Sustainable Development
Australia currently has one of the world’s highest figures for household water use. The average Australian home uses 230,000 litres of water a year – 70% of Sydney’s total water use is consumed in our homes.
The average Australian home spends $1,500 on electricity bills each year – 90% of our electricity comes from fossil fuels such as coal which generates greenhouse gas and contributes to climate change.
If you are thinking of renovating, building a new home or would just like to learn how to make your home more sustainable, below are a number of areas which you can consider.
Solar Panels
The sun provides energy in two forms – light and heat. This energy, called solar power, can be used to generate electricity for use in our homes and businesses.
Solar power is the most abundant source of renewable power available to our planet. Solar power refers to the conversion of sunlight into electricity using solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) systems. In June 2008, more than 3,900 residences in NSW have installed PV systems, about one third of the total installed across Australia.
Please download Council's Solar Panels fact sheet for further information including the regulatory requirements for installation.
Rainwater Tanks
Rainwater tanks reduce the impact of stormwater on drainage infrastructure, roads, urban streams and beaches and help prevent flooding. They help reduce contaminants in our waterways. They also reduce your demands on NSW water and save you money. Capturing rainwater allows for its use indoors and outdoors, such as for flushing toilets and washing clothes.
Please download Council's Rainwater Tanks fact sheet for further information including the regulatory requirements for installation.
You can also visit the Department of Environment and Heritage website and the Sydney Water website for further information including information about rebates.
Solar Hot Water Systems
'Water heating accounts for about 30% of an average household's total greenhouse gas emissions and about the same proportion of total household energy use' (www.climatechange.gov.au).
Solar hot water systems are highly efficient in their use of solar energy (sunlight) to heat water. The installation of a solar hot water service not only be reduces carbon emissions, but also have the potential to save you money on an ongoing basis. On cloudy days, gas or electric boosters kick in to ensure you are never without hot water.
Government Rebates
Not all systems qualify for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or Rebates. To get the RECs the system must have been accredited by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER). If a system does qualify for a rebate, the RECS can be offered as a point of sale discount or can be redeemed for cash through a RECS trader.
The Federal Government offers a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) incentive to homes that convert to solar hot water with accredited systems. The REC is based on the efficiency of the solar hot water system, the greater the efficiency - the greater the incentive.
For more information in relation to RECs and Rebates, please see the following websites: