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PLANNING TO BUILD OR RENOVATE?
If you plan on building or renovating your home, energy efficient design can save money on your bills and you can help protect the environment. By working with your building practitioner, you can strategically plan and provide yearly savings without changing the way your home appears.
Where do I start?
Building and renovating is an exciting process, but it can also be a daunting process. Knowing where to start is just part of the problem as there is so much to consider.
Whether you're planning a major renovation or just a minor upgrade to your living area, it's important that you think through your needs. A renovation needs to meet all your needs and provide the best value for money, not just now but in years to come.
How much will it cost?
Good planning is essential. Experienced renovators will tell you how important good planning actually is in the renovation process. The Your Home Renovator's Guide is an excellent resource that will help you think about and plan your renovation.
The cost of a renovation depends on many factors, including the size of the area you are renovating and your allocated budget. This is why renovation can be hard to estimate.
The Australian Institute of Architects' Archicentre Cost Guide (PDF) provides typical price ranges for various renovation components.
How do you rate?
Use the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) website to compare your energy and water bills to the average Australian home. The website also contains interactive tools that help you identify opportunities for water and energy saving.
Did you know?
Regulations are minimum requirements. There is nothing stopping you doing better than the current regulations - especially if it reduces your energy and water costs and adds value to your home.
Finding more information
What do I need to know about designing and planning?
By harnessing the natural elements of sunlight, shade, air movement and rain, you can live more comfortably in your home, save money and reduce greenhouse pollution.
Energy efficient design need not cost any more than standard construction and leads to significant energy and cost savings in the long term, so consider the following features of energy efficient design:
- Position daytime living areas toward large north-facing windows to receive unobstructed winter sun
- Design the rooms and heating systems to create zones which allow you to only heat or cool those rooms in use
- Provide insulation in walls, ceilings and floors
- Optimise shading in your landscape design to create cool summer conditions
Your registered building practitioner will be able to advise you on designing and planning your energy efficient home.
What do I need to know about construction and materials?
The plans are ready and now its time to begin building. A good working relationship with your builder, building surveyor and architect will ensure that the construction process runs smoothly and avoids any hiccups. Inform yourself of your rights as a consumer in regards to deposits and progress payments during the construction of your home.
A key consideration for you will be in your building materials and how well these materials absorb, store and release heat. Different building materials will have different thermal-mass characteristics, so it is important to choose the right material for your location. From the traditional terracotta brick, to aerated concrete bricks through to a mud-brick home, each material has a different suitability to different climates and a unique aesthetic. Insulation also plays a major part in the thermal mass of your home.
What do I need to know appliances, systems and lighting?
Building or renovating a home is a good chance to 'start from scratch' and select energy efficient appliances, lights and heating/cooling systems. Choosing an appliance that uses the least energy makes good sense because you save energy and money. While an efficient appliance may be more expensive to buy, it will soon pay for itself in lower energy bills. When buying white goods, such as air-conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, clothes and dish washers and dryers, look for the energy rating label, it displays the star rating and annual energy consumption for the appliance. In general, the more stars, the more efficient the appliance.
Remember to think solar - a north-facing house with appropriately sized and located windows provides access to the most energy efficient form of lighting - natural sunlight.
It's important to start with the right advice. Visit your local hardware store and talk to the expert on what materials you'll need. Inform yourself about the best ways to draught-proof a door, fix a leaking tap or install a water-saving shower head by reading how-to guides.
HIA GreenSmart: GreenSmart is a voluntary practical approach to building that focuses on educating builders, designers, product manufacturers and consumers about the benefits of environmentally responsible housing.
Finding the right expertise
Are you a registered building practitioner? - the first question you should ask
Building or renovating a home for most people is an exciting and satisfying process. It allows you to chose the design and surroundings that you wish to live in, according to your lifestyle. However, the building process carries some pitfalls for those who are uninformed. That's why the following information will assist you to build or renovate more successfully.
There are many considerations to make before starting your building such as whether your job requires a building permit, a planning permit and/or a major domestic building contract. Then there's the question of selecting which contractors your building work requires and what other requirements and regulations are needed to complete the job and maintain your building
There are a number of steps you can take to plan for the building and renovation process. But as a minimum, make sure you follow these guidelines before you sign any documents or pay any money for building work:
- Assess the building work required or have it assessed by an appropriate building practitioner.
- Select the right building practitioner.
- Compile a list of local contractors able to do the job through advertisements, industry associations or friends.
- Obtain at least three written quotes.
- Ask the contractor for details of past work and recent clients, inspect the work and ask questions.
- Check the contractor has a licence card or if they need to be registered.
- Record the card or registration details. Check the contractor's licence with the appropriate body. Registered building practitioners are required for work over $5,000. You can check their details on this website by searching for builder under the Finding an RBP option. For building work over $12,000, building practitioners are required to provide warranty insurance for consumer protection.
- Keep a written record of the building and renovation process through to completion.