Green Homes Win Global Innovation Award in Las Vegas for Their Energy-Efficient, Sustainable Homes

The CEO of Green Homes International has been awarded the 2019 Silver Global Innovation Award at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas. A franchise construction company with offices globally, Green Homes stands out because they are the only new home builder in the world who is compliant with ISO 50001 Standards.

ISO50001 requires organizations to develop an energy management system, or policy, with the primary purpose of using energy more efficiently. Green Home properties are designed, built, and audited to ensure every component conforms to strict energy management guidelines. Consumers benefit from energy-efficient homes and lower energy costs, with Green Homes properties being affordable and comfortable with enhanced control of the home environment. Their stunning homes are finished to extremely high standards.

Receiving the Award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) means Green Homes has been given the global recognition they deserve for building energy-efficient, sustainable, longer-lasting homes that lessen the impact on the environment.

The NAHB’s Global Innovation Award honors the most innovative projects, products and services disrupting the global residential industry. Entrants are judged on innovation, functionality, good design, sustainability, whether their product or service is builder or consumer-friendly, and if it is successfully marketed in a unique way. The finalists were announced by the NAHB on January 7, 2020, and the winners on January 22, 2020.

Winners of the Award are chosen for their cutting-edge contributions that push the housing industry to new limits, which is certainly what Green Homes are succeeding in doing.

With over 90 energy-efficient home designs to choose from, customers can also choose to design their own dream home to suit their budget, block, climate, and lifestyle. They receive advice and guidance from a local GH Builders builder to ensure an outstanding result.

And, with demand for environmentally friendly homes increasing across Australia, the industry-leading construction company is offering builders an opportunity to benefit from the brand and join GH Builders as a franchisee.

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020

The Healthy Home

The significant majority of us have found ourselves locked away in social isolation, and we are finding out how we really feel about our home and it’s quirks.

However, much like the reason for us spending this great deal of time in our home offices, there are unseen forces affecting our daily lives – either positively or negatively. One could effectively say that the large majority of people spend the most amount of time away from home or asleep in one of their rooms, however it is important to remember that while we are spending time in those rooms, our health is of utmost importance.

Healthy homes promote good physical and mental health. Good health depends on having homes that are safe and free from physical hazards. In contrast, poor quality and inadequate housing contributes to health problems such as chronic diseases and injuries, and can have harmful effects on childhood development.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)

Now this is not to say that your home is going to necessarily cause you longtime harm and destruction – so please don’t panic – however it is important to consider what the RWJF stated in their release on Healthy Homes in 2011. Why wouldn’t you want to make sure that your time in isolation can be having the best possible impact on your life?

According to the Australian Government, we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors – with that number increasing closer to the 100% mark during the COVID – 19 Pandemic. Being indoors and surrounded by technology can create unnecessary strain on our eyes and result in headaches, poor sleep cycles and general irritability amongst those we are surrounded by.

How can you make your home healthier – now?
For those who are looking at building a new residence, you can Contact Us and have an obligation free discussion about building a healthier home. For those who aren’t ready to build, keep reading!

When improving your space, many will go to indoor plants. These are an excellent way to not only improve the freshness of the home, but also improve visual aesthetic. However, it is important to consider allergies such as hay-fever before committing to caring after such an addition.

When working with our Green Design team, one of the primary focuses is on air flow and overall air quality. Air flow & breezeways are utilised in our homes to warm/cool our homes, however they also play an important role in natural ventilation.

Take the above diagram – The Torere Design – where we have highlighted the direction of the breeze throughout the home. Like it’s residents, the air enters through the doorway and distributes itself throughout the home, with every room having an exit point for the air – ensuring the regular turning over of fresh air.

So, take a moment to look up from your screen and look for the nearest window. If you’re feeling a little stuffy in your home – open it and take in the fresh air. Fresh air is the No. 1 tool to utilise while in isolation. Take a 5 minute break and stand in your backyard, taking in nature and it’s benefits.

If you would like any area specific recommendations to make your home healthier, make sure to email us: [email protected] or visit our Home Design Range for your new home inspiration.

March 23, 2020March 23, 2020

Efficient Isolation. Have your home work for you!

The ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak are being felt all across the world, with a significant majority of professional workplaces being forced into isolation and working from home. Closure of ‘non-essential’ businesses is forcing many more workers to self-isolate in their homes.

With many of us adopting this work-from-home regime for the first time in our careers, there are many pitfalls we could fall into – increased heating & electricity costs, food shortages and water bills. There are a great many unknowns about the coming months, but it is essential that your home be as efficient as possible – and why not make it work for you, while you focus on the important aspects of your life.

