Advertising Feature
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We build today for more or less the reason we have always built — to make safe, healthy shelters that protect us from the elements and keep us comfortable.
However, cheap accessible fossil energy sources and the proliferation of technology and new materials have encouraged us to solve building problems differently in recent times.
Unfortunately, some of these methods may be compromising the ability of our planet to sustain us in the long or even medium term.
The new challenge is to use our technology to minimise environmental impact, while continuing to improve the comfort and performance of the homes we create.
A great majority of Australians currently live in homes that work against the climate, not with it.
These homes are too cold or too hot, waste energy and are comparatively expensive to run.
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Most homes use far more water than necessary, and can be made of materials that damage our health and the environment.
Using good design principles can save energy, water and money, while creating a more enjoyable and comfortable home.
Housing of the future will need to be adaptable and resilient, helping us to respond to both predicted and unexpected change.
It will also need to suit significantly changed demographic patterns and lifestyles, and have minimal environmental impact.
Many of the homes we build today will still be in use in 50 years’ time, when climate change, population growth and resource depletion will have created a very different picture.
The move towards ‘positive’ development that has a net positive ecological and social impact might seem like an ambitious goal today.
However, progressive parts of the housing industry are working towards this goal and it must be the norm in any scenario for a sustainable future.
The process of choosing, renovating or building a home can be daunting, particularly if you haven’t been through it before.
Having the right information and making the right decisions early on in the process is critical for achieving a home that meets your sustainability goals in the most cost effective way.
For more information: www.yourhome.gov.au.