Building and renovating

Illustration of a Dog helping a Man Build a Dog House

“A typical Australian house lasts for 70 years or more, so decisions made during building and renovating matter for a long time. Some measures (like insulating walls or positioning windows) can’t be easily done later.”

Where do I start?

Your Home
‘Your Home’ is a great resource for anyone wanting to build or renovate a home that has low greenhouse impact, is water-wise and achieves other environmental goals.
See www.yourhome.gov.au.

All new homes and major renovations in Australia must now meet basic energy performance requirements. By going beyond the minimum, you can further cut your energy bills and improve your comfort.
Your builder, designer or architect will help you to get the best energy and greenhouse performance from your new home or renovation.
When planning a new home or renovation, think about the layout. For example:
- Locate frequently used hot water outlets near each other and the hot water service.
- Locate bedrooms away from hot afternoon sun, or protect them with shading.
- Locate living and outdoor areas where they receive winter sun and are protected from summer heat and strong winds, or protect them with shading and wind breaks.

If installing new windows, consider using
advanced glazing products such as double glazing
to cut winter heat loss and summer heat gain.
Most windows have Window Energy ratings to help you choose.
See www.wers.net.

Watch out for the waste

Building or renovating can produce a lot of waste: one large builder’s skip holds as much waste as 60 full 120 litre wheelie bins. Make sure your builder minimises waste and recycles materials.