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How to make your home more sustainable and who can help you

By Jen Bishop •

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A new national survey from tradie marketplace hipages has found that 58% of Aussie homeowners are looking to invest in more sustainable and green improvements around the home.

With increased cost of living pressures, energy hikes and environmental consciousness top of mind for homeowners, hipages chief customer officer, Stuart Tucker, shares his tips and insights to help Aussies get their home eco-friendly.

What is an environmentally friendly home?

Environmentally friendly buildings use natural resources effectively, with the objective of reducing or eliminating negative impacts on the environment. An ideal environmentally friendly home, or green home, should:

  1. Produce fewer greenhouse emissions
  2. Consume less electricity for heating and cooling
  3. Utilise alternative energy sources
  4. Consume less water
  5. Employ recyclable or environmentally friendly building materials
  6. Incorporate sustainable design principles
  7. Have adequate insulation to reduce solar heat gain.

Designing and building an environmentally friendly home

Environmentally friendly buildings are designed to minimise negative environmental stresses by using natural resources to create comfortable, low-impact homes that promote health and adaptability.

Green building takes a holistic approach and prioritises green materials, reusability and recyclability to extend their usefulness. By adopting these principles, green building contributes to sustainability, resource conservation, and the creation of a healthier living environment.

Understanding building energy star ratings

Building energy star ratings are minimum energy efficiency requirements developed to meet the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC), with a strong focus on thermal protection. Homes with a higher star rating are considered, ʻmore thermally comfortable and cheaper to run than homes with a lower star ratingʼ.

Ratings are calculated by taking into account the layout and orientation of a home, what materials are utilised and the exposure of the property to the sun’s path and local breezes.

How to reduce energy and increase household efficiency

Reducing home energy consumption can lead to significant savings over time. As a homeowner, you can consider the following initiatives to drive energy efficiency:

  • Preserve existing landscaping and natural features.
  • Maximise natural lighting during the design phase or install either solar-powered or energy-efficient heating/cooling systems.
  • Select sustainable buildings or recyclable materials with low emissions including the use of mudbrick or steel as housing foundations.
  • Install a rainwater tank to save on water bills and utilise freshwater for various household tasks. You can also implement water-conserving fixtures like low-flow taps and shower heads, repair leaks promptly, and consider a solar hot water system.
  • Installing EV chargers to help reduce car emissions and petrol consumption, if you drive an electric car.

Who can help my home become more eco friendly?

There are many licensed tradies who can help to improve your home’s green rating:

  • Electricians can install solar panels and timers.
  • Plumbers can help set up grey water systems or water-saving showerheads.
  • Landscapers, especially those with a qualification or interest in permaculture, can help you get the most from your garden or outdoor space.

Find a tradie on hipages

Paving the way to a sustainable future: permeable landscaping
Creating sustainable homes is rapidly becoming central to design and architectural considerations as we continue to integrate new and innovative…
Sustainable kitchen features being chosen by 95% of renovators
Sustainability has shaped recent consumer trends, and house renovation is no exception. An impressive 95% of respondents in a 2023…

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July 4, 2023

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Popular This Week

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • Apartment takes out two major categories in design awards

  • Win the new super slim robot vacuum and mop from DEEBOT

  • Modern architectural gem is perfect for family living

  • Castlery team up with stylist Steve Cordony as brand ambassador

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If you pick your restaurants for the interior as m If you pick your restaurants for the interior as much as the food, you might want to add @pinosalmare  by @nicgrahamandassociates to your date night list! 😍

@smartstoneaustralia's stunning Calacatta Viola sintered stone surface features throughout, making a bold statement while being durable enough to be used in the busiest areas.

Inspired by Puglia, Pino's (named after the owner's father) in Cronulla has a real seaside vibe. The Smartstone was also chosen for the outdoor tables due to its UV stability.

#calacattaviola #smartstone #restaurantinteriors #restaurantinteriordesign #italianrestaurantsydney #engineeredstone #sinteredstone
SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jas SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jasminemcclellanddesign delivered. And then some!

"With a keen eye for design, they wanted their main bathroom to feel calm, spa-like and elevated with more storage, better layout, and soft, layered textures in a neutral palette. Lighting was another big focus, with the goal of creating a space that felt luxurious enough to unwind in, preferably with a glass of champagne in the bath.”

