ARTICLE (detail)

Building Sustainably

Building or renovating a house follows a certain process. You select the home or plans you want, the builder gets his or her sub contractors together – and the building commences.

This is a rough guide to the order in which things happen.

· Site establishment
· Excavations
· Foundations
· Concrete floors poured
· Framing constructed
· Roof on
· Windows fitted
· Exterior cladding
· Plumbing
· Wiring
· Insulation installed
· Interior lining installed
· Joinery eg doors, cupboards
· Tiling
· Further electrical and plumbing work
· Painting and finishing
· Floor coverings
· External works
· Landscaping

If you are custom building your home than your builder is likely to be more flexible.

However, most project home builders and their sub contractors work to a tight time schedule and budget. Therefore, the more traditional the approach, the quicker and cheaper they can move from one home to the next.

Incorporating sustainable design elements to provide social, environmental and economic benefits to these traditional processes can sometimes be challenging but not impossible. Some builders, contractors, local councils and finance organisations are more receptive to sustainable design changes or additions than others. Understanding the building process helps to better communicate your needs to get the outcome you want.

After all, you're the one who will be living in and paying for the costs of running your home. So, if you can get it right upfront, it can result in a healthier, happier and more efficient place to live.

Remember our climate is hotter for longer periods than it is cooler. Capturing breezes, blocking hot westerly sun, reducing water use and increasing ventilation and light are ways you can eliminate or reduce the demand for turning on a switch to make your home comfortable.

Some simple and economical things to discuss with your builder may include changing the orientation of the home plans, elevating the floor slightly, choosing a design that works to the natural slope of your land, extending eave overhangs, installing water reducing valves, taps and shower heads, insulation, sensible roof design and replacing hard surfaced and grassed areas with natural planting and drainage.

Talk to your builder and explain what you want to achieve. Remember, they have to incorporate your needs into their building schedule, so be patient and the outcome will be worth it.

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