This is the catch phrase for new homes being constructed now a days. And really, there's not a lot new about it. In our grandparents days, we conserved water, we built our homes to catch breezes and had shady verandahs. We also turned lights off when we went out of rooms.

The newness is in the fact that life has changed a lot since those days. We don’t just have a TV in the lounge room, but also video/dvd player, stereo, X boxes and Playstations. We have dishwashers, microwaves coffee machines, garbage disposals and huge fridges that give us ice or cold water on demand. Kids rooms now look like lounge rooms with all the electrical equipment they have as well. We put fans in our homes, but also air conditioners and heating as well. We also have extra showers and extra toilets, and some pergolas look like another kitchen/dining room!

While these features often make life more comfortable and easy, many take a toll on our energy consumption and environment, so the government is now encouraging builders and home owners to look at the style of homes we build and encourage us to use building and design practices that reduce some of the energy we use.

Sustainable requirements and regulations for new homes are updated and changed regularly. For more informaiton on what new regulations may be required in your new home, drop us a line or give us a call and we can help you through all the jargon.

The other side to Sustainable housing is creating homes not just for now, but for the future. We encourage you to consider aspects of your design that will suit not just yourselves, but others who may live in your home (thus increasing your resale opportunities). Security and safety is important and adequate external lighting, floor types, safe kitchen design are all aspects of designing a home that everyone can be safe in. For older residents who would like to stay in their home longer, consider extra timber nogging in bathrooms, showers and toilets for grab rails, a wider toilet and hallways for wheelchair access and easy access in and around the home reducing the need for stairs.

Many builders including ourselves, are already putting these things into practice. It's all about responsible building. This is just a small example of what can be done. For more information, please feel free to visit any of  these sites

Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Housing  (also known as Smart Housing)

Pelicans on Fraser Island

Smart Housing