The most wanted sustainable property features

A new survey has uncovered which sustainable features people want most in their homes. 

The REA 2021 Residential Consumer Omnibus has found 74% of people thought a good energy efficiency rating was important or very important when buying, building or renting.

But which features were deemed most desirable?

Nearly 2000 consumers were surveyed on realestate.com.au between March and April, sharing which sustainability features they were most interested in having in their homes.

1. Solar power

Solar panels are the number one preference for a home sustainability feature, with 81% of survey respondents saying this was their main sustainable property feature of interest.

The Residential Consumer Omnibus recorded that the main reason they were interested in energy efficiency at home was to reduce bills. According to Origin, solar is estimated to reduce around $1000 to $2000 off bills annually, depending on your location, the size of your system and whether you have a battery. It can, in cases, reduce bills to nil.

Australia is already in the midst of a solar boom, with COVID-19 appearing to accelerate uptake of solar in 2020. In its 2020 Sustainability Report, Origin recorded a 34% year-on-year increase in residential rooftop solar installations from 2019.

And it appears this trend isn’t going anywhere.

2. Efficient lighting

71% of survey respondents listed efficient lighting as a high-interest sustainability feature.

Lighting reportedly accounts for 10% of our household energy bills. According to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the impact of lighting has been reduced in recent years thanks to a broad uptake of LED (light-emitting diodes) lighting.

LEDs cost less and last longer than traditional halogen lights, using 75% less energy and lasting five to 10 times longer.

3. Good insulation

Good insulation is tantamount to energy efficiency. It helps lower energy bills in both summer and winter.

Air leakage accounts for 15−25% of winter heat loss in buildings and can contribute to a significant loss of coolness where air conditioners are used. 

However, with good insulation, it can make the temperature of your home more comfortable by two degrees Celsius.

4. Good airflow

Airflow ranked surprisingly high however, adequate cross ventilation is becoming increasingly important in new builds across Australia.

Cross ventilation involves having opposing windows, say at two ends of a house or room, enabling a cool breeze to enter one and push hot air out the other. The goal is to reduce reliance on electronic cooling systems (like power-sucking air con) and cool down your home naturally in warmer months.

5. Energy efficient appliances

Before purchasing appliances – from fridges, to air con units and washing machines – always check the star rating sticker.

The star rating system reveals how energy efficient an appliance is and can even give you a rough estimate on how much it will cost to run.

Just divide the estimated kilowatt usage by four to get a cost estimate. For example, if the Energy Rating Label says a washing machine uses 400kWh, it will cost roughly $100 per year to run based on average electricity costs.

6. Orientation

In Australia, a north-facing home is commonly prized to make the most of the sun’s natural heat and light. A northern orientation allows you to adequately shade the home in summer and open it up to sunlight and heat penetration in winter. Voila – passive heating!

Furthermore, optimising the orientation of your roof will maximise the effectiveness of your rooftop solar panels.

7. Rain water tanks

Orientation to the sun and a rain water tank were of equally ranked interest, with 65% of survey respondents showing interest in these features.

Rain water tanks reduce your dependence on public water systems and can be used as a substitute for clothes washing, garden watering, toilet flushing and even showering.

Just try to keep your system clean from dirt and debris that can contaminate the water.

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