Introducing ECOO:

Pioneering the Future of Affordable and Sustainable Living
in Australia

Vision and Value Proposition

ECOO’s Core Values

♥ Affordability: We strive to break down economic barriers to housing, making sustainable and biophilic living accessible to all.

♥ Sustainability: We are unwavering in our commitment to reducing carbon footprint, fostering energy efficiency, and promoting small footprint, sustainable living.

♥ Integrity: We believe in accountability and integrity towards our customers, team members, investors, and communities, maintaining transparency and trust in all our actions and decisions.

♥ Innovation: We continuously push boundaries in creating unique, innovative, and affordable housing solutions that are harmonious with nature.

♥ Biophilic Living: We aim to incorporate biophilic design principles in our projects, recognizing that connection to nature is not a luxury, but a fundamental component for healthy and fulfilling living.

♥ Community Empowerment: We are dedicated to serving and uplifting underserved communities by providing them with affordable, sustainable, and biophilic housing options.

♥ Excellence: We set high standards for ourselves and our work, aiming for the highest quality in every home we build, each embodying the values of sustainability, affordability, integrity, innovation, biophilic design and community empowerment. 

By integrating the concept of biophilic design, we are committing to not only create housing that is good for the environment but also promotes the well-being and happiness of the residents.

The Challenge

Our homes stand as silent contributors to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for approximately 13% of the total, as cited by the CSIRO. As our population burgeons and ages, reaching an estimated 31 million people by 2030, the pressure on housing escalates. We face the daunting task of constructing nearly 197,000 homes per year. The crucial question is, will these homes exacerbate our environmental crisis or offer a beacon of sustainability?

We’re ensnared in a supply and demand catastrophe:

1. Stark Supply Shortfall: With a mere 3,000 social and affordable homes produced annually, we fall drastically short of the documented need for 36,000 such homes (Lawson, Pawson et al. 2018).

2. Housing Insecurity: Vacancy rates in Queensland and across Australia have plummeted to an unprecedented low, leaving low-income households burdened with housing costs that consume over 50% of their income.

3. Aging Population: The number of Australians aged 65 years and above is set to more than double from 3.6 million to 8.5 million between 2015 and 2055 (Healthcare and Retirement Living Research & Forecast Report 2016, Colliers International). This swell in retiree numbers intensifies the demand for affordable and suitable housing.

4. The Affordability Conundrum: Housing affordability is a deepening concern for many, especially first-time home buyers and low-income households seeking to secure a place on the property ladder. In Queensland alone, the availability of affordable rental properties has halved.

5. Escalating Construction Costs: Surging raw material costs and labour shortages have catapulted the price of new homes beyond the average Australian’s reach:

– In a span of just 15 months, the average cost to build a home in 2023 has surged by $140k
– Residential property costs soared by 23.7% in 2022
– The typical price of residential properties reached $961k in 2022, with a median price of $618k

6. Sustainability at a Premium: Homes with sustainable features tend to command a price premium that ranges from 7% to 26%.

The confluence of these issues results in a seemingly insurmountable paradox: how to deliver affordable homes that integrate sustainable solutions without breaking the bank. The task is daunting, but at ECOO, we believe it’s not only possible but necessary for our collective future.

Target Market and Opportunity

Target Market

Market Focus: Our strategy aims to serve a diverse and growing segment of the population, one that understands the importance of affordability, sustainability, and smart design.

Our primary target audience includes first-time homebuyers and low-income households for whom the ECOO model provides a feasible entry point into the property market. We also appeal to empty nesters and retirees who are looking to downsize and simplify, favouring functionally efficient spaces without compromising comfort or style.

Worker accommodations, granny flats, retreats, and resorts present another vast market where our pre-fabricated ECOO units would shine, providing quality, durable, and aesthetically pleasing housing solutions that can be rapidly deployed.

Crucially, we aim to serve the NDIS community, providing them with accessible and adaptable homes that are often unavailable or unaffordable in the traditional housing market. Our models, designed with inclusivity in mind, help ensure that members of this community can live comfortably and independently.

The drive towards our product is fueled not just by the demand for affordable housing, but also by an ever-increasing consciousness about the benefits of prefabricated structures. The ECOO model’s inherent qualities – such as reduced material waste, minimised construction times, and less disruption to the surrounding environment – align perfectly with this trend.

By incorporating significant elements of sustainability into the ECOO design, we’re broadening our reach. For a growing number of people, a home is not just a place to live but an expression of their values, particularly when it comes to the environment. ECOO addresses this latent desire, striking a balance between individual needs and the collective well-being of our planet.

