Latest NewsEco-friendly Building and RenovatingSunday, 11 September 2016

If you’re building or renovating and want to make your project as environmentally friendly as possible, it can pay to engage building professionals with experience in sustainable practices.

From building orientation to paint finishes, there’s someone who can help you green every aspect of your home.

For major building work, the services of a qualified architect can be invaluable. An architect can help you plan a home that makes optimum use of natural light and ventilation, to minimise reliance on heating and cooling devices. Some specialise in environmentally sensitive design. Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, can put you in touch with an architect in your area.

There’s also an increasing awareness of environmentally sound practices among tradespeople, with some industries running ‘green’ accreditation schemes. GreenPlumbers trains plumbers in areas such as water-efficient technology and the impacts of household water usage, and can direct you to an accredited GreenPlumber in your area. GreenPainters runs a similar program for painters, focusing on the use of eco-friendly products, minimisation of waste and careful use of water. The Master Electricians association has also developed an energy-efficient training package for electricians.

In addition to trade-specific organisations, there are other groups that can help you identify green building professionals. The Housing Industry Association’s GreenSmart program provides training and accreditation for a range of professionals, from builders to product manufacturers. The Green Building Council of Australia runs a similar program for its Green Star Accredited Professionals. Online resources such as Green Pages and the Green Directory have extensive listings of environmentally focused businesses.

If major work isn’t on the agenda, but you’d like to know what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home, consider booking an energy audit. There are several companies that provide this service. An auditor will visit your home and make a thorough assessment of its energy use. They will then be able to suggest ways in which you might increase energy efficiency, perhaps through changes to lighting, installation of insulation and door/window seals, or improvements to window furnishings.

Finally, don’t forget about the outside of your home: landscaping professionals can help ensure that your garden is green in more ways than one. In Victoria, Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) runs the Environmentally Certified Landscape Industry Professionals (ECLIPs) program, which identifies businesses that are committed to sustainable garden design. SGA also has a national certification scheme for garden centres.

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