News Focus: The Wimmera’s sustainable homes

For others however, it is something they are passionate about investing and living in.

When Jess and Paul Kuhne started planning their new home at Bungalally, energy-efficiency was a key consideration.

The couple and their two daughters moved into their new home at the weekend. The house features a range of sustainable elements.

“We thought about the environment and how we could be more energy-efficient in the way we lived,” Mrs Kuhne said.

“The house has a solar system and battery. We’ve gone all electric, so we don’t have gas out here either. Everything runs off solar, and at night off the battery.

“We oriented most of our living spaces and bedrooms to the north to gain the sun in winter. 

“We also tried to use a passive design so we can open up the house and ventilate it, so we can keep it cool without the need for an air-conditioner.”

The house also has a Sanden heat pump, which absorbs heat from the air and transfers it to heat water, saving both energy and money.

“We are trying to run everything on tank water,” Mrs Kuhne said.

“We have double-glazed windows, and also went with really good insulation in our walls and roof, and we insulated our slab.”

Despite only being in the house for a short time, Mrs Kuhne said the family had already noticed the energy efficiencies compared with other homes.

“It can be seven degrees outside, but it’s 21 degrees inside,” she said.

“We try to have our fire ticking along overnight on low so that it retains the heat inside.

“We don’t need heating during the day.”

Lane Building Contractors owner Justin Lane – who built the Kuhne’s home – said there were a multitude of sustainable options for home owners.

His company is a Master Builders Green Living Builder.

“It’s about encouraging people to think about things like double glazing and how planning and orientation are important in having an energy-efficient home,” he said.

“Even the position of your hot water service is important for sustainability.

“Having two hot water services in your home can minimise water wastage. If you only have one and you’re having to run water from one end of the house to the other and keep the tap running until the water heats up, it’s an incredible waste of water.

“Part of being a Green Living Builder is also that we recycle as much as we can during construction, so we minimise our rubbish going to landfill.”

Dimboola’s John Nichols also embraces sustainable living, albeit in a different way.

Mr Nichols lives 15 kilometres out of the town, in a house that is not connected to mains electricity, water or gas. He generates his electricity from solar panels – with the electricity being stored in batteries – and sources his water supply from tanks.  

He had not considered living off the grid until he bought his house, which was already set up. At first he was apprehensive about changing his lifestyle.

“The house was 20 years old when I moved in and was already set up to be off the grid,” Mr Nichols said. 

“The main reason I bought it was the location. It is a beautiful spot on the Wimmera River and very peaceful.

“I was apprehensive about moving off the grid because I’m not a very practical person. But a local electrician checked it out and said it was a good system.” 

Mr Nichols said living off the grid had made him more aware of his electricity consumption. He said he has made minor sacrifices to make sure he was not using too much power. 

"Most people have digital clocks, but I found that I couldn't run those without it using up a lot of power, so I have to use battery clocks instead," he said.

"I stopped using a microwave because I would have to race out to turn the generator on and off for only three minutes of use. Instead I use a steamer. I also charge my phone during the day rather at night." 

While Mr Nichols has made adjustments to accommodate for his off-the-grid lifestyle, he said he would always choose to live off the grid. 

"I was lucky to have a good system. I would advise people thinking about moving into a place to either do their homework or get someone to check the system," he said. 

Natimuk's Alan Obst is another who supports sustainable living. He and his wife live in a sustainable house that Mr Obst designed.

Mr Obst wanted an eight star energy-rated home that would reduce his family’s footprint. 

"I was frustrated about the amount of houses being built that were very large, using a lot more power and water and cost a lot more to build," he said. 

"I saw a reason to build a house that people can look at and see that they could be smaller, more efficient and more comfortable to live in." 

Mr Obst house has double-glazed windows and an overhang on the roof to help keep the rooms comfortable throughout the year.  He also has a solar system and solar hot water system. 

"We saw a reason to have a house that is very comfortable to live in and maintain because of size and the way it was designed, which makes life easy," he said. 

"It's designed to get the maximum use of the sun in the winter.

"We reduced floor space and made our rooms multi-purpose, which means our rooms are being used rather than sitting vaccant." 

Mr Obst said he has lived in his house for two years and he has noticed a change in his power bills. 

"We aren't spending much, our power bills are $150 a quarter. The only expensive charges are the fixed water charges," he said. 

Mr Obst said he would consider moving off the grid when batteries were more affordable and when the Natimuk solar farm plans moved forward.