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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationSustainability solutions
Sustainability solutions
Sustainability in residential building is heating up. New NCC energy efficiency targets are already here, with Australia rapidly moving towards a net zero future. How are you progressing the housing market today for a brighter tomorrow?
Anne-Maree Brown
General Manager of Content
Rinnai: Pioneering a greener future
From gas origins to electric efficiencies and a hydrogen-fuelled future, Rinnai is a household name that’s moving with the times. It offers energy-saving products to power sustainable living.
For more than 100 years, Rinnai has been recognised as one of the world’s finest gas appliance manufacturers. The company’s safe and reliable temperature controlled hot water systems took Australia by storm in the 1990s. Today, as the brand looks to the future, it continues to build on its trusted legacy with innovations that embrace technology and sustainability.
While builders and trades would be familiar with Rinnai’s efficient gas hot water and heating products, it may surprise some to learn that its range has expanded to consist of more electric than gas products.
Rinnai’s focus on providing sustainable hot water solutions for the electrified home has seen it introduce the energy-efficient Enviroflo electric heat pumps, Hotflo electric storage tanks and electric-boosted solar system ranges.
Available in various sizes from a 180L to a 315L, the Enviroflo hot water heat pump range can use up to 70 per cent less energy than traditional storage systems and features a wi-fi timer function. This is especially advantageous for homeowners with photovoltaic panels that wish to run their hot water systems during the day.
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‘Rinnai’s growing renewable energy product portfolio continues advancements in exciting new technologies’
Total home comfort
Rinnai’s commitment to providing products that deliver ‘total home comfort’ and that meet the changing market dynamics has seen an expansion of its Climate product portfolio. In addition to Rinnai’s gas heating products, its Climate range includes split systems, multi-split systems, ducted air conditioners, electric log fireplaces and electric outdoor radiant heaters.
In terms of efficiency, Rinnai’s T-Series split system air conditioner range can achieve up to a 9 star energy efficiency, whereas Rinnai’s ducted air conditioners paired with a Rinnai Home controller can enable users to set individual room temperatures with up to eight zones for comfort and efficiency.
Recently Rinnai announced the acquisition of Perth-based iZone – Smart Home Climate controls. This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Rinnai’s commitment to providing energy efficient HVAC solutions.
iZone’s wide range of innovative products enables homeowners to enjoy greater control over their ducted air conditioning systems for maximum efficiency and comfort. It has the added benefit of home automation to control lights, irrigation, security, garage doors, power monitoring and more.
Eco-innovation
Rinnai’s growing renewable energy product portfolio continues advancements in exciting new technologies, utilising geothermal energy and hydrogen. Designed and manufactured on our shores, Rinnai’s Geoflo Hybrid 22 geothermal and inverter hybrid system harnesses renewable underground energy to deliver efficient heating and cooling year-round.
The system also diverts surplus energy to the pre-heating of hot water to the home, appealing to the sustainability minded who are looking for quiet, environmentally responsible climate control with a higher coefficient of performance.
The company also announced that it had developed a water heater that runs on 100 per cent emission-free hydrogen. This product, together with a gas heating system, is currently installed in a Dennis Family display home in Victoria to showcase its potential to the future market. Rinnai Australia Managing Director Lucas van Raay sees these advancements as a significant milestone in Australia’s shift towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
‘With hydrogen, Australian consumers can continue to enjoy the convenience, efficiency and reliability of Rinnai gas heating and hot water, as they have for more than 50 years, whilst reducing their carbon footprint,’ says Lucas van Raay. ‘We are very excited to be working with Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) on the hydrogen transition.’
As the Australian building industry evolves towards more energy-efficient homes, builders, trades and homeowners can rely on companies such as Rinnai for innovative energy-saving home appliances that embrace a more sustainable way of living.
Alder: Delivering lead-free tapware
Alder is delivering important public health benefits to its builders, its customers and the community in 2024, with the release of lead-free tapware. With a focus on wellness and living better for a more sustainable life, Alder has focused on delivering lead free products first across their volume products.
