PROPERTY SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLISTSaving You More Than Just Money

www.colleyproperty.com.au service@colleyproperty.com.au 0400 404 351

How do you know if a property is sustainable? What should you be looking for?

These are questions the team at Colley Property is asked all the time, so we’ve put together this simple Checklist that you can easily use to assess all homes and potential investment properties for sustainability.

Incorporating as many sustainable elements as possible not only puts $$’s back in your pocket, it also helps the environment and enhances the overall well-being of you and any residents in your property.

Who can benefit from using this Checklist?This Checklist is designed to give investors, home owners, first home buyers, renovators and developers an easy reference guide to sustainability when purchasing, building or designing a property in Australia.

It guides you in 4 key areas and reveals our 5 favourite points within each of these areas:

A). LOCATIONB). BUILDING ORIENTATION & LAYOUT/FLOOR PLANC). PASSIVE DESIGN TO OPTIMISE LIGHT & AIR D). CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

To use this Checklist, simply follow the points below and circle YES/NO then add any comments you may wish to refer back to in future… The ideal is 5 out of 5 marked YES for each section, however 4 out of 5 is still excellent… Enjoy!

Photo Credit : mike enerio @ unsplash

A. LOCATION

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

Is the proposed property an “in-fill” site? 1.

(HINT: The greenest sites in development are called “in-fill” sites and utilise existing infrastructure and building precedents)

(HINT: Ideally the slope of the site would be a grade of 15% or less, because a steeper slope requires more resources to stabilise the property and support any future development)

(HINT: Sensitive ecosystems include prime farmland, wetlands, forests or are home to endangered species, and should typically be avoided)

(HINT: Save on car costs & create less impact on the environment)

(HINT: Easy access to lifestyle related centres lends itself to more activity and less dependence on cars which is healthier all round)

Is the property basically flat or on a minimal slope? 5.

Is the property located in an ecologically sensitive area? 2.

Is there easy access to public transport? 3.

Is the property within walking distance of key day-to-day amenities, including local shops, schools and parks/recreational facilities?

4.

B. BUILDING ORIENTATION & LAYOUT/FLOOR PLAN

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

Does the footprint (or building size) of the home effectively accommodate its end user/s?

Does the interior building layout and floor plan allow abundant natural daylight in?

Is the yard (and other external areas) ideally oriented to optimise the direction of the sun?

Does the floor plan lend itself to connected, modern living – specifically, connecting the outside with the inside?

If the house is existing, can any areas of the floor plan be re-worked to support the ‘affordable housing’ concept i.e. maximising the number of people safely housed in a building?

1.

4.

5.

2.

3.

(HINT: Simply put, smaller homes use less resources. Colley Property opts for a smaller footprint to keep energy/water bills down, extra storage solutions to utilise all spaces and re-adjusted purpose to certain spaces to optimise use/function)

(HINT: Taking advantage of the natural elements lessens energy requirements as less lighting and heating/cooling is required. Once the heat is absorbed, it’s then up to your insulation to do the work)

(HINT: In most cities in Australia, facing your yard West is ideal as it accommodates the afternoon sun and this is often where & when most of your outdoor time at home is spent. Engage with the morning sun to the East through a porch or alcove - if the kitchen and/or living isn’t already facing East)

(HINT: If not already, can the floor plan of the property be re-worked/adjusted to create outdoor living spaces? Heating/cooling is not required outside hence lower energy bills, fresh air is healthier and the perceived space & livability factor of a property increases dramatically when the outside is utilised for living also)

(HINT: Can a large bathroom be converted to a bathroom & laundry i.e. appealing European laundry installed, an extra home office/study nook created from an under-utilised space, or even ideally a bedroom & living zone with small kitchenette installed to create a separate rental income?)

Photo Credit : markus spiske @ unsplash

C. PASSIVE DESIGN TO OPTIMISE LIGHT & AIR

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

If natural daylight doesn’t reach a large portion of the building’s interior at various times of the day, is there installed (or can you install easily) ways to bring in more daylight to the property?

Does the building design lend itself to optimise natural breezes and is there strong ventilation across the property?

Are there installed (or can you install easily) shading devices on the outside of the property to protect it from the peak summer sun?

Does the roof require repairs/painting or does it lend itself to a landscaped rooftop garden?

Can the site be landscaped for energy efficiency?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

(HINT: Think windows, skylights and light shelves installed above eye level. In Australia, absorb radiant heat from the North side through glass stairwells etc, especially if you’re in the southern and more cooler parts of the country. If you’re based in a warmer part of the country have consideration for reducing radiant heat through shade from trees, blinds etc and be able to open high windows and skylight vents)

(HINTS: Strong ventilation minimises moisture in a property and typically avoids the production of mould, which has been linked to a myriad a health problems such as fatigue, skin conditions and respiratory related issues. Good ventilation also allows for rapid cooling and better control of the internal temperature of a home without relying on power. Although note that doors and windows must seal well to keep in cool/heat)

(HINT: Think vertical green gardens, double glazed windows, shade sails, louvres, vegetation and atriums located on the North end over/around the prime areas that let in the most heat)

(HINT: If painting or replacing the roof, choose a lighter colour that reflects heat in summer thus keeping cooling requirements lower or dedicate part of the roof to a green garden - these are being favoured more by Councils, particularly in medium-high density residential areas)

(HINT: Think efficient irrigation & plants native to the environment to reduce water needs, shaded areas to protect from the sun and interior plants or atriums to improve air quality)

Photo Credit : chuttersnap @ unsplash

D. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

If renovations are required, can any materials be recycled or salvaged to minimise the environmental impact?

Can VOC’s be avoided or minimised in the building process?

Are fixtures and fittings designed to reduce energy consumption?

Is there ceiling and wall insulation?

If building or renovating, plan ahead carefully to source building materials that are considered more green than other options. This can often be achieved with almost little impact on the cost/bottom-line.

1.

3.

4.

5.

2.

(HINTS: Think doors, windows, cement and wood - plus kitchen, bathroom and laundry tiles, fixtures and fiings. Windows affect how much heat is lost or retained, so if recycling windows ensure they seal well to control heating costs in winter and cooling costs in summer)

(HINT: The construction process uses many chemicals that are harmful to human health such as benzene, arsenic and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These can be limited by ensuring products have a label/certification indicating low VOC or no VOC – especially when painting and in flooring choices)

(HINT: Greenhouse-efficient hot water systems, lights, dishwasher & washing machine with high energy star ratings, dual flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and taps, solar or capacity for solar to be installed in future, source part of water supply from on-site rain water tank/s)

(HINT: Ceiling and wall insulation is widely considered the single most effective item you can add to a home to improve its energy efficiency. There are also insulation products on the market that reduce noise including traffic, room-to-room and neighbourhood so it is worth shopping around)

Whether we want to admit it or not, ‘the going green movement’ is gaining momentum globally and we believe it’s well-founded.

A healthy home equals a happy life…!

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service@colleyproperty.com.au

0400 404 351

(HINT: The construction phase has a massive impact to the environment as it involves the use of materials, energy, and water, and the discarding of wastes)