The Centre for Sustainable Living encompasses a variety of features for a sustainable building and systems including a worm farm, an organic garden, waste water treatment and solar energy systems.

Click the links below to view more information on our ongoing demonstrations.

• Solar space heating and night cooling demonstrations
• On-site waste water management
• Wetland for filtering subsurface drainage
• Community Vegetable Garden
• Worm Farm
• Reducing and Recycling

The Centre for Sustainable Living is in a north south orientation which has made it easier to install both passive and active solar heating and cooling features.

There are few other buildings in Western Australia with commercial scale solar heating and commercial scale night cooling. The added benefit is that the systems at the centre is accessible to the public.

Active systems should always be considered after meeting all major passive heating and cooling features of buildings. Passive systems are fundamental to cost effectiveness and comfort in buildings.

Passive features for solar gain installed at the centre:

• Increased solar gain on the north face
• Insulation of roof space and dormitory walls
• Rendering north face to stop all gaps

The active solar space heating at the centre:
51 square metres of panels are mounted on the north faces of the two dormitory wings of the building. Heated air is ducted to selected areas of the building using low wattage electric fans. Warm air is  delivered through grilles in four locations which effectively pressurises the building so that warm air moves from the grilles throughout the rooms. Outlets for the warmed air have been concentrated in the cool south side of the building. Temperature sensors are located internally to determine if heat is required and also on each of the three banks of panels to ensure that heat is available.

Night cooling at the centre:
Night cooling has a similar impact to opening the windows on a hot night. A high capacity, low resistance exhaust fan ventilates selected areas of the building via an automatic temperature control system. It only function in the summer months. Air is ducted via a roof mounted cowl.

As part of the planning process the Centre for Sustainable Living has pursued water conservation opportunities. The aim is the reduction in per capita water use and therefore reduce wastewater generated.

The Water Corporation's Water Forever strategy aims to reduce water consumption per head from 155 litres/day to 135 litres/day.  We already achieve that target and believe we all need to do much better than that! Water saving appliances have been installed, including water conserving shower roses, waterless urinals, and dry composting toilets. These appliances are part of the introductory tour and education program for all users of the centre, where the use of water saving behaviour and technologies is explained, demonstrated and finally used!

Specifics of Centre Daily Flows:

A total combined flow of 9860 litres/day at 145 litres/person for a population of 68 has been used to design the wastewater systems. Greywater (showers and handbasins) conributes to 60% of the flow (a total of 5916 litres/day) and blackwater 40% of the flow (3944 litres/day). Although the 145 litres/day (standard water reduction figure) has been used this figure is very conservative, because all laundry (linen, clothes etc), apart from that used within the caretaker's cottage (two people maximum), will be processed offsite.

The BF6 model has received Department of Health approval in Western Australia according to AS/NZS 1547:2001, with the BF2 model approval being processed. The centre provides a demonstration system with information collation for Western Australian government departments (for example the Departments of Health and Environment) and educational centres (schools, universities and TAFEs).

The biolytix system (BF-STP) designed for the Denmark Sustainability Centre has been rated to cope with loadings of 6,600 litres/day and incorporates a parallel design of three filters. The BF-STP includes a BF2 pre-filtration unit and two BF6 filters, one gravity-fed the other with a pump for irrigation, to maximise effluent treatment. At a maximum loading of 6600 litres/day the system provides effluent to a high secondary standard appropriate for subsurface irrigation in the gardens on site.

Biomax aerobic treatment unit
The Biomax C30 takes wastewater from the women's toilet and shower block, the caretaker unit and the laundry. The Biomax system has been used extensively in Western Australia for decentralised wastewater reuse/disposal. A further modification to the system for this project will include periodic aeration to enhance denitrification.This modification has been requested for the unit to be located at the centre, as a result of research at Murdoch University's Environmental Technology Centre, which found that two hour on-off aeration enhanced denitrification by up to 30%.

The Biomax system used for the Denmark Sustainability Centre is a C30 model that treats wastewater to a high secondary standard for subsurface irrigation in the gardens on site.

Composting Toilets:

The Rota-loo 950 is located at the Sanctuary. These toilets can handle continuous use by up to eight people. Principally the composting toilet demonstrates technologies for water conservation and human waste reuse techniques.

A wetland has been installed as an additional safeguard to strip any nutrients and sediment from Centre stormwater before entering the Denmark River or groundwater. It is part of the system under the monitoring program through the centre. The specifications for the managed billabong have been developed in consultation with the Department of Environment.

The billabong has enhanced a natural flood area so that rainwater runoff is intercepted and slowed to increase sediment deposition and nutrient uptake. The ability for water from intense rainfall to move readily through the system is taken into account. The billabong area has been designed to dry out during the summer period so that mosquito breeding is avoided.

The area had heavy kikuyu and other weed growth which demanded significant management and revegetation with riparian reeds, sedges and vegetation. some areas of kikuyu have been maintained as they provide significant nutrient removal and can be mowed to take nutrients away from the site. They can also provide access to the wetland zone. This development complements local riparian revegetation work undertaken by the neighbouring Denmark High School and Green Skills Inc.

Community Veggie Garden

A recent addition to the Centre facilities has been the development of a community vegetable garden arranged in beds for different groups to use.  The Denmark High School, the Transition Town Denmark group and a group of mothers and children are already involved.

Fresh herbs from the gardens are available for guests in the Centre.

Feed the worms!

All kitchen wastes are good tucker for worms. The centre has established a worm farm on site to turn waste into organic wealth. The compost is used on the gardens at the centre which means that we do not have to rely on purchased fertilizers.

Reducing the waste we produce is the first major step in treading more lightly on the earth! Then we need to be more careful and creative about how we deal with the waste we do produce.

The Centre for Sustainable Living uses cleaning products that do not damage the environment. The basic cleaning ingredients are vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and cleaning fibres that do not require chemical cleaning agents. This is good news for anyone with allergies and chemical sensitivities.

The Centre has a policy of purchasing materials which minimise packaging and maximise the ability to be recycled, including sourcing fresh, locally grown foods. The TAFE organic horticulture site is adjacent to the centre and for large events the centre seeks to purchase fresh vegetables from this enterprise. Separation of all materials is central to reuse so look out for the appropriate bins.