Is Your Builder Green?
To build a green/sustainable home requires a partnership between you the owner and your builder working towards a common goal.
In summary some of the questions that should be asked when buying land and selecting your builder are listed below:
- Do you wish your home to be built in a sustainable way?
- Does your dream block have the correct orientation for the plan you have in mind?
- Can the design be substantially modified to take advantage of passive cooling and heating?
- Are the builders you are dealing with accredited as Green Builders with the MBAV or HIA.
- Would you Like to achieve higher than 5 Star energy efficiency
- Ask your builder about their site management policies.
- What steps do they take to reduce waste, reuse and recycle.
- Ask your builder about new sustainable technologies (materials and appliances) that can be used to make your home more sustainable.
- Are you prepared to invest a little more into your building to give you greater savings in operating the home.
- Consider using appliances with higher efficiency ratings (choose gas over electric where possible)
- Think carefully about lighting
- Think carefully on how water is used.
- When choosing materials especially timber products ask where they have come from. Many cheaper timbers on the market have come from countries that do not engage in sustainable harvesting practices.
- Ask your builder about solar hot water and its benefits