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HOUSE
Our home and garden can be a bottomless pit of resource-consuming ecological inefficiency; or a healthy Eden of self-sufficiency. So how do we manage our ecological footprint and set it on a sustainable path?
EXPLORE ACTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE HOUSE
Install efficient appliances and fixtures
When investing in large household appliances and fixtures, use the government's Energy and Water Ratings (stars) to guide you to the most efficient products to save money.
Cultivate energy saving habits
Energy saving habits are easy to learn. By changing your daily habits, you can save resources and money and reduce your contribution to global warming.
Embrace energy efficiency
Energy conservation can save resources and money through the adoption of efficient technology and behaviours.
Cultivate water saving habits
Water saving habits are those easy-to-learn daily behaviours that can save us thousands of litres (and dollars) during the course of our lives.
Generate your own electricity
The sun hitting your roof can power your home. It's just a question of gadgets.
Make your renovations green
Renovations are the ideal opportunity to make your house more efficient and sustainable. Try these tips and feel good about your home.
DIY environmental home checklist
Time to grab the clipboard and run the environmental ruler over your home. Identify the low hanging fruit and big bang actions that will quickly and easily reduce your homes impact on the environment.
Harvest and use your rainwater
Install a rainwater tank to collect and store rain hitting your roof and use it to water your garden, wash your clothes or fill your toilet.
Assess your home's sustainability
Like many of us, and with the impending carbon price, you might be thinking about ways to save money at home.
Use water efficiently
Water conservation on the driest continent on the planet is essential, logical and too long in coming. There are lots of easy things we can all do!
Buy renewable electricity
Every time you use electricity in your home greenhouse gases are belched out on your behalf. So buy the clean stuff!
Install solar hot water
Sunlight converts cold water into hot water. No gases are emitted and no one gets hurt. Life is rarely this simple!
Reduce your stormwater pollution
By managing your domestic stormwater, you can reduce polluting the waterways we love to swim in, fish and simply enjoy.
Insulate, shade and weatherproof your house
Insulating, shading and weatherproofing your house can save you up to 45 per cent on your current energy bills while increasing the comfort and value of your home.
Reuse your greywater
Reusing greywater to water lawns and gardens could save up to 50,000 litres of drinking water per home each year.
Environment
The urban spread of our houses and gardens, and the power, water and materials required for them to provide us with a comfortable living space account for a significant proportion of our ecological footprint. Managed effectively, this integral part of our lives can be a vehicle for the conservation, generation and collection of energy, water and natural resources. It can also supply us with much of the food we need.
Wellbeing
Our homes are our sanctuaries where we bring our dearest, raise our children and spend over half our lives. Tapping the potential of the house and garden to rejuvenate, inspire and soothe us, as well as protecting and sheltering us, is one of the creative missions of any householder's life.
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