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Owner Builder Blog

June 20th, 2019

20/6/2019

65 Comments

 
Owner Builders and Sustainability

Following on from my recent post about Owner Builders and the importance of considering solar power, I thought I would throw a few more ideas to consider in respect to sustainability.
Owner Builders need to consider two specific areas of sustainability and conservation, one when they are building their project, and in the design phase.

Design considerations will including how you position your dwelling on the block to capture breezes or to make the most of other site characteristics to minimise your energy footprint.

Double glazed windows are great for reducing energy loss in the house and owner builders will also benefit from the acoustic benefits they bring. I am living in an apartment Monday to Friday on a busy Melbourne suburb with traffic and trams at the front door.

There is a rooftop bar across the road, and without the double glazing, the unit would be impossible to live in.
Consider the size of your eaves, in Queensland of course the wider the better to shade the house and minimise the impact of the harsh Northern sun, certainly not as necessary in Victoria.

The installation of water tanks is of course a huge benefit to the owner builder in terms of the money they can save on water rates with them rising year on year. Also, it is extremely important to the environment, and water will likely become a, more and more scarce commodity in the coming years.

It is interesting that councils have done a 360 degree loop on water tanks in residential suburbs and go from banning to mandating through the inevitable cycle.

During the construction phase you can look at water saving initiatives and encourage all your contractors to minimise waste. Use recyclable products, refuse single use plastics on site, do simple things like encourage keep cups and discourage bottled waters.

Owner builders need to be considerate of their local environment and other residents that may be affected by the works that are being undertaken.

They are all little things but they all add up and they all make sense.

I am not a greenie by any stretch of the imagination, but everything I have mentioned in this post can be done quite easily and I do believe that every little bit will help.

Happy Owner Building,

Rick

65 Comments
Mark Campbell
20/7/2019 19:01:34

Interesting read, thank you

Reply
Adrian Moodley
13/1/2020 12:49:23

Some really good suggestions in here and very fitting for the period we are all experiencing in Australia.

Reply
Kathy Denniss
1/2/2020 12:41:35

Hi Adrian
I agree given our recent experiences with bushfires and drought water is a precious resource we take for granted

Lili Liu
8/7/2020 21:28:46

Thanks for your article. It helps a lot.

Reply
Michael Clifton
26/11/2020 06:20:30

Some great ideas Rick. We are in the process of choosing water tanks. Any recommendations on materials are appreciated, poly, steel etc.

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Bill Young
3/2/2021 09:02:51

I would not live in Victoria for a start. The unit as I read the article the unit put together very cheaply to maximise profit from who ever buys it. Sounds like another Opal Tower duster waiting to happen

Reply
Vivan
21/9/2019 16:14:40

Interesting read. Thanks. Could you please also elaborate more on Solar systems and battery storage.

Reply
Gilbert
25/9/2019 12:42:47

Hi Rick, interesting topic. Our site will require us to be off grid as no services reach us. I like to get your view on hot water. Typically in the area LGP gas is used for both cooking as well as hot water. Would you recommend to go solar - maybe with gas boost?
In winter we have upto -8degrees and I wonder if these rooftop systems are reliable under such conditions?

Reply
LorraineReynolds link
4/3/2020 15:07:23

Hi Gilbert
I am currently living in this situation and found our solar hot water system a good investment financially and environmentally even though we do have to supplement supply during winter months due to limited sunshine hours.

Reply
Andrew Smith
25/8/2020 21:15:20

Hi All
We had a solar hot water system on our previous house, it lasted nearly 20 years and was trouble free and saved us a lot including the extra initial cost, it was a "Solarhart" system.
Defiantly put one on our new house.

Lynette McVicar
7/3/2021 08:30:13

Hi Gilbert,

Great to hear solar s working for you. I will add it to my BASIX statement. Hopefully we will have more sunshine in winter.

Neil Smart
29/9/2019 13:56:36

our solar system gave us good returns, paid for itself and some, within a few years, but after about 5 years before we noticed a reduction in the returns due to cracks in the solar panels, they are now useless, the joys of getting panels from the lowest bidder.

