Home Design Guides: Sustainability, Regulations

The difference between an efficient light globe and an inefficient one is amazing. To prevent unnecessary waste, inefficient incandescent GLS globes are being phased out in Australia.

Regulations exist in Australia to determine how much electricity you're allowed to use for lighting in your home, based on floor areas. Find out what's allowed and how to make the most of it.

Air conditioners come with labels these days that indicate how efficiently they're able to cool (and to heat, if they're reverse-cycle models). Find out more about these labels and what to look for.

Water-producing bathroom fittings in Australia need to comply with basic water-efficiency standards. As a part of the WELS scheme, they are rated and given a label that shows how efficient they are.

Just because water from the tap has been used, it doesn't mean it can't be used again. See how grey water systems can help reduce your water waste.

How do solar rebates work - and how much are you entitled to? Who needs to install your solar panels, and what sorts of qualifications or accreditations do they need?

There are certain regulations and some paperwork you'll need to know about if you're planning on installing wind - especially if you're hoping to feed energy back into the grid or claim government rebates in the form of STCs.

The Australian federal government provides rebates for people who install renewable energy systems for their homes. Find out how these work, and what you're likely to be entitled to.

In Australia, there are certain laws and regulations that exist to ensure that only accredited tradespeople do certain parts of an installation. Find out who needs to install your solar system, and why.

There's a bit of bureaucracy and paperwork involved when it comes to feeding wind power back into the grid. Learn which parties are involved, what role they play and what's required on your end.