NCC 2022 has introduced a new limit for the allowable level of lead in plumbing products used for drinking water. From 1 May 2026, plumbing products containing more than a weighted average of 0.25 per cent lead will no longer be able to be installed in a plumbing system used to convey drinking water.
To best support builders and plumbers with this change, Alder has delivered lead-free across its Alder Tapware Builders range, which is the core of builder specifications. This ensures that builders and plumbers have access to lead-free products now at the value proposition end of the market.
‘Our ethos is always to deliver sustainable solutions that offer value for money for builders and plumbers,’ says Sarah Fairweather, General Manager at Alder. ‘We don’t think it’s right that you have to pay more today for lead-free. We have delivered the first lead-free offer at the value proposition end of the market.’
All of Alder’s current tapware range has used on average less than half the allowable lead under the Australian Standards. The company has always worked hard to minimise the use of lead.
‘An important part of BlueScope’s sustainability program is focusing on cool roofing’
Bluescope: Keeping cool
In recent years, the importance of incorporating sustainable practices and responsible products in residential building has grown exponentially. BlueScope’s commitment to transparency, stewardship and innovation sets them apart as a leader in the steel industry.
An important part of BlueScope’s sustainability program is focusing on cool roofing. A cool roof, in its simplest form, is a roof designed to have high solar reflectance and thermal emittance to help the roof surface stay cooler in the sun.
Cool roofing* can offer sustainability benefits. It can reduce cooling energy loads in homes and help mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect, potentially reducing energy demand.
This can lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions from power generation. It can also improve thermal comfort, which has a positive impact on homeowners’ wellbeing.
Over the decades, the core COLORBOND® steel palette has evolved to offer a larger choice of lighter colours. This includes the recent addition of two new cool roofing colours to the core COLORBOND® steel palette, Dover White™ and Southerly®.
The Deemed to Satisfy provisions for NCC 2022, following the Elemental and NatHERS compliance pathways, utilise both roof and wall solar absorptance values as energy-efficiency design parameters. Using readily available COLORBOND® steel colours with a low solar absorptance can help builders meet the new NCC energy efficiency requirements.
* The performance of a cool roof, including potential energy savings and thermal comfort improvements, depends on a wide range of factors including building type, design, location, and other considerations such as insulation, the way the building is used and the type and efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
ATI: Clever cavity batten
Australian Thermal Industries (ATI) was established to offer builders, fabricators and renovators a better cavity batten and thermal break solution for residential and light commercial projects – at a more affordable price and faster speed of construction.
The innovative Australian company pioneered the use of ‘future materials’, allowing its Cavi-Break™ Strip to be cut to size using hand tools with no hazardous dust. Meanwhile, the 45mm (width) x 20mm (depth) x 1200mm (height) strips work perfectly for external walls.
The team at ATI also wanted to protect the environment, so they established a zero-waste manufacturing process.
ATI incorporates up to 15 per cent recycled material when making the Cavi-Break Strip, and the packaging is 100 per cent recyclable.
Cavi-Break Strips are suitable for use with all modern cladding materials, including hardwood, fibre cement, fibreboard, aluminium, stone, metal and vinyl, supported by well-known manufacturers and distributors worldwide.
The Cavi-Break Strip has a class-leading R-Value of 0.58m2 K/W, almost three times the NCC standard, and features a unique waterproof construction resistant to mould, rot, mildew and termites.
ATI is so confident in the Cavi-Break Strip’s durability as a multipurpose solution that the company offers a 10-year warranty for approved construction use.
‘This double-glazed range has fewer components and less aluminium’
Vantage: Maximising energy efficiency
Achieving a 7-star energy rating on new projects will lead to higher specified materials and the upfront cost that comes with it. So, how can this be managed effectively?
