Sustainable homes: what are you doing?

If you mentioned 'sustainable homes' a decade ago, the only image that would spring to mind would be garden-related. But these days, things have changed.

A term that's frequently used to describe the new push towards building sustainable, energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly homes, box clever and even when you're renovating you can turn your home into a green house. Here are a few of the key 'green' things to think about:

1. Hot water

It's something we all take for granted and it turns out it comes at a pretty steep cost - around one third of the energy used in the average home is devoted to heating water, so, not surprisingly, it makes sense to do what you can to make your home more efficient in this area.

Consider installing a solar hot water system

As well as conserving natural resources and being kind to the environment, a solar-based system can reduce your hot water bill by as much as 70 per cent. There are many different sized systems, so, depending on your needs and budget, you should be able to find one to fit the bill.

Another tip? Opt for a gas-based hot-water system over an electric one. They produce around 60 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than electric varieties, and can save you hundreds of dollars off your power bill.

Lastly, if your renovations allow, try to position your new hot water system as close to your bathroom, kitchen and laundry as possible.

While your bathroom is the place where the majority of your hot water is consumed, the other rooms are also important, so having your system as close to these areas as possible, means less pipework and therefore less heat loss between where the water is heated and its destination. At the very least, make sure you wrap any hot-water pipework in insulation to protect against heat loss.

2. Home Lighting

The first thing to consider is natural light and how you can make the most of it. It's inexpensive, it's environmentally friendly and it's a big plus when it comes time to sell, as prospective buyers always put the presence of natural light on their wish list.

Consider installing skylights

Think rooms like kitchens, bathrooms and living areas, as well as smaller, dome or tube-style skylights in areas like hallways, toilets and even cupboards. And, as long as you're knocking down walls and re-thinking your floor plan, try to maximise the amount of north-facing windows you have, as windows facing in this direction attract light for the majority of the day.

But, no matter how much of the natural variety your home is blessed with, you'll need electrical lights as well, and here's where it pays to get smart. Install energy-efficient fluorescent fittings in rooms like kitchens and living areas where lights are left on for long periods of time.

It's also a good idea to avoid having too many lights connected to the one switch, which means that you can't be as selective as necessary when it comes to shedding light onto a room.

3. Heating and cooling

Make sure your windows - particularly those that face north, but also east- and west-facing panes - are fitted with effective window coverings and shade devices like awnings and pergolas. Why? In the heat of the day an un-shaded square metre of glass lets in almost as much heat as that produced by a one-bar radiator.

Similarly, to minimise heat loss during winter, make sure your windows are fitted with curtains.

Install an air-conditioning system

Be sure to choose one that has an inverter drive, as these are more energy-efficient, and make sure you supplement the system with ceiling fans and good-quality insulation. Compared to an insulation-free home, a well-insulated house can be up to 10 degrees cooler in summer and seven degrees warmer in winter.

Contact an interior designer to find out more about sustainable homes: