If you own a home or are looking to buy or build, there are many ways you can incorporate sustainable living into your life. By using less water and energy around the home, you will be doing your bit for the environment and you'll also save money off your water and energy bills.

Savings for you and the environment

New properties

From 1 March 2006 new houses in Queensland are required by law to be more sustainable by ensuring they use water and energy more efficiently. This will result in new houses using 33 per cent less electricity and up to 36 per cent less water.

Newly constructed houses, townhouses, terrace houses and sole occupancy units are required by law to have some or all of the following measures:

• water efficient three star shower roses
• dual-flush toilets
• energy efficient lighting for at least 40 per cent of the total floor area
• water pressure limiting devices in areas with high water pressure
• greenhouse efficient hot water systems such as solar, heat pump or gas hot water.

Existing properties: bathroom renovations

Existing houses, townhouses, terrace houses and sole occupancy units undergoing bathroom renovations or other renovations are required by law to replace existing non efficient water devices with water efficient three star shower roses and dual flush toilets.

Ways to save water and energy in your home

Change to a 3 star shower rose

A 3 star rated shower rose will use a maximum of 9 litres of water per minute. This is less than half a conventional shower rose, which can use up to 25 litres of water per minute.

Switch to a dual-flush toilet

The bathroom accounts for around a quarter of household water usage. A dual-flush toilet uses 60 per cent less water than a single-flush toilet.

Use energy efficient lighting

By replacing a regular bulb with a compact fluorescent globe, you could reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting by up to 80 per cent. They are much cheaper to run and can last around ten thousand hours.

Switch to a greenhouse energy efficient hot water system

When it comes time to replace your old hot water system, consider replacing it with a solar, electric heat pump or gas hot water system. These can save up to A$240 a year on an average family's energy bill.

High water pressure and wasted water

There are various ways of limiting the flow of water from your taps. This can range from a A$2 water saving disc to a more sophisticated water pressure limiting device fitted to your water mains.

Just remember that whatever you do—no matter how small—you can make a difference. Sustainable living is living for now and for the future.

More information

The introduction of these new sustainable measures followed a community consultation process which involved a discussion paper released in December 2004. The Energy Efficient House Design for Tropical Queensland ( 523 KB) report was developed after a 2005 workshop on understanding appropriate building design for tropical Queensland.

For more information about sustainable living in your local area contact your local council or Building Codes Queensland.