Glazing and windows play a unique part in the building process. Their position and size relative to the overall facade, placement, and orientation can be leveraged against the natural attributes of the build site to reduce energy consumption for the life of the home. This maximises thermal comfort, making the home more comfortable.
ComfortEDGE™ by Vantage embedded frame technology delivers outstanding energy efficiency.
It uses the timber reveal as a natural insulating barrier between the interior and exterior building envelope for heavily reduced heat and cold thermal transmission.Architectural homes now have a design alternative that doesn’t compromise energy efficiency.
Boasting a minimalist, slim-line look, this double-glazed range has fewer components and less aluminium than a thermally broken system. ComfortEDGE™ delivers superior thermal performance and occupant comfort at a more accessible price.
Specify once and get it right. Involve your energy assessor early in the process and consider all the site’s natural attributes to maximise your efficiency while keeping control of the budget.
Six Star Plus: Solar and hot water solutions
Harnessing 15 years of solar industry expertise, Six Star Plus is a leader in sustainable energy solutions in Victoria, with a dedicated service to support builders and trades.
The company’s commitment to a greener future has fuelled its partnership with industry leaders to provide cutting-edge smart technologies for homeowners. These solutions generate clean electricity to power homes efficiently and responsibly.
Six Star Plus offers simple residential solar and hot water solutions from trusted brands, enabling homeowners to embrace clean energy through hassle-free installations.
Backed by years of expertise, the company provides reliable systems that facilitate self-consumption, ensuring a future-proof home that thrives on renewable power.
Generous warranty periods and local maintenance teams guarantee peace of mind.
Six Star Plus’ heat pump solutions provide a consistent source of hot water regardless of the Australian weather. Its range of energy-efficient heat pumps tap into natural resources to heat your home’s water. Embrace eco-friendly, energy-efficient living with its solar and heat pump solutions. Plus, all these systems qualify for government rebates and STCs, making sustainability accessible to all.
Six Star Plus will help you embark on a sustainable journey that benefits both homeowners and the planet.
‘Made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, LOKPOD is better for the environment’
LOKPOD: The smart slab solution
LOKPOD™ is the smarter slab solution developed and made by The Australian Reinforcing Company (ARC). It’s an innovative and sustainable plastic pod revolutionising the residential slab building process and construction industry.
LOKPOD offers an Australian-made polystyrene pod alternative that comes with an in-built chairing system, eliminating the need for traditional bar chairs and spacers.
One of the main advantages of LOKPOD is that it doesn’t require a separate engineer certification and meets all relevant Australian standards. It’s available in the standard size range and, therefore, a true one-to-one substitution that delivers an easy-to-use and efficient installation.
Made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, LOKPOD is better for the environment as ARC invests in a green future. With a compact, stackable design, it allows both reinforcing steel and LOKPOD to be delivered on a single truck to your building site. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint. Head over to LOKPOD.com.au to familiarise yourself with this innovative product.
As a proud brand of InfraBuild, ARC is the original steel reinforcement supplier to the Australian construction industry. ARC continues to grow and evolve with the needs of local communities, serving Australia across 43 locations across the East Coast.
Rawlinsons: Handy handbook
Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook includes guidance on green design, construction and development. This section of the book provides users with a high-level understanding of the concept of green building and how it flows through a project’s design and construction process.
The information includes potential green materials, products and systems such as rainwater harvesting, automation, control and operation, solar and heat pump water heaters, solar protection of glazed facades, external shading, PV systems and natural ventilation.
The Handbook from Rawlinsons provides invaluable cost data on each of these systems that enables users to accurately estimate the cost of the various methods and products and, therefore, find the right balance of environmentally sustainable design at an affordable price for the project.
The various sustainability assessment tools and organisations are summarised, including NABERS, NatHERS, Green Star, Well Building Standard, Carbon Neutral and LEED.
This information gives users a high-level understanding of these assessment tools, enabling them to identify which tools or systems they may utilise to achieve a desired system rating.
