What is Green Smart?
HIA Green Smart is an initiative and brand name set
up by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) in 1999.
It aims to provide information to building industry
workers so they can improve their skills and knowledge
to create sustainable homes. Ernest Raso is an accredited
HIA GreenSmart Building Designer who has had specialized
training in many areas of smarter designing particularly
the following areas.
The time has come to rethink the way we design and
build. Buildings need to be not only sustainable but
more natural and related to the environments we live
in. Environmental sustainability, water and energy
efficiency are areas which previously were not given
any major thought with regards to the building process.
Given the tropical environment of Far North Queensland
we need to use experience, new technology and new
materials to design homes and buildings that work
with our local climate.
Passive Design
Passively designed homes significantly reduce the need
for mechanical heating or cooling. EDR
Building Designs can help explain how to design
for specific climates, how to orientate a home, making
the most of cross ventilation to achieve passive cooling
and how to achieve passive solar heating.
Water efficiency
In drought prone areas especially, the need to reduce
water use is critical. Water restrictions in many States
have raised consumer awareness of the importance of
recycling and reducing water. EDR
Building Designs can help you to design and advise
you on practical ways of reducing, reusing and recycling
water in your new building.
Material choice
The materials that are used to build homes can have
significant environmental and health effects. EDR
Building Designs can help you make informed decisions
about materials and construction systems that can reduce
the environmental impact of a building without adding
to the cost.
Energy efficiency
More than ever before homeowners are demanding homes
that reduce energy bills without affecting their level
of comfort. EDR Building Designs
can help on reducing demand, hot water services and
renewable energy.
Site management
To varying degrees Local Councils across have introduced
regulations aimed at controlling storm water and waste
management during the construction process. EDR
Building Designs can help provide practical guides
to help you comply with these regulations.
