Sustainable Living: The Art of Living Well for Less

When we talk about sustainable living, especially in the context of Melbourne's dynamic lifestyle, it's crucial to dispel some common misconceptions. Sustainable living can be misunderstood as necessitates a drastic, uncomfortable lifestyle change.

However, it's a misconception. While drastic reducing lifestyle might reduce your environmental footprint, they miss the essence of what true sustainable living is about – balance and practicality. In Melbourne, where lifestyle and environmental consciousness go hand in hand, sustainable living is about finding harmony between our needs, comfort, and the health of our planet. It's about making smarter choices, not about sacrificing the quality of life.

What's Sustainability in Everyday Life?

Sustainability is about tangible benefits like cost savings and reduced utility bills. It involves maximizing the use of available resources through innovative ideas, creativity, and technology.

A classic example of sustainability in action is the automotive efficiency improvement seen after the 1970s oil crisis. This crisis led to a global reevaluation of fuel consumption, prompting significant advancements in automotive technology.

Cars became more fuel-efficient, consuming less fuel for the same distance traveled. This advancement not only saved resources but also significantly improved air quality. Imagine the difference in air quality around your home if every car uses only half the patrol today.

Sustainability in Your Melbourne Home

Sustainability at home is about thoughtful planning, optimizing resource use, adapting habits, and maintaining comfort. When executed correctly, this can lead to significant, long-lasting eco-friendly improvements. These changes not only contribute to environmental conservation but also offer substantial savings on utility bills over time.

The cornerstone of home sustainability is strategic planning.

Optimizing the use of your home's spaces based on their importance and functionality. Maximize natural daylight to create and maintain warm, comfortable to most commonly used spaces such as the living room.

Less frequently used areas of the home can serve secondary functions, such as storage or as a retreat for teenagers who might be less sensitive to slight temperature variations.

To achieve the above goal, follow these three steps to achieving a home that is both comfortable and cost-efficient to run.

Step 1: Identifying Comfortable Spaces

Start by identifying the most comfortable areas in your home. Typically, these are the north-facing rooms that benefit from ample natural light, making them ideal for everyday activities. The orientation and natural lighting of these spaces play a crucial role in their energy efficiency and overall comfort.

If you have specific hobbies or activities that require unique environmental conditions, consider how different spaces can cater to these needs. For instance, photography enthusiasts might prefer a south-facing room where natural light can be easily controlled or blocked out, creating an ideal space for their craft.

B: Cataloguing Key Activities

Next, list the key activities performed by each household member. Focus on activities that involve continuous engagement for more than 15 minutes. Aim to identify four to five primary activities per person. This step is crucial in understanding how your household utilizes different spaces and will guide you in optimizing these areas for both comfort and sustainability.

By completing this step, you'll gain valuable insights into how your home's layout and available spaces can be best utilized to support sustainable living practices.

Step 2: Strategic Planning and Activity Reassigning

The second step in fostering a sustainable home environment in Melbourne involves thoughtful planning and the reassignment of activities to optimize the use of comfortable spaces.

Optimizing Comfortable Spaces

The objective here is to maximize the utilization of the identified comfortable spaces in your home, typically the north-facing side that receives sunlight. This makes the most of the natural warmth and light they offer.

These areas should become the primary zones for activities carried out by family members. Concentrate daily life in these energy-efficient, pleasant spaces, thereby reducing the need for additional heating, cooling, or lighting.

Efficient Space Design

When reassigning activities, strive to integrate as many activities as possible into these optimized spaces. Create a multi-functional environment that can cater to various needs without compromising on comfort or sustainability.

For example, a north-facing living room might serve as a space for relaxation, a study area, and a place for indoor hobbies.

Consider the nature of different activities and their compatibility when they occur simultaneously in the same space. For example, avoid scheduling activities that require high levels of concentration in the same area and at the same time with entertainment such as watching a movie or playing games.

Step 3: Implementing Focused Upgrades

The final step is to enhance the areas that have been designed for high utilization with artificial systems, such as air conditioning, to supplement the natural environment. Make targeted upgrades to enhance comfort.

Targeted Comfort Enhancements

In addition to heating and cooling, consider other upgrades that can improve the sustainability and perhaps liveability. This might include better insulation, energy-efficient lighting, or automation and smart home systems that automate with precise control of the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are some of the cheaper upgrades?

Here’s a list of upgrades are particularly effective for homes in Melbourne, where both the climate and urban lifestyle influence our living spaces.

Double glaze windows:

Enhance the thermal performance of your rooms with double glaze windows. This upgrade keeps your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and minimise condensations on the windows that can encourage mold growth over time.

Double-Layered Curtains:

Performs much better for thermal insulation and block out daylight when necessary. This feature is especially useful in bedrooms or media rooms.

Draught Stoppers for Doors:

A simple, cost-effective solution to prevent the loss of heated or cooled air from your rooms through the gab underneath the door.

Trolleys and Storage Solutions:

In shared spaces, organization is key. Utilize trolleys and storage boxes to keep communal areas tidy and functional. These solutions are particularly useful for quickly clearing or rearranging spaces as needed.

Space Dividers:

Use curtains or shoji panels to divide larger rooms into smaller, more intimate areas. This approach allows for flexible use of space without permanent structural changes.

Ventilation Upgrades for Hot Climates:

In warmer regions, consider installing high windows or use fans to facilitate cross ventilation, enhancing natural cooling and air circulation.

Sustainable Appliances:

Replace older, frequently used appliances with models that have a high energy efficiency rating, like refrigerators with a high star rating. This change can lead to significant energy savings over time.

High-Efficiency Air Conditioning Systems:

In spaces that are heavily utilized, installing an air conditioning system with a high sustainability rating can provide both comfort and energy efficiency.

2. Can I make my older house more sustainable?

Absolutely. A common misconception is that sustainability requires a new home, or expensive home equipped with the latest innovations. However, this is not the case, especially in the context of Melbourne's diverse housing stock, which includes many older homes.

Sustainability is about making the best use of what you already have. In fact, transforming an older home into a more sustainable living space can be both effective and rewarding.

Building a new home from scratch, solely for the sake of sustainability, involves significant consumption of resources and energy during the construction process. This negate the environmental benefits you're trying to achieve.

Instead, focusing on improving an existing home. Follow the three steps in this article, and upgrades only what are well utilized will make a substantial difference. These changes not only reduce your environmental footprint but also preserve the character and history of older homes, which is a valuable aspect of Melbourne's architectural heritage.

3. How can I reduce water usage in my home in a sustainable way?

Installing water-efficient fixtures like low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets. Collecting rainwater for garden use and installing a greywater system for reusing water from showers and laundry can significantly cut down on water usage. Additionally, simple habits like turning off the tap while brushing teeth and fixing leaks promptly can make a big difference.

4. Are solar panels a viable option for my home?

Solar panels are a highly viable option in Melbourne, thanks to Australia's abundant sunshine. They can significantly reduce your electricity bills and carbon footprint. The viability depends on factors like roof space, north orientation, and minimal existing shading by trees or neighbours next door. With advancements in solar technology and battery storage, solar systems are becoming increasingly efficient and cost-effective.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for general purposes only, with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. Engage a suitable consultant for your specific situation.