More and more people worldwide are becoming increasingly aware of the need for our homes to be more sustainable. Most importantly, people are realising the value of saving water and energy.
So what can you do to reduce your own demand for energy and water, at the same time maintaining the quality of life you are used to?
The first step is to become proactive in your own water and energy usage. Little things like switching off lights when you leave a room, or re-setting thermostats on all heating and cooling equipment, so they do not constantly draw power off the grid can all make a significant saving on resources. Swimming pool pumps and heaters also use a lot of energy, so don’t forget about these. You can also cut down on energy usage by installing low-energy globes for all your lighting and by switching off all lights, appliances and computers when you are not using them – however little energy you believe they use. Don’t be tempted to leave computers on standby.
If you have an older home that does not have insulation, then now would be a good time to get some quotes, particularly as there are some government rebates available. Beyond this, do whatever you can to keep your home insulated. If this wasn’t an issue when the house was first designed, investigate the possibility of installing exterior blinds or shutters to improve insulation, and/or fit weather-seals to your doors and windows.
Dripping taps and leaking showers and toilet cisterns can result in a huge waste of water, so be sure to fix any leaks as soon as possible after you notice them. Change shower heads to the water-efficient, slow-flow type and use water sparingly. There are quite a few showerhead exchange programmes in Australia where you can swap old shower heads without parting with a single cent.
Think about the possibility of saving grey water, for example from baths and basins, and use this in your garden. At very least choose garden plants that are resistant to drought and don’t suck up excessive moisture from the soil.
It is quite ironic that many early homes in hot-weather countries in the southern hemisphere (including Australia) always incorporated wide shady verandas. As the interiors of homes have got bigger, verandas are usually ignored and outdoor patios, that are not part of the structure of the house, added instead.
In the early days, most properties also had water tanks that collected rain water. Today this is not the norm at all, although thanks to government regulations rain water tanks are making a comeback. Just because we have the luxury of water on-tap does not mean that we should ignore the need to save it.
Regardless of their claims, not all architects have the ability to design sustainable homes. Because architects and designers simply ignored the need for energy efficiency and water conservation until relatively recently, if you want to improve the situation in your home now, you are probably going to need to spend a bit of money on energy or water-saving home improvements. Just make sure what you choose is properly designed and rated.
Here are a few things you can do.
If the roof-space above your ceiling isn’t insulated, take action with one of the many products available. Upgrade your hot water service and install a solar-boosted service. Install solar panels and replace your old electric water heater with an energy efficient solar water heater or with a heat pump that works on solar power. These are efficient and economical, and one of Australia’s greatest inventions.
Whenever you buy new appliances, including washing machines and dishwashers, make sure these are high star rated. Last of all, install a water tank to catch fresh rainwater and have a reliable diversion system fitted to enable you to utilise the grey water from your baths and basins.
Of course if you are renovating or building a new home then you have the opportunity to enjoy ‘built in sustainability’, but only if your home is designed by an architect that has a track record of building highly sustainable homes. At Dion Seminara Architecture we specialise in creating sustainable homes that use less resources saving you money in the long run.
