How to Choose Sustainable Selections for Your New Home

Creating eco-friendly sustainable homes is becoming increasingly important as we consider new and innovative ways to minimise our impact on the environment...and your selections is a great place to start!

We rarely think about the way we build things, however the materials used in your home’s construction have a significant impact on its performance, durability and the environment. For instance, did you know building waste makes up around 40% of Australia’s total waste!? Eek! The great news though is that there are new materials and ways to to construct homes that not only improve the comfort and cost effectiveness of you home but also it’s lifecycle environmental impact. Here’s a few to think about:

Windows

When building consider the type, size and position of your windows as it will impact the amount of natural light that enters your home, as well as the amount of heat trapped or lost. Where possible, invest in double-glazed windows which can reduce heat loss or gain by 30%. During the design phase we will also make sure to make recommendations about shading and window placement based on your unique site conditions, house orientation and aspect.

Hempcrete

The benefits of building with Hempcrete are in our opinion, a no brainer! It is fire and termite resistant, it offers superior insulating and soundproofing properties, keeps the air in your home healthier and can even prevent mould and damp!!? The material is recycled from hemp and mixed with lime based binders. It it carbon negative (locking in approximately 5.4tonnes of CO2 per house!) We love it so much that we’ve built our entire business around it, working to bring the product to the Eyre Peninsula.

Appliances

Choosing energy efficient features and appliances is a simple way you can greatly improve your home’s sustainability with minimal effort and cost. Note your appliances water and energy ratings and aim to choose those with the highest stars.

Lighting

Consider your lighting plan and opt for LED lighting for its energy efficiency properties (it also looks great!).