There is a revolution underway in the heart of Melbourne. Home owners, and to a lesser extent builders, are beginning to return, a number of them at least, to a consideration of sustainable building practices – not just as a token nod to the environment over other, more tangible benefits, but rather for a host of reason. Melbourne is a vibrant place – full of surprises, quirky festivals, great art and a rich digit seeped in manufacturing. It is also a city where its citizens embrace the outdoors, with its temperate nearly- 4-climate allowing its residents to frequently dine, drink and be jolly. Where all this against the urban canvas lends itself to sustainable construction that can deliver to environmentally friendly deliverables and also new and innovative design. On the following pages we look at some of the sustainable building practices that are redefining the Melbourne home – the materials, technologies and the strategies that really can make a difference.
Embracing Eco-Friendly Materials
Materials of Biodiversity The materials used to build or renovate Melbourne homes are of particular importance, and may include substances that have low embodied energy, are renewable and are durable and efficient. Timber is a popular choice because it is a renewable material with extremely low embodied energy. Produced from sustainable forests and plantation, it is both carbon-neutral and suitable for giving a building an individual appearance. Recycled steel is also used because it has similar strength and durability to conventional steel, but is available with a much lower environmental impact. By using recycled or reclaimed bricks and/or concrete materials like this also mean that waste can be reduced. Combining multiple materials within the same building can provide unique and individual aesthetics.
Harnessing Renewable Energy
Melbourne’s climate is perfect for solar energy systems to be in all homes. It is a clean and renewable source of power for home. There will be huge cuts of electricity bills due to solar panels as well as reduction of green house gas. New innovations in solar battery storage means we can store our excess energy efficiently and use it as our source during peak demands which will also benefiting and making money to our homes giving back to the community. Using solar panels to harness the sun’s energy to power homes is a perfect solution for homeowners and communities.
Water Conservation Techniques
Rainwater harvesting systems also called rainwater tanks or rain tanks are a great sustainable practice common in Melbourne which is known for its erratic weather and droughts. Collecting rainwater for use on your property is also very easy compared to may be many other environmental practices. By collecting and storing rainwater for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing, garden watering, and laundry, your household can decrease its mains water use, taking the pressure off our other sources of water. Add water-efficient fixtures and fittings, and you are onto a winner when it comes to sustainability and being prepared against water scarcity.
Designing for Efficiency
When it comes to designing a green home, it is all about working with the environment instead of against it. There are so many benefits to adopting passive design principles, you would not have to rely on mechanical heating and cooling! Strategic placement of windows, insulation and shading can harness or block the sun’s energy in order to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. This is all accomplished without relying on mechanical heating and cooling. This design doesn’t only keep you comfortable but allows you to connect with the natural environment around you. Sitting comfortably in your home is important, for that reason you want to make sure your home has no drafts. To eliminate drafty windows, you can install double glazing or secondary windows which can act as an insulator. By insulating or sealing your building as tight as possible, you are able to maintain the warmth in your building. In order to reduce mildew or rot in your building, you could improve the air-tightness while the building is designed. The reason I say this is because if your home is too airtight then you will be in violation of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Making your home ‘better than Code’ is a worthy goal – especially with regard to minimising air infiltration of the building.
The Future is Green
Go Green Melbourne - The Future is Now. Sustainable building practices in Melbourne represent more than just an environmental call to action. They are players on the field of property investment. Offering low cost utility bills, decreased carbons emissions, and a design for healthy living, these impressively attractive projects demonstrate that sustainability is the new keystone when building your forever-home. As technology continues to advance and have its ‘light-bulb’ moments, whilst community continues to take-action and show they care with their consumer dollar spend.angencyA sustainable build will become ‘essential’ and will affirm it is truly the ‘way of the future’.
The adaptive reuse of churches and properties of cultural significance are becoming increasingly more popular amongst developers in Melbourne. There are a number of reasons why people are flocking to these buildings, these old buildings offer great character, history, proximity to city centres and many have heritage overlays. These buildings also present an opportunity for a change in type of title such as page or strata.