NEW QUEENSLAND HOMES TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Premier Peter Beattie and Planning Minister Desley Boyle today visited an environmentally friendly home at SpringfieldLakes to launch the State Government's new sustainable living legislation.
"From this Wednesday it's the start of a new era in Queensland - saving water, saving energy, and cutting greenhouse gases," Mr Beattie said.
Taking effect this Wednesday 1 March, new laws will:
·Make it mandatory for all new houses in Queensland to be fitted with greenhouse efficient hot water systems, AAA-rated shower roses, dual flush toilets, water pressure limiting devices and energy efficient lighting;
·Make the use of greywater legal throughout Queensland, unless a council decides to "opt out"; and
·Give councils the power to make it mandatory for new houses to be fitted with rainwater tanks.
The Premier said the new laws will mean that every house built in Queensland will use 33% less electricity and up to 20% less water than a home with the old water fittings.
He said the water savings could jump to 51% if a rainwater tank is used.
"The new sustainable housing laws will mean that Queensland's new housing market will be one of the most environmentally friendly in Australia," Mr Beattie said.
"One of the reasons Queensland is the most popular place to live in Australia is because of our natural environment.
"However, with popularity comes pressure - pressure on water resources and increases in greenhouse gas emissions.
"The average household uses 300,000 litres of water a year; and the average household is responsible for about eight tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
"The new laws will slash these figures for newly constructed homes.
"New homes will save 15,000 litres a year with a AAA shower rose; 8,600 litres with a water-pressure limiting device; and 35,000 litres with a dual-flush toilet - a saving of 58,600 litres a year in every house compared to a house with non-efficient water fittings.
"This saving jumps to over 100,000 litres per year in houses with rainwater tanks."
Ms Boyle said many Queenslanders were already realising the financial and environmental benefits of sustainable living and encouraged more people to look for water and energy savings around the home.
"This is not only about new houses; today we're also telling people, that there are simple ways to save water and energy in your home. Anyone can do it," she said.
"From a $2 water saving disk for your taps to a $1000 rainwater tank, there's a huge variety of ways people can save water and energy in the home.
"It's estimated that after 12 years our mandatory measures for new homes will reduce energy consumption in Queensland by the equivalent of a small coal-fired power station such as the Collinsville power station (180 MW)."
Ms Boyle also made specific mention of the new greywater laws, which now allow water from the bath/shower, basin and washing machine to be legally used on the garden.
However, councils can "opt out" of greywater if it is not suited to a particular region or their resources could be better spent in other ways.
"Almost half of the water used in the average Queensland home is used outside on the garden and lawn. Many people already save water by reusing their washing machine water on their gardens, so this is a common sense change to the laws.
"From Wednesday people will be able to legally bucket greywater on their gardens regardless of whether their Council allows greywater systems.
"However, if people want to install a greywater irrigation system it will depend firstly on if their council adopts greywater, and secondly if their area is suitable."
Ms Boyle said eager homeowners and green-thumbs could visit the Department's sustainable living website at www.lgp.qld.gov.au/sustainableliving for further information.
Media contact: Office of the Premier 3224 4500
Office of the Minister for the Environment 3227 8825
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