Is it a yay or a nay for you?

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the suppliers as well as a look at the powder room with its bold wallpaper 😍

#spabathroom #zenbathroom #spavibes #bathroomremodels 

📸 @jonathantabensky
Vacuums, mops, empties itself. Slim enough to get Vacuums, mops, empties itself. Slim enough to get under the lowest furniture and beds.

Comment 'enter' and we'll DM you the link to enter for your chance to win this top of the range $1499 robot from @ecovacs_anz, the DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI.

Good luck!

#robotvacuumcleaner #robotvaccum #robotvacuummop #robotmop #smarthome #houseworkhacks
>>>Swipe for the transformation! 😮 From cold t >>>Swipe for the transformation! 😮

From cold to cosy!

This primary ensuite for a successful career woman working in luxury cosmetics and homewares is sexy, strong, girly, but sophisticated. We love its warmth and personality.

If you'd like to take the tour and find out where everything is from, comment 'luxe' below and I'll send the link to your DMs!

Bravo @howardlanedesigns 👏🏼 
📸 @capturedbykels__

#ensuiteinspo #ensuitedecor #ensuitegoals #marblebathrooms #statementstone
The latest addition to my @kirstenjackson_gallery The latest addition to my @kirstenjackson_gallery collection. This is a framed canvas and the quality is amazing. I feel like beautifully framed canvas prints are the perfect affordable halfway point when it comes to art.
What's your decor style? Spring, summer, autumn or What's your decor style? Spring, summer, autumn or winter?

I could have told you I was spring even before I took the quick quiz to find out, and pleased to report the quiz gave me the right result!

Comment the season you THINK you are below (spring, summer, autumn or winter) and I'll send you the link to the quiz so you can double check!

Fun!

This quiz from @templeandwebster jumps on the colour analysis trend for fashion and applies it to interiors!

#seasonaldecorating #seasonaldecor #colouranalysis
The @thermomix_au TM7 launch in Sydney yesterday w The @thermomix_au TM7 launch in Sydney yesterday was a real treat. Such an exciting and sleek looking upgrade to my favourite kitchen machine!

The new look speaks for itself and, as usual, the engineering is impressive. Here's the biggest changes that stood out to me:

1. It's SO quiet and in fact SILENT up to a certain speed 
2. It has a much bigger 10 inch screen
3. A new insulated, cool to touch bowl (the inner metal bowl detaches to wash)
4. A gorgeous new matte black design with fluted and herringbone details and made of 30% recycled materials 👏🏼 

Enjoyed a beautiful lunch all prepared, naturally, in the Thermomix! Was great to meet @mise_en_place_aus in real life as well as special guest dessert queen @kirstentibballs and catch up with the lovely Thermomix team.

Tag a friend who'll be coveting the TM7! It's available from next week!

#thermomixtm7 #thermomix #thermomixaus #thermomixlover
Awards are always a great place to get inspo. Chec Awards are always a great place to get inspo. Check out the kitchen and bathroom of the year winners in this month's @hia_au @csrdwelling Housing Awards. There's more winning homes and rooms to check out in our blog post on the homepage, via link in bio or stories now. 

Kitchen by @build.theory Bathroom by @birdblackdesign and @aspire_constructions 

#hiaawards #hiaawards2025 #awardwinninghomes #australianinteriordesign
We're so in love with this reno by @jdzdesigns_ 😍😍😍

It's a remodel of a previously dark and pokey extension to a Victorian Gothic home. It's now an open plan dream, and the transition from old to new is beautifully done with impressive black steel doors.

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for the full story and tour.

#kitchenislands #superwhite #luxurykitchens #openplanlivingspace #steeldoordesign

📸 @lawrencefurzey
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Jen Bishop

About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. She founded Interiors Addict in 2011. Jen also works as a copywriter and comms consultant to small business owners and brands, helping them with their own content as well as working out what will make them appealing to the media.

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Comments

  1. New Era says

    July 6, 2023 at 7:29 pm

    To maximize energy savings, consider installing an energy-efficient water heater. 350 billion kilowatt-hours of energy are wasted yearly because of unused hot water. Most of that comes from a tank-water heater constantly heating and reheating water to have on standby for the home. By switching to a more efficient tankless water heater, you can save hundreds of dollars on utility bills and thousands of kilowatt-hours of energy.

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