Introduction
Building a sustainable house is about looking at ways of reducing the impact of housing on the environment. Sustainability looks at better ways to build using materials that have smaller impacts on the earth from the manufacturing process, construction and the many years of operation after the occupants move in. There is not one single item that makes a home green, but rather a whole series of philosophies and principles put into action which produces an outcome which is beneficial to the owner, the builder and ultimately the environment. This approach to building starts with selection of the correct site, requires good design, good site management policies,(that reduce, reuse and recycle waste) and ends with the of the right products in the fit out of the home. Both you and your builder are partners working towards this goal and long after you have moved in the benefits will be ongoing with reduced cost and a home that is pleasant to be in at all times. Externally landscape can be designed to be functional and drought resistant reducing demands on water.
Every single step of the building process can contribute in some way to building a home that has produced less waste, reduced energy and water consumption and negative impacts on the environment. Renmark Homes is accredited as a Living Green Builder with the MBAV and a Greensmart builder with the HIA, and is keen to pass its knowledge on to its customers, to educatucate and impliment as many strategies as possible. Many of the principles that contribute to a green sustainable home are cost neutral to the owner and only require a rethink on how we go about the building process and the materials used in the process.