‘Dekton is manufactured with 100 per cent certified renewable electricity’
Dekton: Ultra-compact surfaces
As an ultra-compact, low-silica stone, Dekton® by Cosentino is also carbon neutral. ‘In fact, it is the only cradle-to-grave carbon-neutral brand in its category,’ explains Alexandra Tomasi, Marketing Manager – Oceania of Cosentino.
Dekton composition is a sophisticated mixture of more than 20 minerals extracted from nature. Its exclusive press generates 25,000 tons of uniform pressure – this is 2.5 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower! As a result of this ultra-compaction process, Dekton has no micro-defects that cause tensions or weak points and has an almost null porosity.
The Dekton range averages around 10 per cent silica or less. The null porosity makes it very versatile and suitable for outdoor as well as indoor applications.
In its manufacturing, Dekton uses the exclusive TSP technology. This can sinter mineral particles, making them bond with each other.
Cosentino offsets CO2e emissions annually – from the extraction of materials to the end of its useful life. As part of its decarbonisation plan, its carbon footprint is calculated and verified by an accredited third-party organisation, with the approval of the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
In addition, Dekton is manufactured with 100 per cent certified renewable electricity, 99 per cent recycled water and zero discharge. In 2021, 80,000 tons of CO2 were offset through UN-recognised projects with a high positive social and environmental impact.
Dekton’s polyvalence makes it ideal for any application, even in the most demanding conditions, such as facades or floors.
Geofabrics: Go with the flo
Megaflo® Green is a better alternative to conventional, round PVC agi drainpipe. Engineering lab tests found it collects and removes water up to 4.9 times faster than 100mm round agi pipe.
Megaflo Green from Geofabrics is made in Australia from HDPE 100% recycled milk bottles. This helps reduce waste and the reliance on fossil fuels. Builders today need to seek alternatives to items that use raw materials by selecting products made from locally sourced recycled material.
With a slim 40mm-wide profile, Megaflo Green is faster and more cost-effective to install.
It can be laid vertically or horizontally without the need to excavate a trench in landscaping applications such as behind retaining walls, under driveways, paths, lawns and turf.
Testing has also found it can save up to 50% of installation costs. The unique design of Megaflo Green of a corrugated panel supported by internal pillars along its length provides structural rigidity and high crush resistance.
To protect waterways and, ultimately, our oceans, Megaflo Green is covered with Bidim® Green geotextile, which prevents soil and sediment run-off into the stormwater. Bidim Green is also made in Australia and incorporates material from recycled water bottles.
Megaflo Green is available at Bunnings.
‘Insulation plays a significant role in addressing the NCC 2022 requirements’
CSR Bradford: Redefining energy-efficient homes
Australia’s construction industry is evolving towards energy-efficient homes, with changes in the NCC 2022 energy efficiency provisions for new homes soon to take effect.
Leading the way for energy-efficient homes, insulation plays a significant role in addressing the NCC 2022 requirements. Adapting and incorporating different designs and material selections will help to comply with these standards. Insulation products are one of the most cost-effective ways to meet the NCC 2022 7-star energy efficiency requirements.
Maximising higher R-Value insulation will help meet energy-efficiency standards, so when selecting products, builders should look at an overall insulation plan and prioritise quality for long-term effectiveness.
CSR Bradford has a range of products for residential buildings. These products offer a superior insulation solution when used in conjunction with glazing, sealing, and/or passive solar design/layout. Bradford Gold™ and Bradford Gold™ High Performance Insulation are designed to reduce heat transfer through the ceiling and wall space. Combined with Bradford Enviroseal™ RW Plus, designed to allow moisture to escape the home, it provides an effective condensation management system.
All Bradford products are climate-tested and certified to Australian standards. This meets or exceeds guidelines for thermal performance while ensuring fire safety, sustainability and health considerations.
This article was compiled with contributions from
*Disclaimer - This content contains brand promotional material.
First published on 4 December 2023