Reply
Kristen Garratt
4/12/2019 11:37:02

Hi Neil,

Interesting comment there. I've also wanted to put solar on my current house, but hearing stories on panel longevity is making me unable to commit. Many panels are made in low quality Chinese factories, and are sold by both low and high price companies.

How would you be able to tell the panel quality difference between a cheap and mid/high priced installer? Another issue is that many installers offer a long warranty / lifetime warranty, but this waranty is useless if the business is no longer operating after a few years.

I guess we need to weigh up both price for panels, but also the company size, reputation and previous installs to make the best judgement on who to go with.... i'm still not there yet in my decision making, but know i'll need to one day!

Reply
Luke Murphy
20/8/2020 17:37:53

We have had auxiliary solar for 12 years and while there is nothing wrong with our system as the market trend increases in size energy providers re-nig on their offer per kw/h.
Try to future proof with more kw is my only suggestion. :)

Gilbert
16/10/2019 12:02:41

We plan to have double glazing in our windows and doors. Does anyone know about the pros and cons to get glass which has a reflective shading applied to the outside. Will this increase the performance of the windows?
cheers

Reply
Hamza ALameddine
7/7/2020 17:13:36

I am in the same position, I would assume so, but would like to know if anyone out there has an answer.

Reply
Greg
30/10/2019 16:37:22

Thanks for the info

Reply
Navaratnam Raguram
30/10/2019 22:13:42

Very good read

Reply
mark hyde
14/11/2019 10:46:00

Rick. I do not believe that sufficient thought has been put into the installation of water tanks into private homes. The running and maintaining cost of the pump and diverter equipment out weighs the saving in water cost, especially with the cost of todays power. Water quality is also a problem as many councils require W.C.s and laundries to be connected to this tank water, which is usually heavily contaminated , staining both the toilet bowl and white clothing, requiring the use of harsh chemicals. I believe the better option is a simple free standing tank only supplied from the roof, with one hose tap to fill a simple watering can by gravity, for use in the garden or washing cars. There by making 100% cost saving on water from the tank.

Reply
Kristen Garratt
4/12/2019 11:30:35

Hi Mark,

I live in a newer house, that has this type of rain water tank connected. All roof rainwater is collected through charged downpipes to the rainwater tank, and is connected to one tap in the back of the house. This tap is pressurised, and is encouraged for use for the garden, washing cars etc. The tank itself is fairly closed, and never had an issue with water quality from this system.
I think you'll find this style of rainwater collection is becoming the norm, especially in newer development areas.

Reply
Kristen Garratt
4/12/2019 11:33:26

nice read Rick.

One other consideration to the environmental issues raised in your post, is the economic factors associated with these improvements. Like you, i'm not a hard and fast greenie, but as the society moves towards sustainability and environmental considerations, some of the projects actually do provide some form of return of investment. For example, double glazed windows reduce noise, but they also minimise heat loss which in turn saves aircon running time and ultimately electricity use and $$$$ saved.


Reply
Shanyang Zhao
2/1/2020 22:08:48

Good read.

Reply
Jamie Honan
22/1/2020 10:49:41

The use of concrete is a major contributor to greenhouse emissions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_concrete

In addition, on surfaces, it contributes to faster water runoff which is a major contributor to water problems (flooding, hydro carbon pollution, micro plastics)

Reply
Brenton Pugh
30/1/2020 03:22:29

Thanks for that article it is a good read

Reply
Kathy Denniss
1/2/2020 12:45:55

Thanks Rick this has some interesting points to consider especially the use of double glazing

Reply
Carlo Itskos
7/2/2020 20:24:27

Hi Rick,
Thanks for the interesting read. Very true what you say as waste is becoming a huge problem today with landfill overpowering our space. Hopefully we can all work together to minimise this.

Reply
Thomas Lavers
8/3/2020 10:16:23

Great read Rick, you have provided some useful information to consider for my new build. As per our basix requirements we are already including water tanks, however will look further into solar options so I can make my build more sustainable.
Thanks again, Tom

Reply
Nenad Kalebic
19/3/2020 14:56:35

Hi Rick,
Thanks for that article & advice, it is a good read.

