Easing climate change ... on a shoestring

PROPERTY

Australian home owners have been urged to take grass roots action in their homes through a ‘Climate Change on a Shoe String’ program to complement current environmental programs aimeda at improving sustainability in Australian homes.
Fix leaky taps, showers and toilet cisterns and change to low-flow shower heads in the bathroom of your home. Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, and Australia's largest supplier of pre-purchase housing inspections and renovations said 'Climate Change on a Shoe String' is a simple combination of management and basic upgrading of fittings, many being low cost.
Angus Kell, Archicentre Queensland spokesperson said the management and maintenance of small fittings around the home such as dripping taps, the installation of a water efficient shower heads and turning off lights and electrical equipment such as Plasma TVs or computers when not in use, are all part of the simple plan.
Mr Kell said most established homes were neither designed nor built with much regard for energy efficiency or water conservation.
“Ironically, many of our earliest homes came complete with verandahs and water tanks, but recently these features have been abandoned as homes have become bigger, more energy-hungry and more water-thirsty than ever before over the past two decades.
“This ‘Climate Change on a Shoe String’ concept will be driven home by the rapidly increasing prices in energy and water which are set to increase by 70% to 100% in the next three to five years as governments move to pay for expensive new infrastructure to secure water and energy supplies."
Mr Kell said the challenge for Australian families is to improve the performance of our existing homes… to reduce the demand for energy and water but at the same time maintain the quality of life.
“It is also important that homeowners renovating ensure that any home improvements or renovations are sustainably designed by someone qualified and experienced to maximise the potential.”
The first step is simple - conduct an audit of your home to find out where and how energy is wasted in your home. The Federal Government website, www.yourhome.gov.au is a good starting point to find information and make a list related to your home. If there are children in the home it is a good idea to involve them in developing the list as they will also play an important part in the implementation.

The second step is to implement as many of the changes you can by:
• choosing energy efficient appliances when purchasing
• fixing leaky taps, showers and toilet cisterns
• turning lights off when you leave the room
• don’t leave computers or appliances on standby
• reset the thermostats on your heating and cooling - (18° in winter and 24° in summer)
• install low-energy light globes
• fit weather-seals to your windows and doors
• install external blinds
• put in a ceiling fan
• change to low-flow shower heads
• plant a drought-tolerant garden
• If you run a home office make sure you set your office up to utilise natural light by having your desk near a window or put in a skylight and turn your equipment off when not in use.

Archicentre has a Guide to Sustainable Homes in pdf format which can be downloaded from: www.archicentre.com.au/pdf/ Sustainablehomes309.pdf