Sustainable housing
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
How to make your house sustainable
Consider the climate
When planning your home, think about the climate conditions in the area where you are building. Climate-responsive design for new homes can cater for present and future predicted weather patterns like temperature, heat waves and rainfall variability. It can also minimise the impact of the urban heat island effect where there is a large expanse of hardened surfaces and little vegetation in the immediate area.
Maximise sustainability opportunities
Many features within a house can provide the opportunity to address more than one form of sustainability. For example, a well-designed bathroom with a stepless shower, non-slip finishes, handrails and water efficient fixtures can provide:
- environmental benefits (e.g. promoting more efficient use of resources like energy and water)
- economic benefits (e.g. reducing operating costs)
- social benefits (e.g. promoting safe accessibility for people of different ages and abilities).
Making changes to your existing home
Climate-responsive design can also be applied when retrofitting existing homes. For example, you can minimise the need to use air conditioning in summer by using passive features such as:
- insulating the roof space
- installing ceiling fans in living areas and bedrooms
- adding shade via window awnings
- using lighter colours for the home’s roof and external surfaces.
Taking steps like this can also minimise energy costs and improve your comfort.
More information
More information on sustainable homes can be found at the Your Home website, including expert and independent advice to everyone interested in building or renovating homes for a sustainable future.
Further information on climate-responsive design within the broader urban environment can be found at QDesign Manual (PDF, 8.9MB) , developed by the Queensland Government Architect.