Links:

 Energy and Water Efficiency Ratings:

The Energy Rating Scheme:
Energy ratings (stars) for common household appliances sold in Australia, including a listing of energy-efficient appliances
www.energyrating.com.au

Energy Star:
An international standard for energy-efficient electronic goods such as TVs, DVDs, computers and stereos
www.energystar.com.au

The National Water Conservation Labelling Scheme:
The Water Services Association of Australia runs this scheme that rates the water efficiency of appliances and fittings such as washing machines, dishwashers, showers, taps and toilets
https://www.wsaa.asn.au

Home and Garden:

The Wilderness Society’s Timbershop:
This informative website has information about sustainable timber sources including plantation timbers and recycled timbers, as well as those timbers to avoid due to forest destruction.
http://timbershop.wilderness.org.au

Flora for Fauna:
A website full of tips for attracting and sustaining native birds, frogs, lizards and other wildlife to your garden, whether in city suburbs or in the bush.
www.floraforfauna.com.au

Aussies Living Simply:
An online community focused on sustainability, permaculture, organic gardening, backyard livestock, simple living and stepping lightly on the planet. Free membership and probably one of the most interesting and friendly groups on the net.                                                                          http.www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au

 Green Living:

Green Power:
Join the 100,000 home- and business-owners across Australia who have already chosen renewable energy sources, by choosing a Green Power supplier or scheme (without any effort or upfront costs).
www.greenpower.com.au

Green Vehicle Guide:
Before buying that car, check its performance in terms of fuel consumption and emissions on this very useful website run by the Federal Government’s Greenhouse Office.
www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au

GreenFleet:
This green motoring organization organises the planting of native trees to offset the greenhouse impact of cars, working with financing companies to achieve this objective.
www.greenfleet.com.au

Recycling Near You:
This excellent site operated by Planet Ark is a must-see for recycling of those somewhat troublesome items such as mobile phone batteries, printer cartridges, as well as the more common items, with lots of useful info
www.recyclingnearyou.com.au

Organisations:

Alternative Technology Association:www.ata.org.au

Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org.au

Australian Conservation Foundation:www.acfonline.org.au

Australian Marine Conservation Society: www.amcs.org.au

Care Australia: www.careaustralia.org.au

Friends of the Earth (Australia): www.foe.org.au

Greenpeace Australia Pacific: www.greenpeace.org.au

Humane Society Australia: www.hsi.org.au

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad: www.oxfam.org.au

RSPCA Qld: www.rspcaqld.org.au

The Sustainable Living Foundation:www.slf.org.au

Wilderness Society: www.wilderness.org.au

Worldwide Fund for Nature: www.wwf.org.au

 ecoBiz -   The Environmental Protection Agency’s signature partnership program with Queensland business and industry to assist businesses identify efficiencies in waste, water and energy for financial and environmental benefits

Smart Energy Savings Fund – $50 million funding program to assist Queensland businesses to invest in commercial energy saving projects

• Energy Efficient Street Lighting Trial - The Queensland Energy Efficient Street Lighting Trial is testing various lighting products to identify the most efficient street lighting options
• Climate Smart  Department of Environment and Resource Management’s QWESTNet (Queensland Water and Energy Sustainable Technology Network)
• Climate Smart  Department of Environment and Resource Management’s QSEIF (Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund)

