Global warming, climate-change and sustainability are words that we hear regularly these days, but what do they all mean for home owners or home buyers? A sustainable home is one that is more liveable, healthier, saves you money on water and energy bills, is constructed using environmentally efficient materials and thereby reduces its environmental impact and is useable for you throughout all of your life stages. Here are the ten items that defines a sustainable home.
1. Water conservation
Use water efficient appliances and fittings, such as 3-star ( or more) showerheads and water pressure-limiting devices, and include a rainwater tanks to supply water for use with gardens, toilets and laundry.
2. Natural heating and cooling (passive solar design)
Good passive solar design allows your home to respond to its local climate through natural heating in winter and cooling in summer e.g. good orientation and room zoning, capturing breezes for cross-ventilation, appropriate insulation, shading (e.g. sufficient eaves), building materials (lightweight construction/thermal mass), and fixtures and finishes (e.g. skylights and window treatment). Incorporation of passive design reduces the need to rely on air conditioners/heaters. It can also indirectly promote natural daylighting and improve indoor air quality with circulating breezes providing fresh air inside the home.
3. Energy and greenhouse efficient water heating
Install a solar, natural gas or electric heat pump hot water system to lower energy bills and reduce the single largest source of greenhouse emissions in the household. (ie. tankless water heater)
4. Future-proof
The living area and at least one bedroom and toilet on the entry level should be readily accessible from the front boundary or car space to accommodate your changing housing needs as you get older.
5. Safe floors
Design floors and showers to be step-free (hobless). Use floor surfaces that are slip resistant to guard against injuries.
6. Address the street
An easy to read house number at the front of your property makes it easy to find. Good external lighting and separated driveway and pedestrian entries also makes it safer.
7. Casual surveillance
Design your home to have easy surveillance to play areas and the street from the main living area and kitchen for better security.
8. Long-term maintenance
Reduce the repair and ongoing maintenance costs of your home by using low maintenance materials. (ie. landscape that requires little water)
9. Indoor air quality
Avoid materials that contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), such as paints/finishes and adhesives, which can cause irritation and allergies, and impact poorly on your health.
10. Outdoor living
Include permanently covered outdoor play and entertainment areas with a good relationship to indoor spaces to maximise your home’s access to Queensland’s favorable lifestyle and climate.
Remember to check with your local council for any specific design requirement regulations, such as set backs and plumbing standards for rainwater tanks.
For more information on how to design and/or construct a high-performance green homes, go to LEED for HOMES website
1. Water conservation
Use water efficient appliances and fittings, such as 3-star ( or more) showerheads and water pressure-limiting devices, and include a rainwater tanks to supply water for use with gardens, toilets and laundry.
2. Natural heating and cooling (passive solar design)
Good passive solar design allows your home to respond to its local climate through natural heating in winter and cooling in summer e.g. good orientation and room zoning, capturing breezes for cross-ventilation, appropriate insulation, shading (e.g. sufficient eaves), building materials (lightweight construction/thermal mass), and fixtures and finishes (e.g. skylights and window treatment). Incorporation of passive design reduces the need to rely on air conditioners/heaters. It can also indirectly promote natural daylighting and improve indoor air quality with circulating breezes providing fresh air inside the home.
3. Energy and greenhouse efficient water heating
Install a solar, natural gas or electric heat pump hot water system to lower energy bills and reduce the single largest source of greenhouse emissions in the household. (ie. tankless water heater)
4. Future-proof
The living area and at least one bedroom and toilet on the entry level should be readily accessible from the front boundary or car space to accommodate your changing housing needs as you get older.
5. Safe floors
Design floors and showers to be step-free (hobless). Use floor surfaces that are slip resistant to guard against injuries.
6. Address the street
An easy to read house number at the front of your property makes it easy to find. Good external lighting and separated driveway and pedestrian entries also makes it safer.
7. Casual surveillance
Design your home to have easy surveillance to play areas and the street from the main living area and kitchen for better security.
8. Long-term maintenance
Reduce the repair and ongoing maintenance costs of your home by using low maintenance materials. (ie. landscape that requires little water)
9. Indoor air quality
Avoid materials that contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), such as paints/finishes and adhesives, which can cause irritation and allergies, and impact poorly on your health.
10. Outdoor living
Include permanently covered outdoor play and entertainment areas with a good relationship to indoor spaces to maximise your home’s access to Queensland’s favorable lifestyle and climate.
Remember to check with your local council for any specific design requirement regulations, such as set backs and plumbing standards for rainwater tanks.
For more information on how to design and/or construct a high-performance green homes, go to LEED for HOMES website
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