We are proud in 2022 to have opened this home for Gold Coast Open House, and Sustainable House Day. This movie is now updated for 2023.
September 5th, 2016
We were pleased to write an Article on Sustainable Housing for the Spring Edition of the Gold Coast Hills to Headlands newsletter.
See their website for more information, or read on below
What does sustainability mean for our homes, and in our climate?
The Gold Coast climate varies from the beaches, through to the cooler ‘Hills’ part of ‘Hills to Headlands’.
Get to know your area
Your home can be tailored to suit your site better if you understand it better.
Build your home to fit you
Australia averages the largest new homes in the world. Why?
This doesn’t have to mean you need a tiny home. Just consider carefully how large it needs to be. List sustainability amongst the other constraints in your design. Prioritise.
A home which fits you well means you are only using the resources you need. Leave the rest for the future. You then only need heat to and cool and clean and maintain those smaller spaces.
Plan for the future
Make best use of your whole site – not just the piece you build on.
This might include:
Just don’t build it until you know you need it.
Design Principles: Passive and Active Systems
The principles of passive solar design should inform the design. For example:
Fancy words meaning heavy things: concrete or tile floor, brick walls etc.
There are also ways to improve existing homes:
Active design systems work more efficiently and cost less if employed into well designed passive homes, because they need to do less work.
Refer to www.yourhome.gov.au if you would like more info. No, really. The government spent a bit of time and your tax dollars on it to encourage better design, so you can ask better questions of your team. Take advantage of it.
Keep an eye out for Sustainable House Day on September 11th when homes around Australia are opened up to view for people interested in sustainability. If you have a home or lifestyle which strives towards sustainability, be part of the conversation: consider opening your own home! Visit their website at www.sustainablehouseday.com
We’d be happy to discuss further to help you fill in some of the missing pieces above. You can contact us via our website at www.ptma.com.au and check out the links page for more info for more sustainable housing strategies.