Building eValuate advises households and property owners on ways to reduce energy use, which in turn reduces their energy costs and minimizes their carbon footprints.

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How can I make my home more sustainable?

Building eValuate are ABSA accredited thermal performance and sustainability assessors. We can provide energy assessments of your home or property and advise on cost effective ways to reduce your household energy usage and increase the comfort of your building. We can also advise on the installing or retrofitting of products to improve the efficiency and performance of your home or property. A tailored report can be provided.

What is assessed in a home sustainability assessment?

Building eValuate look at major energy systems relating to the building envelope, heating/cooling, lighting, refrigeration, cooking, hygiene and entertainment.

How long does a home sustainability assessment take?

Each assessment takes around 1.5 hours to complete. This may vary, depending on the property size and the number of energy systems to be considered.

How can I improve the sustainability of my home?

Some low and medium cost suggestions to reduce your energy wastage may include:

  • Improve building sealing: The average Australian home has 1.5 complete air exchanges per hour (ACH). This can be reduced through low cost measures such as installing weather sealing strips to windows and doors; sealing gaps around architraves, floor boards and skirting boards; blocking off unused chimneys and closing unnecessary vents in the walls and ceilings.
  • Insulation: Insulation is a major factor in maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your home and significantly reduces the need for air conditioners and heaters. It can be installed in your roof space, underfloor or wall cavities if you have sufficient access. Insulation can save up to 60% of heating and cooling loads, cutting your energy costs – and there are also rebates available to offset insulation costs.
  • Heating: When choosing heating for your home, an efficient natural gas space heater is usually the best option. Gas is a cleaner fuel than mainland grid electricity and it allows you to selectively heat the rooms you use most. For households not connected to gas, an efficient reverse cycle air conditioner is a good alternative. If you opt for a central heating system, make sure it can be ‘zoned’ so you can heat occupied areas only, rather than the whole house.
  • Windows: Windows are a major source of heat loss and gain. Advanced windows, such as double glazing and low-e coatings, can reduce winter heat loss and summer heat gain by 40–70%. Internal and external window treatments can reduce heating and cooling needs by up to 50%. Heavy, close-fitting curtains with pelmets will reduce heat loss in winter and can help protect a cool room in summer.

To improve the efficiency and sustainability of your home or property in Southern Tasmania, get in touch today.