in lower energy bills for the lifetime of your home. Resulting in low cost to you and our planet.