Live within a sensible transport network, preferably walking
distance to public transport, work, schools and services.
Domestic consumption of energy, resources and water is tiny
compared to transport, industry and agriculture. So a large
part of how we live and build our homes needs to be focused
on local sustainable systems, materials and labour wherever
possible. Everything is not always as it seems. For example
if you build, for a “sustainable image”, a new
house in the bushy hinterland with huge timbers and a wood
fire and commute 50 kilometres to work in a car every day
you will have a much bigger environmental footprint than someone
who lives modestly in a existing small inner urban flat and
catches public transport everywhere. Living simply is good,
but technology is also good, enabling telecommuting and more
resource efficient systems and products.
Llewellyn Pritchard, Director
of Conscious Homes is an ESD consultant, registered Architect,
a registered Builder (Domestic Unlimited and Commercial Unlimited),
an HIA Greensmart Builder and writer. Conscious Homes won the 2006
National
HIA Greensmart Resource Efficiency Housing Award.