 Australian Government

• The Australian Government's Energy Efficiency Opportunities program - encourages large energy-using businesses to improve their energy efficiency
• National Energy Efficiency Initiative – the Government will invest up to $100 million in partnership with the energy sector for the development of a new using 21st century technology to assist our transition to a low carbon economy by encouraging a smarter and more efficient energy network
• Generator Efficiency Standards – a program to encourage movement towards best practice in the efficiency of fossil-fuelled electricity generation, and to deliver reductions in the greenhouse gas intensity of energy supply
• Smart Grid Technology Pilot – a proposal to invest up to $100 million in partnership with the energy sector for the development of a smart grid technology pilot
• The Green Vehicle Guide
• Climate Ready Program – is a competitive grants program providing grants from $50,000 up to $5m on a matching funding basis to support research and development, proof-of-concept and early-stage commercialisation activities to develop solutions to climate change challenges.
• Green Building Fund - aims to reduce the impact of Australia's built environment on green house gas emissions by reducing the energy consumed in the operation of existing commercial office buildings.
• Retooling for Climate Change Program – grants to help small and medium sized Australian manufacturers reduce their environmental footprint, through projects that improve the energy and/or water efficiency of their production processes.
• Green Car Innovation Fund - provides assistance over ten years, commencing 2009-10, to Australian companies for projects that enhance the research and development and commercialisation of Australian technologies that significantly reduce fuel consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions of passenger motor vehicles.
• Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund –assists Australian firms commercialise world-leading low emissions technologies.
• Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP) - Supporting the Use of Renewable Energy for Remote Power Generation
• The Australian ENERGY STAR Program - international standard for energy efficient office equipment including computers, printers and photocopiers, and home electronics such as TVs, audio products and DVD players
• Australia’s leading guide to choosing an energy efficient appliance

• Climate Smart 2050 - Department of the Premier and Cabinet
• Queensland Energy Policy – A Cleaner Energy Strategy - Department of Mines and Energy
• ClimateSmart Buildings – Strategic Energy Efficiency Policy for Queensland Government Buildings

• National Framework for Energy Efficiency - Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET)
• Energy White Paper (DRET)
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

• Energy Schemes and Grants - Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water
• Energy Efficiency for House sales - ACT Planning and Land Authority

• NSW Energy Efficiency Strategy – Department of Environment and Climate Change
• Sustainability Advantage Energy Saver Program - Department of Environment and Climate Change

• Energy policy and programs - Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources

• Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme – Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure SA

• Energy efficiency - Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources

• Victoria’s 5 Star Ratings for new Homes – The Building Commission
• Cityswitch- Sustainability Victoria

• Sustainable Energy Development Office WA

• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority

• Australian Building Codes Board
• Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator - Renewable Energy – claiming solar credits for small generation units and solar heaters
• Fact Sheet 11: Energy Conversion and Efficiency - Australian Institute of Energy
• Energy Development Association of Australia
• Energy efficiency - CSIRO
• Green Building Council of Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that is committed to developing a sustainable property industry for Australia by encouraging the adoption of green building practices
• Energy Efficiency - International Energy Agency
• CitySwitch Green Office - national program to encourage the tenants of office b

 Energy efficiency policies and initiatives Links

Low Carbon Diet

Climate Smart Home Services

Queensland Government Solar Hot Water Program - information

Energy Efficient Home Design -guidelines

Landscaping for Energy Efficiency - guidelines

Solar hot water – powered by the sun’s natural energy’ EnergyWise Queensland factsheet

• The Energy Label – Australia’s leading guide to choosing an energy efficient appliance
• Australia’s leading guide to choosing an energy efficient appliance
• The Australian ENERGY STAR Program - international standard for energy efficient office equipment including computers, printers and photocopiers, and home electronics such as TVs, audio products and DVD players
• Energy Efficient Homes Package – solar hot water and insulation rebates
• Global Warming Cool It – a home guide to reducing energy costs and greenhouses gases
• Your Home Technical Manual – Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable homes
• Phase-out of Inefficient, Incandescent Light Bulbs
• Solar Homes and Communities Plan
• The Green Vehicle Guide
• Homeowner Insulation Program
• Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP) - Supporting the Use of Renewable Energy for Remote Power Generation

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Community Events

Courses & Workshops

Sustainability for Real Estate Agents - download brochure

Is your real estate agency ready for climate change? Green Door Property can help you gain the knowledge and confidence you need to operate successfully in a climate change world.

We present custom designed courses that help you and your staff understand:

• ► why climate change is going to affect how they do real estate
• ► what buyers increasingly want
• ► how to confidently recognise sustainability features in a property
• ► how to explain the value of sustainability features to potential buyers
• ► how to avoid 'greenwashing' - promoting features as sustainable when they are not
• ► what renovations will really add value in the near future - no, it isn't the big media room or the huge bathroom!

