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An independant guide to improving your home

Green Building Council Australia Resources

The ACF's Green Buildings in Australia: Success Stories

Brisbane City Council's Virtual Green Home

Make Your Home Green

How to remodel for a green home

Did you know that a huge amount of Australian greenhouse emissions come from our homes?

Fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, oil) are used to generate approximately 92% of electricity in Australia.

Most electricity (78%) in Australia is generated by coal (both black and brown), and burning coal is the most emissions-intensive form of electricity.

Some electricity is available from renewable sources (8%) such as wind-generated and hydro-electricity plants.

Typical Aussie homes generate 14 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year.

The big sources of pollution are driving, water heating, home heating and cooling, and electronics and other appliances.

Don't forget the basics

Green Power is an excellent way to ensure that renewal energy supply powers green homes, and Aussies have access to a fantastic community website that rates the Green Power marketplace and makes it easy to shop around.

You can make the switch after reviewing independent ratings provided by the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF, and the Total Environment Centre, and after you've made your choice, you can easily switch to a green energy provider by using Choice Switch.

Simple, easy and affordable options such as replacing regular light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent ones (CFLs) and updating homes with proper wall and ceiling insulation can increase efficiency and effectiveness of lighting, heating and cooling systems.

Applying radiant barriers to upper levels of the home can deflect up to 97% of the sun's rays and significantly reduce monthly energy bills while increasing air quality.

Such small-scale improvements can collectively take larger steps toward reducing the total energy usage of homes and buildings, now one third of total U.S. energy consumption.