Sustainable Update Edition 1 2006

In this edition

• A note from our managing director
• 6 reasons to install a water tank
• Sustainable Homes Government Rebate 
• How you can save on water usage - Annual Water Use Study
• Book a Sustainable Audit.

A Note from Brett McKenzie:
Brett to add an introduction here....exciting new developments at Sustainable include the introduction of Resource Recovery.
Talk about full water restrictions being a reality, the latest rains have made little difference to the dams, in March no watering from hand held hoses etc etc

Have you checked your rates advice to see how your water consumption measures up against the average in your suburb? Sustainable can help you put in place some of the tips you may have read about in the information pouring through your letterbox!

Why should you install a water tank?

1. The freedom to use water whenever you want, even to wash cars, driveways etc.
2. Water your garden whenever you want
3. Make the tank a feature in your garden, they come in all sorts of beautiful colours
4. You'll be doing your bit to conserve Australia's precious resource
5. Save on water bills
6. Government rebates are available on any water tank purchase.

Want to know more? Contact us for a consultant and free quotation.

New Sustainable Home Rebate for Brisbane residents
The Brisbane City Council will reward home-buyers who build a home using Smart Housing principles with a new Sustainable Home Rebate.

The Sustainable Home Rebate of $500 will be available to the first 500 applicants whose new homes meet the required criteria.

To apply for this rebate, home-buyers need to:

• be building a new house, townhouse or unit in Brisbane;
• score the required number of points in the Sustainable Home Checklist;
• install a ‘AAA’ rated or higher shower and Greenhouse gas efficient hot water system; and
• obtain final building certification between 1 July 2005 and 31 December 2006.

The rebate is available to private consumers only and each applicant is entitled to one rebate.

Rebate applicants will receive a Sustainable Home Rebate Toolkit, which includes an application form, a Sustainable Home Rebate guide, a Sustainable Home Checklist, Smart Housing fact sheets and other useful information. For a copy of the Sustainable Home Rebate Toolkit or checklist, phone the Brisbane City Council Call Centre on 3403 8888 or visit the  Brisbane City Council website.

Sustainable Pty Ltd build homes that reach all the desired criteria.

Research House Annual Water Use Study Report
Australians can save 100,000L of water a year, slashing water bills by up to $55, by making their homes ‘smarter’ according to the Research House Annual Water Use Study Report.

The Department of Housing, in partnership with the Department of Public Works, has produced the Research House Annual Water Use Study Report to demonstrate the water savings that were achieved through water efficient technologies and designs in the Research House.

The Research House is an inhabited four-bedroom family home in Rockhampton, which is being used to test and validate new sustainable technologies, building practices and products.

This report documents the water savings achieved in the house from December 2002 to November 2003 through the use of water efficient designs, fittings and appliances.

For more information see http://www.housing.qld.gov.au/initiatives/smarthousing/news/index.htm

Sustainable Audit for your House ad Garden.
We are currently conducting audits for our clients to identify where you can make simple changes that lower your water and energy consumption. Learn how to increase the natural ventilation and light in your home and optimise your garden for drought conditions. Phone Sustainable now on 07 38707488 or email us. Free for the first 2 readers.