Sustainability

The demand for building sustainable homes continues to grow with a major focus on healthier building practices and an increase demand for resource efficiency and a decrease in wastage. This can result in an increase value to homes and a decrease in energy related future costs.

• Improved water and energy efficiency of the home reducing energy bills and costs
• Create healthier homes for families
• Provide options to make the home more adaptable for all stages of life
• Reduce waste from the building process
• Improve site management during construction

GreenSmart Builders and GreenSmart Professionals are businesses and individuals who have completed the HIA GreenSmart Professional Training and will focus on three key GreenSmart elements.

MyStyle Homes are proud to be part of the HIA GreenSmart program ensuring they educate and empower the MyStyle Homes team with up-to-date information on practical, affordable and durable environmental solutions for residential design and construction. As one of Australia’s first professional green building initiatives, the program offers MyStyle Homes the opportunity to develop new skills and acquire green credentials, and get access to news and opportunities to help promote the GreenSmart building movement.

MyStyle Homes GreenSmart Professional accredited team has researched all the best sustainable and eco-friendly product options and combined this with innovative architectural design. MyStyle has challenged their local supply chain to deliver sustainable products to create the ultimate Far North ‘GreenSmart’ home solution.

At MyStyle Homes, sustainability is more than just a buzz word, it’s one of our objectives; and we have the awards to prove it!

While for us, sustainable homes start at the time of conception, there are many things you can do around your home now to make it more sustainable.

Here are 10 easy ways you can strive towards sustainable living.

Not only do they make your home look a little more eco-friendly, they are actually working hard to rid the air of toxins such a carbon monoxide. So you can breathe a little easier (and cleaner) with plants around. Outdoors, a well-positioned tree can provide shade to your home which will bring the temperature down naturally, so you can use that air-conditioner less! We suggest looking at Dracaena’s as an easy indoor plant.

There are everyday items around the house that can be used for different purposes. Glass jars can be used for a multitude of other things before they are put in the recycling bin. Use them as water glasses, flower vases, candle holders or store rice and pasta in them. Or put a little plant in one for a green addition to your window sill.

Fitting your home with low-flow taps can significantly reduce your water usage (and cut down on your water bill, so win-win!). If you have a large block, consider installing a rainwater tank so you can keep those plants alive without having to turn on the hose.

No, we don’t mean changing your globes to make it look like Kermit the Frog moved in. We’re talking energy efficient lighting! The best thing about this is you don’t need to go out and do it all at once. Just consider buying an energy efficient globe the next time you need to replace one. Slowly but surely, your home will be filled with energy efficient lighting.

An energy star that is! Most household appliances come with energy star ratings. The more the stars, the more energy efficient the product. While we don’t suggest going out and buying all new appliances, just like the lights, you can take this into consideration when needing to replace your appliances.

Again, we don’t expect you to run out and buy a new hot water system, but solar or instant is definitely the way of the future. Many people worry that their hot water will be compromised on cloudy or rainy days, but most solar hot water systems are actually equipped with an electric booster which ensures you’ll always have hot water.

This might seem like a pretty straightforward solution, but you’d be surprised at just how often we don’t switch things off! It’s easy to forget to turn off the fans before work, or to turn off a light when leaving the room. But this simple act can help you be much more energy efficient (and save on your power bill!).

Now, this one is tricky! Because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love flicking through the latest catalogues to see the latest furniture, tech and fashion? But this simple step could cut down on your paper waste. Sign up to receive their catalogues and specials electronically instead.

Why know how easy it is to just put things in the dryer, but we’re lucky here in the tropics to have many sunny days. Utilise the power of the sun to dry your clothes. Not only is using your dryer less more energy efficient, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can actually help kill bacteria in materials.

This is a super easy and fun project! It’s also a great way to teach children about sustainability. You can also plant a little, or a lot, depending on the size of your home. If you live in an apartment you could plant some herbs in a small pot on the balcony, or if you have a large block you could look at building a veggie patch. If you’re lucky enough to be able to build your own generous sized veggie patch, consider using recycled timber instead of buying new.