Yourhome

Your Home is a collaborative project of Australian governments and the building, architecture and design industries. The 1st edition was developed in 2001 for the Australian Government by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney. Subsequent editions have been updated by ISF, other organisations and individual experts on behalf of the Australian Government. The website and 5th edition of the book is now managed on behalf of the Australian Government by the Department of the Environment and Energy. The website is based on the Your Home 5th edition (2017) with ongoing updates to links and content. Your Home is your guide to building, buying or renovating a home. It shows how to create a comfortable home with low impact on the environment — economical to run, healthier to live in and adaptable to your changing needs. Your home is important in so many ways. It’s a place to unwind, relax and spend quality time with family and friends. It’s also likely to be the biggest investment you make. Your decisions about your home have consequences for your future living costs and quality of life. Collectively, such decisions contribute to the bigger picture and can help to create more vibrant, connected and sustainable towns and cities. In such rapidly changing times, smart investment decisions demand smart thinking about new issues. When you’re planning your renovation or building project it’s easy to focus on the short term, but features that enhance resale value, improve comfort and reduce bills are worth paying for. Your Home is a comprehensive guide to the design principles and features that add value to your home and reduce its environmental impact. Many of them come at no additional cost. They just require the right ‘know how’ at the right stage of your renovation or building project. Others may add cost but also add lasting value and help to ‘future-proof’ your home against rising energy and water costs. Each section in Your Home covers a particular sustainability theme, such as passive design or energy. A sustainable home needs to address all of these themes in tandem. The principles and ideas in each section can be applied to any home. The articles in each section contain advice on practical solutions you can adapt to your budget, climate and lifestyle. As sustainable housing technologies and approaches are evolving all the time, Your Home is periodically updated to keep the information current.

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