Agents will gain knowledge for use in their day-to-day practice with clients. Workshops are run by a Certified Trainer who combines in depth sustainability knowledge with the ability to speak your language!

Green Door Property believes climate change offers a great opportuntiy to real estate agents. Agents can play a pivotal role in helping buyers purchase the homes they increasingly want - homes that help them live more sustainably.

Download the brochure for more information. To discuss your training needs, contact Green Door Property.

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Click on the following links to find out more about various issues affecting people and the planet:

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
Official site provides news and information about the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Includes calendar, facts, blog, forum and lots more.

The Age of Stupid movie: Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? Organise your own Indie screening and do your bit to spread the word about climate change.

What Size is Your Eco Footprint?
Would you like to measure your ecological footprint to see how the way you live is impacting the planet and what you can do to reduce it?

Council House Two - the eco office block of the future?                                                                                                                                                                                          Council House Two, or CH2 as its known, is quite possibly the eco-office block of the future – many of its design principles have been taken from nature.

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Free Cooling, Heating and Lighting:

Good passive solar features in a house can be hugely beneficial in reducing the need for energy-hungry air conditioning. Passive solar features need not cost one dollar more than a conventional home design, especially when considering the cost savings over a number of years. Here are some of the features included in passive solar design:

• When designing a house ensure the main living areas are oriented due north if at all possible. This ensures free solar heating in winter, and also ensures the house is bright during the day reducing the need for artificial lighting.
• Solar gain can be restricted in summer by window hoods, louvred shades, sailcloths, deciduous trees and by roof eaves with width suited to the latitude.
• Reduce the size and number of windows on the east and especially the west - afternoon heating in summer is most unwelcome.
• Place bedrooms on the cool south side of the house.A long and thin house is easier to cool using natural cross-breezes than a more square-shaped house. A single room width is the ideal for this type of design.
• For new or existing houses, insulate the roof and/or ceiling – check for systems that have a good performance rating for both summer and winter.
• Ventilated ceilings (with summer/winter control) and roof vents also provide natural cooling in summer.

Saving Energy in the Home:

The following tips will save you money as well as being good for the planet:

• Replace as many light bulbs as possible to compact fluorescent bulbs – they typically use 80% less electricity than conventional bulbs and they are cheaper when costed over a period of time.
• A solar hot water system (or similarly a heat pump) is the single most effective appliance at reducing overall household electricity usage. You will reduce your electricity bill by around 30% to 40% in most parts of Australia, with a typical payback period of 5 to 10 years.
• If a solar hot water system is not suitable, for example due to a shaded roof, a heat pump hot water system is similarly effective, but does not need direct sunshine for it to work – it works by absorbing heat from the air to heat your water.
• When buying electrical whitegoods such as fridges, cookers and washing machines look for the Energy Rating label and choose ones with 5 or 6 stars.
• For electronic goods such as TVs, DVDs, computers, printers and stereos there is an energy-efficiency rating system called Energy Star – this shows that the appliance complies with good energy-efficient design practice.
• And finally there’s dad’s lament: Switch off the lights when your not using them!

Saving Water in the Home:

Follow these tips to reduce the need for additional reservoirs that cause ecological degradation, and also to save money:

• Install a AAA-rated shower rose – these cost as little as $20 and are very easy to install yourself. Typically these will reduce your overall household water usage by around 10%.
• Install tap flow regulators or aerators on your internal taps. These are also relatively cheap and effective.
• Install a dual-flush AAA rated toilet cistern, or even cheaper, buy a toilet flush regulator from a hardware store.
• Choose washing machines and dishwashers with an AAA rating or greater – maximum up to 5 As.
• And then there’s all those things about which your nanna was right: Use a cup of water when brushing your teeth, and Shower rather than bath (or share a bath), and Wash your hands with the plug in the basin, and Fix that leaking tap!