Reply
daniel mcivor
30/3/2020 10:16:43

As a definite greenie, this is something that has been of consideration at all stages of my project design.
One thing we are doing is using the surrounding landscape to our advantage. Sandstone that is being excavated from our site is being repurposed into a wall around our combustion stove to hold warmth in the house better. Also using trees with good cover in areas where we need shade etc.

I like the consideration of single use plastics on site. Providing subcontractors with a little kitchenette to encourage less wastage is a good idea.

Reply
Paul
7/4/2020 09:59:16

Hi there everyone
I have just started my Owner Builders Course and found the chat very valuable.
Thank you
Paul

Reply
Paul
8/4/2020 19:16:14

Thank you for a good read

Reply
Andrew Nez link
10/4/2020 10:09:16

Hi Rick,

I have been reading up a bit about the use of "green -Geopolymer Concrete" lately. It seems it could be an actual viable alternative to the wholesale use of concrete in the construction industry, both Commercial & Residential. However, Cost variances, Availability & Longevity are just some issues to consider . Like anything new, teething problems will exist, but just need to be worked through as they arrive. (Water tanks, solar panels etc are perfect examples)
Do you have any experience with the product & if so any thoughts..?

Andrew.

Reply
joe
28/4/2020 20:20:17

I believe the future should be houses that are as self sufficent as possible, this for me would be collect and filter your own drinking water. Solar power for your electricity and battery pack. you can even treat your own sewer and use the treated sewer to fertiliser your garden.

Reply
Johnny Wright
2/6/2020 21:22:36

Come to my world Joe. We Will have a 120 000L water tank, a septic and at least 6 kw solar.Cant wait for all this to happen!

Reply
Colin Hill
19/5/2020 08:43:17

I agree with the idea that one size does not fit all. The key is for your design to maximise what your house and property has to offer and to design out any negative influences such as the noise issue mentioned above. Personally, my new home will have an extremely high ratio of outdoor living area compared to inside as I am on private acreage and this is where we intend to spend a lot of our time.

Reply
Justin Larymore
20/5/2020 16:20:47

I like the idea of no single use plastic and will happily provide a jug of water for any trades on site.
We would love a water tank on site, but will have to wait and see re affordability.

Reply
Adam Marwood Cole
14/6/2020 13:32:31

Good read but also remember the double glazed windows are not only good for noise reduction but for retaining heat in buildings that are in the cooler climates.
Adam

Reply
Enda
2/7/2020 21:52:09

Agree, double-glazed windows are a great choice when it comes to for sustainability. They definitely provide excellent improvements for temperature and noise control.

Reply
Michael Bailey
6/7/2020 20:47:35

Great information for anyone starting a build.

Reply
Kieran link
27/7/2020 21:38:48

Great article may do more research on this

Reply
Margareta Carter
29/7/2020 20:10:49

Since installing solar panels we've found our daily habits have changed. Whatever can be done during the daylight hours is done to take advantage of free power.

Reply
Andrew Smith
25/8/2020 21:09:46

Hi Everyone
Just completed the course and happy with the end result.
About to start building our own home and woulkd like to know if anyone has had any experience with heated floors, we were thinking of electrically heated rahter tha liquid heated as our architect has heard that the liquid ones can crack the concrete due to the relatively rapid fluctuations in temperature.
Anyone got any ideas?

Reply
Shelly
22/9/2020 11:52:35

Hi Andrew, I would also be interested in any feedback on heating in concrete slabs. I have heard hydronic is preferred?

Reply
brett adams
27/9/2020 17:55:19

Thanks Rick

Reply
Julie-anne Paynter
6/10/2020 09:50:02

Thanks Rick
these are all things we are trying to do in the reno's at my house

we have installed double glazed window and now on process on putting deck with flyover roof with the insulation in the roof panel

Cheers
Julie-anne

Reply
Amanda Lewis
12/10/2020 18:31:35

Hi Rick and everyone,

I am part way through the course right now and am completing it because we own a home that our daughter lives in.

We are planning g on extending to give her and her two children some extra space.

I must admit I was not looking forward it as this is not my field but the learning materials are making it more interesting, which I find weird as this is definitely not my field of work normally.

Thanks for the work you put into the courses for us :)
Amanda

Reply
Sung Kim
26/10/2020 00:29:53

Thank you for the information.

