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"... These insta-neighborhoods were not designed or built for flexibility or change ..." I remember being critically aware of this when looking for a house and

"... These insta-neighborhoods were not designed or built for flexibility or change ..." I remember being critically aware of this when looking for a house and choosing an area that was around 100yrs old. Doing this has a number of advantages, pre-built infrastructure, transport, a variety of different shops (remember main streets in towns?). So the idea was to find a place that had already spent the dollars in the past. In these types of environments you don't get mono-culture inhabitants. There is also a diversity in the ages of the inhabitants which counter-acts the decline that naturally occurs as population ages. "... And after decades of renovation-obsession that has simply gotten out of hand, it seems a prudent time to swap Viking ranges for double-paned windows and high-efficiency furnaces. It’s the perfect moment to fix what we’ve got. Despite their currently low numbers, green homes typically re-sell for more money than their conventional counterparts. ..." I don't see this happening yet. The costs involved are high and the expertise in re-building houses so they a) capture the water from the roofline, b) capture the suns heat for hot water and power and c) keep the heat out in summer and keep the heat in winter is simply not there, yet (Melb, Au is dry and hot in summer, wet & cold in winter). I think the biggest hack would be if new house designs could somehow be cheaply be modified before construction to achieve efficiency. Especially water.

astrec 18y ago
I think it is starting to happen. In Victoria all new homes now have to comply with the 5 star energy rating: 5 Star energy rating for building fabric and water saving measures including water saving tapware, flow reducing showerheads and water pressure reduction to 500kPa at outlets within the home, plus Either a rainwater tank for toilet flushing or an approved solar hot water service And from 1 May 2008, the standard has covered renovations (dropping the requirement for solar HWS or rain water tanks).
jwilliams 18y ago
The costs involved are high and the expertise in re-building houses Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? Afaik you still get a federal rebate for installing a solar system. In VIC you get rebates for installing tanks, showerheads, etc in existing buildings. But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees. A veranda makes a big difference, and a couple of properly placed trees can make a big difference to the amount of (summer) solar radiation hitting a house.
- bootload 18y ago
  "... Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? ..." If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. To get the desired outcome, you have to think decentralised rather than the centralised reliance we have now. Adding tanks & restricted showers is a 1950's solution to a much bigger problem. Btw where I grew up ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869... a large portion of my school mates lived on tank-water and generators for backup ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 So water tanks are nothing new. What I'm suggesting is a more radical thinking of dwellings, having the capacity to capture and store drinking water. Installations of solar heating and electricity. Power that feeds back to the grid during the day & pulled off during the night. There is no effort like this being undertaken in Melbourne save a few enviro-houses. This kind of redesign cannot happen without the combined work of architects, local planners and local government. It's not an easy task because "... But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees ..." That is a problem. I think there is a definite disadvantage living where you cannot add trees or verandas. The other is water. My current geo location gets on average 20% more than the rest of Melbourne.
  - jwilliams 18y ago
    If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. Yup agreed - tanks and solar hot water are still a good idea, although I'll agree they are only a step towards. It's not an easy task because Not sure what you were going to say there :) .. What's the best mechanism for this? Is water and energy just too cheap? Bump up the cost of both (with a safety net) and put it into subsidies?

astrec 18y ago

I think it is starting to happen. In Victoria all new homes now have to comply with the 5 star energy rating: 5 Star energy rating for building fabric and water saving measures including water saving tapware, flow reducing showerheads and water pressure reduction to 500kPa at outlets within the home, plus Either a rainwater tank for toilet flushing or an approved solar hot water service And from 1 May 2008, the standard has covered renovations (dropping the requirement for solar HWS or rain water tanks).

jwilliams 18y ago

The costs involved are high and the expertise in re-building houses Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? Afaik you still get a federal rebate for installing a solar system. In VIC you get rebates for installing tanks, showerheads, etc in existing buildings. But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees. A veranda makes a big difference, and a couple of properly placed trees can make a big difference to the amount of (summer) solar radiation hitting a house.

bootload 18y ago
"... Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? ..." If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. To get the desired outcome, you have to think decentralised rather than the centralised reliance we have now. Adding tanks & restricted showers is a 1950's solution to a much bigger problem. Btw where I grew up ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869... a large portion of my school mates lived on tank-water and generators for backup ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 So water tanks are nothing new. What I'm suggesting is a more radical thinking of dwellings, having the capacity to capture and store drinking water. Installations of solar heating and electricity. Power that feeds back to the grid during the day & pulled off during the night. There is no effort like this being undertaken in Melbourne save a few enviro-houses. This kind of redesign cannot happen without the combined work of architects, local planners and local government. It's not an easy task because "... But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees ..." That is a problem. I think there is a definite disadvantage living where you cannot add trees or verandas. The other is water. My current geo location gets on average 20% more than the rest of Melbourne.
- jwilliams 18y ago
  If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. Yup agreed - tanks and solar hot water are still a good idea, although I'll agree they are only a step towards. It's not an easy task because Not sure what you were going to say there :) .. What's the best mechanism for this? Is water and energy just too cheap? Bump up the cost of both (with a safety net) and put it into subsidies?