LIFE CYCLE COSTS
What can this house show you?
- Rebates available
- Thermally efficient masonry
(Timbercrete blocks)
- Solar energy generation
- Solar Hot Water installation / savings
What can you do?
- Look at the 'whole of life' cost of
things you buy
- Consider how products are made
and where they come from
- Collect information on
energy, performance & output
- Lower your overall usage -
conserve, save & benefit!
LANDSCAPE
What can this house show you?
- A range of native plants
- A range of landscaping practices
- A productive but compact
vegetable garden
- Well prepared gardens need less
water
What can you do?
- Use plants to shade your house in
summer
- Use plants that suit the climate
- Use plants that feed native fauna
- Grow your own vegetables
DESIGN/LOCATION
What can this house show you?
- How to maximise natural light
- How to capture winter sun
- Good ventilation
- Catering for mobility impaired
- Versatile floor plan
- A range of sustainable building
products and ideas
What can you do?
- Choose land where you can
achieve a northerly aspect
- Plan your home to suit your land
- Consider public transport links
- Use local products and businesses
- Ask an architect about
sustainable ideas
- Build a house that is size-
appropriate to your needs
|
|
ENERGY
What can this house show you?
- Passive heating and cooling
- Solar hot water
- Solar power generation
- Efficient glazing
- Clothes-drying area
- Choice of efficient appliances
What can you do?
- Switch off lights not being used
- Use fluoro light bulbs
- Turn off appliances
(standby settings waste energy)
- Buy a 'Cent-a-meter' to measure
the usage of different items
- Insulate your house (rebates available)
- Install solar hot water (rebates available)
- Avoid using a clothes dryer
- Swap an electric blanket for a
wool one
WASTE
What can this house show you?
- Re-useable building material
- How to manage your food scraps
- Recycling and re-using products
What can you do?
- When shopping, choose products
with less packaging
- Research products before buying
- Buy fresh local food or grow it!
- Compost your kitchen scraps
- Consider the impact of your pets
- Say "no" to junk mail
- Use eco-friendly products
WATER
What can this house show you?
- Water saving taps and shower heads
- Grey water system flushes toilets
and other utility uses
- Drought resistant plants in the garden
- Saving water with rainwater tanks
- Moisture is retained by mulching
the garden
- How to save 150,000 litres of
water each year (local statistics)
- How to avoid sending 50,000
litres of water to sewer each year
What can you do?
- Use mulch on your plants
- Put a timer in your shower
- Choose AAAA rated appliances
- Get a dual-flush toilet
- Only use your dishwasher or
washing machine when you have
a full load
|
|
|