Reply
Kate Treay
26/10/2020 11:06:53

I am planning to use all of these sustainable practices in my off grid house. A little more cash upfront for little to no bills down the track. Why wouldn't you if its your forever home.

Reply
Luke Martin
8/3/2021 13:05:31

I agree Kate. We are doing the same.

Reply
Josh Duffield
8/12/2020 12:20:30

Thanks for the information and all the work you put into the courses

Reply
Bernie Brown
6/1/2021 14:13:41

Great tips! We will be installing a Bradford solar unit, however, still reluctant to purchase batteries at this stage although the tech is getting better and they are becoming more cost effective from a ROI perspective. We will leave provision during the solar install for batteries to be a "plug and play" option down the track.

Reply
Paul Eric Coveny
19/1/2021 11:12:39

Hi All,
Just about to start a renovation and have had the engineers drawings released. Have supplied to Frame And Truss designer who has found a significant number of errors and things that have been missed. Where would the liability sit in the event that this was not picked up by the frame & Truss manufacturer?

Reply
Trent
27/1/2021 17:57:50

Thank you very interesting reading on all fronts of some building ideas

Reply
Peter Messinesi
2/2/2021 20:11:22

Thanks Rick, this has some interesting points to consider. I will definitely consider the size of your eaves.

Reply
Stephen Butler
7/2/2021 11:29:33

Hi Peter
Your architect's software should be able to show you the angles of the sun penetration in all seasons according to eaves depth. I am in north west NSW where this is an important consideration. We need winter sun and no summer sun. This can be achieved with careful planning.

Reply
Maurice Dover
11/2/2021 12:47:13

Hi Rick, I read the article on sustainability just at the right time so I could reconsider the placement of the water tanks.

Thanks heaps for writing these snippets and insights.

Reply
Gerard W-Bisshop
16/2/2021 15:31:54

If only more people did a little reading/research before building, we would be building more liveable homes that saved money and energy and greenhouse emissions - if only!

Reply
jiehan zhu
22/2/2021 14:34:46

There are some really good suggestions and I think it is very fitting for the period we are all experiencing in our work

Reply
Zhu Jiehan
23/2/2021 09:21:19

As the owner builder, do I need to find the building inspector to do a report on asbestos before I know down the house?
Do I provide the SWMS or the contractor provides it

Reply
Clare Gleeson
2/3/2021 20:49:57

Zhu,

I would say it is often best to complete this yourself and issue to the demolition contractor so that you get accurate pricing and also to ensure the successful contractor is informed of these materials and undertakes the demolition in strict accordance with WHS requirements for removal.

Reply
Lynette McVicar
7/3/2021 08:33:25

Very good article, I am wondering if induction solar hot water panels would be good to use when I am building 30metres from the beach?

Reply
Christine
7/3/2021 08:52:07

This was a great read.
I am in the process of planning the construction of our new home and am very keen on water tanks.
I am all for tanks connected to roof pipes but not sure how effective this would be in times of drought. I would love for there to be a way of collecting the water from the "rinse cycle" from our washing machine. During the harsh months of fires during our devastating Black Summer in 2019-2020, we collected buckets of water from our showers and used them to flush our toilets. I connected pipes to the washing machine and directed the "rinse cycle" water to our garden, and though I do not have a dish washer I will only assume that the "rinse cycle" water could be used effectively to flush our toilets.
Not sure how this could be setup but keen to hear any ideas.

Reply
Mike James
17/3/2021 12:23:18

Interesting article. Totally agree that Homeowners need to consider the environment and the examples provided were spot on.
There's been a lot of advances in glass technology in the market and we are also putting in water tanks in our build.

Reply
Connie Leahy
18/3/2021 20:47:06

Quite important these days to consider sustainability when doing renovations or a new build.

Reply
Wayne Schur
10/4/2021 21:40:24

Article definitely makes you think about how an owner builder can contribute to reducing our environmental impact with simple considerations when planning and building.

Reply



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    Author

    Rick Heaton is a Building and Construction Industry professional with formal tertiary qualifications in management and training.

    With over 30 years assisting Owner Builders, he brings an easy style to providing information and advice to our students.

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