Eco Friendly Homes

Fact: 22% of Australia's carbon dioxide emission comes from the home. Houses can incorporate alot more eco friendly building practices. This can save you not only money in the long run with your heating and cooling and energy costs but it also helps save the environment.

There is something that can be done about this and can even save you money in the long term.

Lets start with Water

Water

Water can be recycled and reused. There are a number of ways that the home owner can do this

A Biocycle plant that recyles the kitchen waste, bathroom, toilet, laundry wastes and reuses this in garden water and toilet water.

Rain water tanks are common all around Australia and with states like QLD that advise that a new house must have a 5000L water tank as standard and the fact that you can attach and divert rain from the roof into that tank the house also benifits from now having any possibility of water overflowing in the gutters and into the house.

Dual flush toilets are another way to minimuise water wastage

Energy

Energy effiecent homes are talked about but what does it really mean

Energy efficent central heating or cooling in the house

Skylights in dark areas

Solar boosted heating for the hot water systems inclduing heating of the pool

Solar power in the house for energy and at the end of the day if you want you can also sell that excess energy back to the power company. * Check which energy company does this in your local area

Install 5 Star rating appliances in your home

Air

Check what paints are being and make sure that they are low in emmissions

Natural or polyester insulation batts in your home - reducing heat lose and heat penertration from the outside in the summer saving you on your air conditioning and the heating costs.

Weather seals to all doors and windows i this reduces drafts and helps maintain the internal room and house temperature.

Provide adequate cross ventilation to provide cooling cross breezes in summer reducing the air conditioning costs.

Check with your local eco friendly builder and start saving the world one day at a time.

Recycling Building Materials

Any person driving past a building site will generally see a large pile of materials either half used or not wanted any more. There is a large portion of building materials that can be saved and used elsewhere.

Timber

Recycled timber is a fantastic way to use some history in your home. Timber is becoming more expensive the bigger and thicker it is. Railway sleepers make wonderful media tables, bridge peirs can make large staements to your home, timber hardwood flooring thorughout the home the list is too long to say. There are loads of timber recyclers around the country, they may even have some great bargins too so its worth checking them out.

Windows, Doors

Recycled windows, doors can be perfect for that heritage look and even cottage feel in your home.

Check with your local building material retailer and start saving the world one day at a time.

Home Building Australia Supports Eco Friendly Building Practices

 Our recommended Builder in SE Queensland is Sunshine Coast Builder Optam Building Group