iCUE Homes build Gippsland's first integrated sustainable residential development for 55+

Melbourne, 4 October 2018 – Korumburra will soon be home to Gippsland’s first solar powered residential development, complete with its own microgrid back up electricity storage system, vegetable garden and electric vehicle charging station.

South Gippsland Shire Council has approved the building of Lourdes Garden Estate; 12 two-bedroom and three-bedroom units at 124 Gabriella Way, by sustainable living builder, iCUE Homes, in line with the Council’s sustainability vision.

iCUE Homes Managing Director, Colin Ure, said that for home buyers grappling with soaring electricity prices and unaffordable housing, particularly those aged 55+ who want to downsize, the timing couldn’t be better.

“We’ve put a lot of thought into our design, so home owners can live independent of traditional electricity infrastructure. From solar panels and batteries to 12-48-volt wiring for running low voltage appliances, we tick all the boxes.”

Most importantly, iCUE Homes start with sustainable design principles beginning with optimised orientation and layout; insulated wall, floor and roof panels; and natural light and ventilation. This ensures the house is energy efficient and comfortable to live in all year round, to minimise the need for heating and cooling in the first instance.

“A Queensland University of Technology study* found that homes built with the materials iCUE Homes uses could cut the use of energy by at least 48% compared to traditional brick and mortar homes,” said Mr Ure. “Sustainability drives our design process, consequently iCUE Homes act as thermal shells protecting residents from extremes in heat and cold.”

And while home owners can look forward to saying goodbye to electricity bills forever, there is also a back-up energy supply so that they can live free of the fear of black outs. The microgrid is an on-site solar power storage facility that can despatch energy within the development if required by residents. A first for residential developments in Australia.

As Sue, the owner of a bespoke iCUE Home in Marysville explains, it is about treading more lightly on the earth for our future generations.

“When I decided to build a home to retire to in Marysville, I wanted a house that was bushfire resistant, comfortable, low maintenance and energy efficient. With my iCUE home, I have everything on my wish list plus no more electricity bill shock, a water tank to minimise my water bills, and a garden,” she said.

Mr Ure said this was community living at its best – living affordably and in harmony with the environment while embedding the spirit of community with shared spaces.

“Major components are prefabricated, flat packed delivered, then constructed mostly without the need for heavy lifting equipment or wide load transportation,” he said.

“We’re minimising waste, production time and environmental impact through our prefabrication process.”

As Melbourne’s population continues to rapidly expand and regional areas such as Korumburra that are near major amenities are forecast to grow 38% by 2036, expect to see more sustainable iCUE Homes in regions within two hours from major capital cities across Australia.

*InsulLiving Performance report, QUT, Jan 2014

Visit our website www.icuehomes.com/eliminate-energy-bills-homes-for-over55s

Watch our video https://youtu.be/EuaGlygxH3A

About iCUE Homes

When Colin Ure embarked on a small project to build a self-contained unit in the Yarra Valley, he couldn’t find a suitable kit home that was eco-friendly, functional and affordable. So, he decided to design his own – and iCUE Homes was born.

Scouring the breadth of manufacturing innovation over several years, Colin selected a collection of simple yet outstanding products, from foundations to ceiling, to create a kit home that was superior to any other building system; one that was easy to build, required minimal suppliers and topped the ratings for insulation, bushfire and wind load.

After setting up an R&D factory in Healesville to build and test a ‘Warung’ – an open plan self-contained cottage – Colin designed a home that could be manufactured using automation and robotics, putting in place the vision to establish a manufacturing plant that could pre-fabricate home designs of any shape or size.   

Following the success of building small bespoke off grid houses, iCUE Homes has now moved towards harnessing the power of community living, to consolidate the excess electricity produced from its rooftops, to benefit its residents. Korumburra is its first residential development.

Features:

·         Minimal use of concrete

·         Adjustable steel sub-floor truss system – easily bolts to foundation

·         Double glazed windows

·         Insulated floor and roof panels

·         Underfloor insulation

·         Low energy lighting and appliances

·         BAL (Bush Attach Levels) 40 rating – the highest level

About Colin Ure

Colin is driven to make affordable sustainable living a possibility for all, not just in Australia but in developing countries around the world, where disruptive innovation can transform people’s lives.

“We can eliminate poverty and hunger by creating permaculture cities that don’t rely on infrastructure such as grid connection, mains sewerage or water supply.”

“Our vision is to combine innovative design with high-end manufacturing to not only provide shelter, but also to generate a source of food, water and energy for a community and beyond.” 

“Our technology grows anywhere – in urban environments or in the middle of a desert.”

Colin started his career in Telecom installing optical fibre in the field before moving into its works programming department for several years, and then travelling overseas.

Upon his return, he worked for a rural farm equipment supply company, later joining a company that supplied spare parts to manufacturers, for their industrial sewing equipment. It was here that he developed an interest in manufacturing processes, while touring the factories of world-renowned brands including Levi’s RM Williams, Clarke Shoes, Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi, Sheridan and Dunlop bedding.

Following stints in the hospitality, engineering, mining, construction and material handling industries in search of his true calling, he bought some land in the Yarra Valley to build a B&B.  This was the trigger to apply a lifetime of experience in a breadth of industries to realise his vision.

Media contact: Ping Chew, 0439 570 789