Embracing a Sustainable Future: The Market Awaits

The Australian housing market is currently witnessing a dynamic shift towards sustainable living solutions, a trend consistently acknowledged by the CSIRO. This market evolution represents not just a change in preferences but an opportunity to empower often overlooked segments of society. ECOO, our eco-friendly housing solution, is uniquely positioned to answer these changing demands, while making a significant impact on underserved and NDIS communities.

Empowering Through Downsizing: The growing trend of downsizing over the past decade presents a unique opportunity to provide innovative, affordable housing for communities typically underserved by conventional models. This movement towards smaller, more sustainable homes opens the door for ECOO to create tangible impact, offering beautifully designed, sustainable, and affordable living solutions that empower these communities.

Pathway to Financial Independence: The desire for financial freedom, particularly among millennials, is driving demand for affordable, small footprint homes. ECOO answers this call, providing cost-effective housing without compromising on comfort or aesthetic appeal. This approach empowers single parents, low-income households, young people, and other underserved communities to take control of their financial futures.

Leveraging Workplace Flexibility: The rise of hybrid workplaces has dramatically increased the appeal of living in more affordable, outlying areas. This seismic shift in work habits presents a remarkable opportunity to provide these communities with affordable, sustainable housing options that fit their evolving needs and align with their values.

Aiding NDIS Communities: Perhaps most importantly, ECOO offers a viable housing solution for NDIS participants. Our homes are not only affordable and sustainable, but can be customized to meet individual needs, ensuring accessibility and comfort for all. This dedication to inclusivity makes ECOO a valuable asset in addressing Australia’s accessible housing crisis.

ECOO homes have the potential to revolutionize the Australian housing landscape, serving the evolving market demands and empowering underserved and NDIS communities. With a commitment to sustainability, affordability, and aesthetic appeal, ECOO presents a compelling investment opportunity for a greener, more inclusive Australia.

Unique Selling Propositions:

1. Affordable Housing Solutions: We strive to provide affordable living options without compromising quality or design. ECOO housing offers the most cost-effective solution for modern, sustainable living.

2. Sustainable Living: ECOO offers homes that embody a deep commitment to sustainability, designed to significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Every ECOO home is a step towards a greener future.

3. Innovative Biophilic Design: Our biophilic housing solutions incorporate elements of nature and the outdoors into the design of our homes, offering unique living spaces that promote well-being, and enhance the connection between residents and their natural surroundings.

4. Small Footprint Living: ECOO homes embody the philosophy of ‘less is more.’ With their compact, yet well-thought-out designs, our homes provide everything you need for comfortable living, without wasting space or resources.

5. Turnkey Solutions: Every ECOO home comes fully equipped and ready for occupancy. This turnkey solution eliminates the hassle of home setup and lets you enjoy your new space from day one.

6. Customizable Options: With ECOO, you have the power to tailor your home to your needs. Our range of customizable options allows you to add personal touches and create a home that truly reflects your style.

7. Resilient Construction: ECOO homes are designed to withstand the test of time and changing weather conditions. Our resilient construction methods ensure a home that’s built to last.

8. Easy Installation: Our innovative housing units are designed for ease of installation, minimizing disruption and enabling you to move into your new home quicker.

9. A Solution for All: From individuals seeking a small footprint home to developers looking for sustainable living solutions, ECOO caters to a wide range of requirements.

10. Exemplary Customer Service: At ECOO, we prioritize customer satisfaction. Our dedicated team provides comprehensive support throughout the entire process, from your initial enquiry to the day you move into your ECOO home.

With ECOO, you’re not just buying a home – you’re investing in a sustainable, affordable, and beautiful living solution that’s designed with your needs and the planet’s wellbeing in mind.

Revolutionizing Market Opportunities:

1. Empowering Communities through Land Leases: In our unique model, homeowners purchase their pre-fabricated ECOO homes while simply renting the land from the estate operator. This model not only allows for flexibility and mobility, but also, remarkably, qualifies homeowners for Commonwealth rent assistance—a benefit usually inaccessible to traditional retirement village residents. If they choose to move on, homeowners have the freedom to sell their ECOO home to a new purchaser, who then assumes the land rental, creating a seamless transition.

2. Pioneering Lease-to-Own Solutions: We offer trailblazing lease-to-buy options that ensure a portion of annual rent payments are set aside in an escrow account. These funds can be utilized as a deposit for the very home residents are living in, facilitating a path to homeownership for those who have historically struggled to save for a deposit amidst high rental costs. This innovative approach allows tenants to transition their payments from rent to home ownership, democratizing access to property and fostering financial independence.

