Australian backyards are known for their resilience. Make sure that your piece of the outback is as sustainable as possible.
Pools are notorious for losing water from evaporation and through filtration; sometimes up to 11,000 litres per year. They are also energy guzzlers, with an average sized pool's pumps and filters chewing through up to 2,200 kWh per year. To minimise this impact on the environment have a good pool cover, which can reduce evaporation by up to 90%.
Rather than pouring concrete, porous paving is something to consider when you are putting in new paving. Porous paving can have the same stability and function as non-porous paving, but it allows water to seep through into the ground.
Traditionally most decks have been made out of wood. As with all wood building materials, make sure that the timber is sustainably sourced, or even better, recycled. There are also a number of non-wood decking materials that are made of composite materials including recycled or reclaimed wood products and recycled plastics.
It is important to consider plants as part of any plan to protect a property against bushfires. To make a garden as safe as possible, selection of plant species is as important as garden design. While no plant is fireproof, many have features that minimise the extent to which they contribute to the spread of fire. Suitable species can be planted as bushfire screens to protect buildings from wind and radiant heat.
Listed suppliers are a guide and are not endorsed by Green Cross Australia or the Alternative Technology Association.
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