Healthy Painting:

• Choose water-based paints and urethanes with low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are harmful to the ozone layer as well as being harmful to your health.
• Make sure that paints and finishes contain no mercury, formaldehyde, aromatic hydrocarbons, and halogenated solvents. 
• Make sure added paint pigments do not contain heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and chromiumKeep fresh air circulating
• Close doors or hang tarps to isolate the newly-painted room while the paint cures and odours disperse
• Wait at least 48 hours before occupying a newly-painted room
• Reduce pollution of waterways by minimising the cleaning of your brushes and rollers; wrap them in plastic bags, keep them cool and reuse them the next day.
• Always clean brushes and rollers onto newspaper before cleaning under the tap.
• Check with your local council for options to responsibly dispose of the used paint tins.
• Learn how to deal safely with old lead-based paints by checking the lead paint information sheet produced by Queensland Housing: www.housing.qld.gov.au/pdf/leadpaint_factsheet.pdf
• And finally, if at all possible, don’t paint – consider natural unpainted finishes wherever appropriate; for example timber can be adequately sealed and preserved with natural oils and beeswax.

The Good Wood:

Although timber is potentially one of the world’s most sustainable materials, current consumption and harvesting of timber is causing catastrophic results in the world’s tropical and temperate rainforests. In Australia, the following timbers are generally the most planet-friendly:

• Radiata Pine
• Hoop Pine
• Bamboo
• Recycled and Second-hand timber products
• Recycled plastic “timber” products for exterior use

For more details on the “Good Wood”, and which timbers not to buy, have a look at the Wilderness Society’s excellent Timbershop: http://timbershop.wilderness.org.au/

Plant Power:

Research by NASA scientists have confirmed what many of us intuitively believe: indoor plants are good for you! It has been shown that many species of indoor plants clean the air inside our homes, filtering out many polluting gases such as benzene and formaldehyde found in synthetic fabrics, matrasses, paints, particle board and many other household materials. Studies have also shown that plants in the home or office provide psycological logical benefits to the occupants, such as feelings of wellbeing and harmony, as well as improved healing rates for people who are ill. And house plants are also beneficial when selling your home, generating a positive and peaceful feeling in the home. The following plants all help to clean the air we breathe:
Peace lily, Boston fern, Draceana, Kentia palm, Golden cane palm, Parlour palm, Lady palm, Aloe vera, Rubber plant, Spider plant, Gerbera and Aspidistra.

Green Gardening:

Here are some tips for green and water-wise gardeners:

• Choose plants that are suited to your area and wherever possible, go native - they are more adapted to local conditions and they are helpful to the local wildlife. Here is a link to an excellent website that helps you choose suitable plants for anywhere in Australia: www.savewater.com.au (Plant Selector)
• Compost all garden waste and kitchen vegetable waste, to produce your own black gold to fertilise the garden (or start a worm-farm!)
• Use mulch, and lots of it. This is the most effective measure to reduce water loss from garden beds. Use straw, lawn clippings, shredded tree bark, gravel and many more mulch products
• Reduce the amount of lawn in your garden – replace with pavers, gravel and/or drought-tolerant groundcovers.
• Collect greywater from your shower, bath, wash basins and washing machine to recycle onto your garden via a greywater diversion system.
• Plant drought-tolerant species, especially Australian native plants that will also attract and feed birds.
• Install a rainwater tank – this will allow you to water your garden during water restrictions and reduces the amount of stormwater entering the often overloaded drains and urban catchments. Rainwater can also be used as a planet-friendly drinking water supply that reduces the need for additional reservoirs.
• Install an efficient watering system, with timers and drip or micro irrigation fittings.
• Water in the late afternoon or evening in summer – mid-morning or midday watering is wasteful due to excessive evaporation and can damage leaves.

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 Green Door Property welcomes news and articles of interest from our web visitors.

Of particular interest is material about sustainability within real estate and the built environment.

Please submit your material with any supporting photographs by email.

Green Door Property cannot guarantee that all submitted material will be published.

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