How an eco-friendly home can become a reality

Take a tour of this Durban North property, which is a lesson in how an eco-friendly home can be a reality

”Green is ugly”, “green is for tree huggers”, “green is too expensive, complicated or irrelevant” were just some of the myths Jane Troughton and her husband, Greg Courtney, wanted to debunk when they began their journey of creating a “green” home, which would be contemporary, eco-friendly and as off the grid as possible.

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The couple demolished an old Durban North house, salvaging items that could be re-used and investing in green technology, such as solar energy and rain-water harvesting.

Even after extensive research and consulting with professionals, it wasn’t an easy project, with endless planning approval issues and delays.

But the couple remained undaunted, and now, eight years later, with the home stylish, family-friendly and, most importantly, in sync with its natural environment, “it’s far removed from the ‘hobbit house’ people envisaged, when we told them about our ‘eco-crazy’ idea”, smiles Jane.

Jane is passionate about encouraging people to explore the viability of installing a solar system. She advises you get to grips with your current electricity costs, then project your future costs, allowing for between 12% and 25% annual increases.

Jane explains: “Most people are not in touch with how much they will be spending in the future. It is expensive to install a solar system, but the future savings may come more quickly than they imagine.”

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As Durban has a hot, humid climate, keeping the house cool was essential. Each room has opening windows on opposite sides for cross-ventilation. Whirligigs in the roof of the passage draw the warm air up and out of the house, while the small windows facing the pond pull cool air from outside. The house faces north, so fixed louvres cut the sun’s strength without blocking light.

Re-using as much as possible from the previous home was high on the couple’s priorities.

“All the rubble went into the cavity from the floor, and the only materials that went into the landfill were bits and pieces of old roof waterproofing,” comments Jane.

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The original slasto paving became garden paths, a concrete sink from the old outbuildings was turned into a planter, bricks were repurposed as flower bed edging, and doors used for the outside entertainment area. The decking is also made of recycled plastic.

When it came to being water-wise, Jane did extensive research on rain harvesting systems. A 20 000-litre tank was installed under the ground, which is aesthetically pleasing. The system uses surface and underground infiltration techniques for providing clean water throughout the home. Grey water, from bathing and dishwashing, irrigates the garden.

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In harmony with its natural surroundings, and chemical free, a wetland pool is the perfect spot for a refreshing dip in summer. The plants (about 50% of the swimming area) are what filter, clean and oxygenate the water, aided by a pump to prevent stagnation. The wetland pool attracts animals, which can keep pests, such as mosquitoes, and harmful bacteria in check.

Jane suggests lining the pool with fibreglass as it repels algae more effectively.

“A great vertical garden is a science and an art,” Jane explains. “I strongly advise you consult a plant expert who firstly understands the species that will grow best (science) and then knows how to put them together to create something beautiful that has the potential to get richer and stronger over time.”

“Going green is more than just installing technology and recycling,” says Jane. “It’s very much a lifestyle.” The verdant vegetable garden is organic, making use of permaculture principles for sustainable living. The planter boxes are made of recycled plastic, with the worm farm providing compost for a bountiful harvest.

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It’s evident that one of Jane’s passions is gardening. Her philosophy is to take lessons from nature, so the garden is indigenous, with excess leaves and clippings for mulch, and using vermiculture (worm farming) for compost and improving the soil health.

The garden encourages wildlife to call it home – with woodland sections, grasses and a wetland for shelter and food. For the couple, to watch nature at work in the roof garden from their bedroom is a delight. Other benefits to the roof garden include insulating the house efficiently and lowering the amount of storm water run-off.

Jane advises: “It is imperative to ensure a structural engineer has confirmed that your roof can take the extra load, and once approved, you have the waterproofing done correctly.”