Western Australians are increasingly looking for ways to live more sustainably, particularly as household costs rise and greater action is needed to mitigate climate change. Living sustainably is something many of us aspire to, but it can be difficult to know what individual choices will genuinely make a difference.
The Role of Homes and Neighbourhoods in Sustainability
The homes and neighbourhoods we live in play a major role in how sustainable our lifestyles are – from water and energy use to transport options and the strength of local community networks. If you are considering purchasing or building a new home, EnviroDevelopment is a certification program designed to help identify homes and communities which have been developed sustainably.
What is EnviroDevelopment Certification?
Certified projects incorporate features minimising environmental impact while also helping residents save on their cost of living. All you need to do is look for the EnviroDevelopment logo. To achieve EnviroDevelopment certification and display the logo, a new development must meet a range of criteria across up to six sustainability categories – water, energy, waste, materials, community and ecosystems.
Certification in any one of these categories is a significant achievement, while certification across several categories indicates a truly outstanding sustainable development. The technical standards underpinning EnviroDevelopment have been developed by an independent panel of government, industry and environmental experts. These standards are reviewed and updated regularly to ensure certified projects continue to represent best practice in sustainable development.
Understanding the EnviroDevelopment Categories
EnviroDevelopment branding makes it easy for homebuyers to identify a certified project and clearly shows which sustainability categories the development has achieved, with each category represented by its own icon.
Energy Efficiency Benefits
For example, a project displaying the Energy icon offers a range of energy-saving benefits, including up to a 20 per cent reduction in energy bills and a reduced reliance on air-conditioning or heaters due to quality sustainable design.
Water Conservation Advantages
Similarly, the Water icon indicates potential savings of up to 20 per cent on water bills. Where a project displays the Ecosystems icon, developers have landscaped public spaces with native, low-maintenance and climate-resilient plant species.
Ecosystems and Community Features
These developments feature extensive greenspaces for conservation and recreation, opportunities for residents to interact with nature to support wellbeing and local waterways with good water quality, which sustain a variety of plant and animal life. Several residential developments in WA have achieved certification across all six EnviroDevelopment categories.
Starting Your Sustainable Lifestyle Journey
If you are seeking a sustainable lifestyle within a quality development, an EnviroDevelopment-certified project is a great place to start. This program not only supports environmental goals but also enhances quality of life through community-focused and cost-effective living solutions.
