Lane Cove Council and Archicentre Announce FREE Green Advice Service for Home Owners
Summary
8/10/2009
Archicentre News Release
Media Release
8
October 2009
Lane Cove Council and
Archicentre Announce FREE Green Advice Service for Home Owners
Lane Cove
Council has combined with Archicentre to offer residents a Sustainable Building
Advisory Service (SBAS).
Angus Kell ACT &
NSW State Manager of Archicentre and the Mayor of Lane Cove Council, Cr.
Win Gaffney with the SBAS agreement.
The Mayor of Lane
Cove Council, Cr. Win Gaffney said the free and voluntary service
provides residents with sustainable building advice from qualified architects
and could become a major part of local government involvement in climate
change across Australia.
"The SBAS will assist sustainable conscious residents with implementation
choices for best practice building design beyond the thermal comfort,
water and energy efficiencies promoted by the New South Wales Government's
mandatory BASIX.
"Through this service the Council is focussed on helping out residents
with quality environmental advice which will save them money as well as
make a contribution to the climate change challenge we all face as a community."
Mayor Gaffney said that financial benefits resulting from reduced running
costs can be dramatic. The Green Building Council of Australia indicates
a reduction of 60% water and energy consumption can result from a sustainably
designed house over standard dwellings.
This saving equates to over three tonnes of greenhouse gases and more
than 100,000 litres of water a year. If financial savings are reinvested
into mortgage repayments, around $10,000 can be saved on an average 25
year home loan.
This saving
equates to over three tonnes of greenhouse gases and more than 100,000 litres
of water a year. If financial savings are reinvested into mortgage repayments,
around $10,000 can be saved on an average 25 year home loan.
Angus Kell,
ACT & NSW State Manager of Archicentre said the innovative approach by Lane
Cove Council to introduce the SBAS scheme comes at a time when home owners are
keen to access GREEN information which applies to their individual homes.
Mr Kell said environmental
sustainable homes can deliver owners many advantages including:
Improve natural
light
Reduce greenhouse
gas emissions
Reduce water consumption
Have improved functionality
Reduce waste during
construction and occupancy
Incorporate sustainable
materials
Improve resale value
Improve marketability
Improve occupant
health
Be designed for
present and future needs of residents
How does
the SBAS work?
Eligible residents will receive services of a qualified architect with experience
in sustainable home advice for approximately 1-2 hours. The SBAS consultation
will occur at the proposed development site. The architect will determine what
sustainable initiatives can be incorporated in the new dwelling, alterations
or additions.
On completion
of the consultation, residents will be given a preliminary report within 2-3
working days. A more comprehensive report will be finalised and issues within
2-3 weeks. This report can be used by residents to undertake further research
and assist them frame questions or suggestions for their contractors (e.g. builders,
architects, suppliers etc).
Media Enquiries:
Timothy Sill, Lane Cove Council Sustainability Coordinator (02) 9911 3555
Angus Kell, ACT & NSW State Manager Archicentre (02) 9411 1000 Mobile: 0412
565 023
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre Mobile: 0417 329 201
