Horticulturalist Jamie Durie says it’s as simple as starting with the light bulbs in looking for cost-effective ways to look after the planet.
Homeowners are increasing their demand for sustainable living options — and banks and developers are taking notice of the emerging green trend.
It’s not just about reducing carbon footprint, with soaring power bills sending people in search of cost-effective strategies. There has also been a shift towards more eco-friendly lifestyles across the country.
New builds are required to meet a minimum standard of energy rating on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) rating system, as awareness of energy efficiency increases.
And while those minimum standards are only likely to increase, the experts say there are also plenty of cost-effective ways to reduce your energy bills and look after the planet.
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Sustaining the demand
Celebrity horticulturalist Jamie Durie said Australians were increasingly taking note of the impact of climate change.
“We’re also becoming much more aware about the solutions that are available to us to slow down the (global) warming process,” the Allianz sustainability advocate said. “We need to change the way we move forward — change buildings, homes, gardens and the materials we use.”
ADP Consulting sustainability director Sophie Hutchinson added the recent Australia-wide bushfires and coronavirus pandemic had made homeowners more conscious of their energy bills.
“There’s a huge opportunity to rethink what we’re doing,” she said.
“People are spending more time in their homes (due to COVID-19), therefore they want their homes to be more energy efficient.
“And the bushfires have increased people’s awareness of ventilation and having a healthy indoor environment.”
New builds like this Porter Davis one are focusing on natural light, neutral colours and indoor plants.
Since 2013, new Victorian apartments have been required to achieve a minimum six-star NatHERS rating collectively for all units, and not fall below five stars for individual units. New houses must meet at least a six-star rating.
“Councils have been pushing for an increase on that,” Ms Hutchinson said.
She added increased appetite for sustainability in homes was translating to more eco-friendly projects and green lights from the banking sector.
“People are becoming more aware of the (NatHERS) scheme and banks … are starting to shift money, and therefore value, into energy efficient homes,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Greater awareness of the NatHERS rating system has seen banks and developers show more interest.
Victorian homeowners can access council-based Environmental Upgrade Finance loans from financial institutions for sustainability and climate adaptation improvements. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation also offers discount home loans for builds that achieve a minimum seven-star NatHERS energy rating.
“There’s starting to be this awareness that not only do people want to go into energy efficiency, they’ll also save money and have more comfort,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Upcyling Lifestyle
Sustainability options had been around for decades, said Durie, who filmed his first biodegradable washing detergent ad in 1993.
“I’ve been hugging trees for a long time now — long before it became cool,” he joked. “There have been environmental solutions around for a long time. It’s taken us a while to wake up to it, unfortunately the planet has suffered and so have we.”
But with greater awareness had come greater ease.
“It can be as small as changing your light globes,” Durie said.
The House Rules host only used salvaged or Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber when building. “I also try to use site soil and existing rock in my gardens,” he said.
Focusing on the longevity of furniture, rather than cheap measures, would also have a positive impact, according to Porter Davis interior designer Patrizia Romeo.
Ms Romeo said second-hand stores and Gumtree had a “treasure trove” of quality furniture.
She said access to “fast furniture” had never been easier. But consumers should be aware they had “short lifespans and will spend more time in landfill than in your living room”.
Gumtree and second-hand stores, on the other hand, were “treasure troves for amazing-quality furniture needing a facelift”, she said.
“The best timbers to look for are birch, oak, ash, walnut and maple, as they will all resit cracking,” Ms Romeo advised. “Soft timbers like cedar, pine or redwood tend to warp over time. Reupholstering a lounge, or sanding down to relacquer a dining table will be a fraction of the cost of a new item.”
Ms Romeo added a surprising amount of luxury brands were now using recycled materials innovatively, from jeans recycled as insulation to whisky barrels being converted into hardwood floors.
Developers are also joining the movement. Collingwood project C & L — which has an average 7.5-star NatHERS rating — is recycling 20,000 bricks from the building’s original facade.
The brick facade at C & L has been retained.
Plant life is also set to feature prominently at C & L, Collingwood.
“We’ve saved 6400kg of CO2 equivalent as a result of reusing the facade,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Eco-trending style
With increased popularity driving demand for sustainability, green style has taken centre stage.
Ms Hutchinson said bringing natural greenery inside had become a trend. “Our innate human connection is to want to be in nature, yet we’ve evolved to be spending purely 90 per cent of our time indoors,” she said.
“Natural materials, patterns and shapes and lots of natural light — all of those are really important for a healthy indoor residential environment.”
Ms Romeo said using a lighter colour palette and reflective surfaces would brighten rooms and minimise the need for artificial light during the day.
Lighter colours inside helps brighten rooms.
Natural materials also improve your sense of wellbeing inside.
“Take your time to research Australian made, locally sourced items that you love and slowly add them into your home,” Ms Romeo advised.
Durie said bringing natural colours inside was giving people a greater connection to nature and improving wellbeing.
He added that Allianz and UTS’ Future of Living Report found that future generations had shifted their focus towards sustainability and smaller homes.
“Some of this came up in that study,” Durie said. “Using a higher level of Australian native species and starting to fall in love with our own backyard again.”
“I’m just grateful native plants are suddenly becoming cool again,” he said.
Developments like C & L Residences have diverted more focus to communal rooftop spaces.
TOP ECO TIPS
■ Use bamboo as it’s sustainable, natural and fast growing, plus easy to replace.
■ Use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials as a standard practice, including paint to reduce chemical impact.
■Add a water tank, as water scarcity is expected to become more of an issue.
■ Plant natives like proteas, callistemons and bottlebrushes, as they allow the bee population to regenerate.
■Cloth shades, LED light bulbs, good insulation, double-glazed windows, solar panels, adjustable thermostats and light dimmers are all additions that will help your household be more eco-friendly.
Sources: Jamie Durie, Sophie Hutchinson and Patrizia Romeo
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