Home Design Guides: Sustainability, Hot water, Energy and water management
Which hot water systems are most efficient?
The wrong hot water system can easily account for the lion's share of your electricity consumption. In fact, electric tank systems are being phased out. Find out how different systems compare in terms of efficiency.
Cold water diverters
In most plumbing setups, it takes a while for hot water to reach the hot tap when it's turned on. Cold water diverters recycle the cold water which would otherwise pour down the drain in this time.
Energy efficiency ratings for hot water
Hot water systems can chew through a lot of energy - and as a result these days they come with energy efficiency ratings to help you understand how best to choose the most efficient model.
Phase-out of electric tank hot water systems
Electric tank storage hot water systems are notorious for the amount of greenhouse emissions they're responsible for. As a result, they're now being phased out throughout Australia.
Lagging and heat loss
See how lagging (insulation) and the distance that hot water has to travel through your pipes can affect energy efficiency in your hot water system.