3. Harnessing the Power of Affordable Housing Investment: By leveraging government incentives such as a 60% capital gains discount for investments in affordable housing, we offer a compelling opportunity for investors to make a significant impact. This initiative encourages the creation of affordable rental housing through Certified Housing Providers (CHPs), delivering sustainable returns for investors. This innovative investment approach can be harmoniously tied with our Lease-to-buy option, offering a robust solution for underserved communities, while yielding sustainable, attractive returns for investors.

At ECOO, we are not just providing homes; we are redefining the path to homeownership and championing a new era of sustainable, inclusive living.

Unlocking the Multifaceted Potential of Sustainable Housing:

In its transformative report on the expanding market for sustainable homes, the CSIRO revealed a vast, yet unmet, public desire for the multifarious benefits inherent to sustainable living. No organization has yet fully seized this immense opportunity and integrated these co-benefits into a successful market transformation strategy. ECOO aims to fill this gap by highlighting the following potentials of sustainable housing:

1. Enhanced Comfort: Our energy-efficient homes maximize natural lighting, bringing thermal comfort to residents while reducing energy usage, illuminating an aesthetically pleasing environment that appeals to the senses.

2. Health and Wellness: Ventilation is carefully engineered in our homes to reduce pollutants, while our sustainably-designed neighborhoods prioritize green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to promote active lifestyles and wellbeing.

3. Fostering Community: By strategically situating our sustainable homes within walkable local communities, we minimize the necessity for long commutes, reducing carbon emissions and fostering healthier lifestyles. This approach also cultivates a robust sense of community and belonging among residents.

4. Affordability: We adopt a holistic approach to affordability that looks beyond initial acquisition costs, to incorporate ongoing running expenses. Our smaller footprint homes are not only affordable upfront but continue to generate savings through lower energy costs over time.

The CSIRO report further indicates that homes equipped with solar panels and high environmental ratings currently command a premium in the market. It highlights a clear “market failure” caused by the disparity between consumer aspirations for sustainable homes and the availability of such products. At ECOO, we are well-positioned to bridge this gap, marrying aspiration with accessibility to catalyze a new era in sustainable living.

The Solution

ECOO combines modular design, sustainable and affordable renewable materials, rapid prefabrication, rapid assembly to create a housing solution to meet the growing needs of the Australian housing market.

Sustainability & Benefits of Bamboo

Affordability

The patent-pending CUBO Modular System is the first and only engineered bamboo building platform in the world. Their proprietary system will enable us to manufacture a 63.5 sqm home in five days; deliver to the site in just one 40’ container; and assemble in less than five days.

We will be able to manufacture, deliver, and assemble this model home for a cost of approximately AUD$75k.

While we have no direct competitors in modular bamboo housing, we compete indirectly with prefabricated housing companies that offer alternative products. Our price point would allow us to keystone the ECOO product line and come to market well under the most affordable direct competitor. We achieve this level of affordability primarily because we will operate in a “Freeport Zone”, within the Philippines. There are numerous financial incentives to this location, including:

•​ Duty free importation of raw materials and finished goods

•​ Exemption from wharfage dues, export tax, duty, import and export fees

•​ Tax credits and additional deductions on Taxable Income (potential 4-6 year income tax holiday)

•​ Liberalized foreign ownership requirements

•​ No foreign exchange control

•​ Automated import/export procedures

•​ Reduction of duties on Capital Equipment

ECOO will source its engineered bamboo from an established and vetted supplier in China who supplies CUBO with their engineered bamboo products. This will allow us additional volume discounts, and leverages an established and trusted business relationship.

By licensing through CUBO we obtain the benefit of 5 years of materials and product development CUBO has amassed. We also gain the benefit of extensive engineering refinements and proven designs. This reduces ramp up to production times, reducing initial operating capital required.

Philippine labor costs are between 85-90% less expensive than labor costs in Australia. This highly skilled and educated workforce also scores very well among ASEAN countries in ease of finding skilled employees. The Philippines is #2 in Asian countries for proficiency in English making communications and operations far more seamless than working in other similarly priced labor markets.

Our leadership team at ECOO has long established relationships with key individuals in the Philippines, having managed manufacturing and human resource companies in the region previously. This again shortens the start-up burn rate, given the depth and breadth of established and trusted relationships.

Appeal

We anticipate bringing three models to market to meet the broad cross section of known market demand. All models will include solar, solar hot water, air conditioning, a multitude of smart features and complete fit out and finishing of the unit. Unit models will include:

OUTBACK

OUTBACK

Outback has a total liveable space of 28m²*, sleeping up to four with a kitchenette, bathroom, desk, dining, nook sofabed, deck and deck canopy. This unit would suit first home buyers, low-income households, empty nesters, retirees, worker accommodations, granny flats, retreats and resorts.

from $72,500

*Including 9m² deck upgrade.

ECOO meets the top 9 priorities for home buyers in the Australian marketplace:

Business Plan

Traction and Validation

The Promising Prospects for ECOO in the Australian Market:

The success and demand demonstrated by the CUBO product in the Philippines signals a resonance that reverberates strongly in Australia. Our nation harbours a massive yet largely untouched demand for sustainable, affordable housing. The high cost of construction, coupled with the skewed supply-demand dynamic, has created a fertile ground for innovative housing solutions like ours.

We are thrilled to report burgeoning interest in the ECOO product from various quarters:

• Individual Homeowners: Many people have shown enthusiasm for ECOO as a solution for an affordable, small footprint home. They also see the potential for it as a chic weekend getaway or a lucrative AirBNB unit on an existing property.

• Retirees and Retirement Communities: Individual retirees and some of Australia’s largest retirement living groups in NSW and Queensland have expressed interest in ECOO as a practical downsizing solution. The demand for separate, affordable dwellings in retirement living spaces is burgeoning, and ECOO is well-positioned to fill this need.

• The People With Disabilities Community: Our product has also sparked interest among members and advocates of the disability community. ECOO’s compact yet thoughtfully designed spaces offer accessible, affordable and dignified housing solutions to those living with disabilities, aligning with the core values of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

• Developers: Boutique and large-scale developers alike have expressed interest in our model. Boutique developers love the concept of creating a unique community with a small cluster of ECOO units, complemented by communal spaces like a pool and BBQ area. Larger developers initially voiced concerns about ECOO’s affordable price point undercutting their sales. However, they soon realised the advantage of providing lower-income households, many of whom work in local Accommodation and Food Services, Residential Care, and Wholesale/Retail sectors, access to a unique home offering within the wider development.

• Retreats and Resorts: In discussions with several retreat operators, ECOO’s sustainable units are seen as an attractive solution. Our units’ price point and eco-friendly features offer an affordable way to develop or expand their facilities while answering the growing call for sustainability.

ECOO is well-positioned to cater to this diverse range of housing needs. We are excited to continue exploring these opportunities to bring affordable, sustainable living to even more Australians.

Marketing and Sales

• Kick-starting our Journey: Our first step is to launch a distinct Australasian website, which has already been developed, and devise a strategic digital marketing campaign expertly crafted by Stella Jackson Creative.

• Leveraging Established Connections: We plan to utilize our current relationships with developers, aged care providers, and NDIS Affordable Housing providers, to secure commitments for the initial production run, effectively kick-starting ECOO.

• Maximizing Existing Resources: In the early stages, we will use CUBO’s digital resources, gradually building our own image and content libraries as our portfolio expands.

• Immersive Showcasing: We aim to import three unique ECOO units to establish a model home site in South East Queensland, offering potential customers a tangible experience of the aesthetics and benefits ECOO homes provide.

• Building a Lead Database: As online enquiries come in, we will create a comprehensive lead database. Regular communication with this group will keep them engaged, and updated about our latest offerings and developments.

• Tapping into Digital Communities: We plan to harness the power of digital communities and databases that align with our core values of sustainable and affordable housing, promoting our brand among these engaged audiences.

• Amplifying Our Presence: As ECOO grows and matures, we will seek out public relations opportunities and participate in home shows and relevant events as a presenter, vendor, and/or sponsor. This will allow us to not just showcase our products but also demonstrate thought leadership in sustainable and affordable housing solutions.

Team

The initial start-up team includes: 

Financials & Competitive Analysis 

Origin Story

Yellowstone National Park, 2021

South Pacific Crossing, 2021

• Community Connection: As the family embraces smaller living spaces, they become more engaged with their surroundings and neighbors, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

• A Focus on Experiences: By choosing a smaller, sustainable home, the Gamble Family shifts their focus from material possessions to the experiences and relationships that truly matter.

As the Gamble Family’s story unfolds, “Culture Nomads” illustrates how living in sustainable small footprint homes can lead to a more fulfilling, environmentally conscious, and connected life. Their journey serves as a powerful reminder that embracing simplicity and sustainability can yield lasting rewards for individuals, families, and the planet.

Our Ultimate Vision

Empowering wellness, nourishing sustainability – community development for a better tomorrow.

Our Ultimate Vision

Empowering wellness, nourishing sustainability – community development for a better tomorrow.