In the lead up to the launch of our new service, The Green Network, we wanted to list out 5 products that could drastically improve your home’s efficiency and save you money and time in the long run.

5. Philips Hue

Your home’s lighting controlled from your phone or smart assistant. You think you’ve forgotten to turn the bathroom & bedroom lights off, but you’re too engrossed in your favourite Netflix series to get up and check – all with the tap of a button, you can stay settled and your lights are put out.

Not only will you save time and energy by installing Philips Lighting and Smart Switches, but they will also keep money in your pocket every quarter.

Philips LEDs use up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescents while producing the same beautiful warm light you are used to. A Philips LED bulb can last for up to 15,000 hours, which is equal to 15 incandescents. So not only will you have to change fewer bulbs, there will be less waste as a result. Your home is worth investing in – let Philips help. – Philips Hue – Energy Efficiency Report

4. Redlight – Solar LED’s

If you’ve got a bit more time to install and upgrade fixtures (we recommend a professional installation), the Redlight solar LED’s are a fantastic, and efficient, alternative to the traditional light fixture.

These LED’s mimic real sunlight throughout your home – as if you had your own skylight in every room. Plus – some fixtures put out 8x the standard lumens for its standard wattage. Meaning you’ll get much better light for your dollar!
“The 6 watt Redilight has an approximate lumen output of a traditional 50-watt incandescent globe in full sun” – Redlight

3. Smart Powerboard

The ARLEC Smart Powerboard can be installed anywhere throughout your home. We would recommend as a basic step, installing powerboards with individual power switches. However, if you want to embrace smart technology, the ARLEC is for you.

You left the iron on after getting your shirt ready for that client meeting over Skype. Bring up the app and simply turn the power off – preventing you from running out of the meeting or having your house burn down!

As a Bonus – the ARLEC works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant – once again, you can make someone else do the work for you!

2. The Oomph – Portable Coffee

Due to recent announcements surrounding Public Safety, your local cafe may be in a form of lockdown and/or you may not be able to leave your home. So how would you get your morning coffee kick?

At Green Homes, working from home seems to increase our desire for coffee consumption, however, if we couldn’t leave our homes we would be stuck with sachet’s or instant – that’s where the Oomph comes in. Compress and make your own coffee at your desk, on the go or next to your toaster.

Stop throwing away coffee cups, pods and the like – make your own quarantined coffee! And once your favourite cafe has re-opened, use it as a one-stop Travel Mug!

1. Google Home

A personal favourite of the crew at Green Homes. The Google Home range offers a crazy level of support throughout your home – from turning lights & TVs on, to changing the temperature of your air-conditioner as well as managing your entire calendar.

Set your Google Home up on your mobile and control everything from your mobile remotely. Just like the commercials, it is like having your own personal assistant at a moments notice.

From reading you the latest news, playing new episodes of your favourite podcasts and updating you with the latest traffic report – your Google Home truly works for you.

February 18, 2020February 20, 2020

Bushfire Proof. Is it Possible to Build Such a Home?

Australia has just re-surfaced from one of the most destructive and heart-wrenching bushfire seasons, with nearly 3,000 homes burnt and killed a devastating 34 people. Thankfully, due to the recent rains that is now causing flooding across parts of the country, all fires have been reported as extinguised, however the time of recovery and rebuilding has begun – and a massive question surrounds that.

“How do we prepare for next time?”

This question has been asked of politicians, scientists, community leaders and unsurprisingly, builders. In a recent panel interview on The Project, Grand Designs host and ‘sustainability advocate’ Kevin McCloud was asked, “… is it possible to design a house that is bushfire proof?”

McCloud described that although building materials may need to evolve over the next 20 years to become completely bushfire proof, there are some basic principles that can be utilised to maximise resilience against a potential fire situation.

“I think, it isn’t just about the house is it? It’s about the landscape, it’s about the setting, it’s about the community, it’s about people working together, resilience and that type of thing” – Kevin McCloud on The Project

Utilising the land around the home is such a pivotal part of the Green Homes Building Process, and along with the option of a Home Energy Report (H.E.R), our Design team works with 3rd parties to ensure your home works in with your block of land.

But will it be bushfire proof? The BAL – 40 standards ensures that your home is equipped – to the best of it’s ability – to withstand the raging bushfires. This includes steps such as non-combustible sarking, BAL-40 approved windows and fire-resistant framing.

If you’d like to learn more about how BAL-40 works in the rebuild of your home, or new home construction, please Contact Us for a commitment free discussion.

February 18, 2020February 18, 2020

“Hey Google.” Power the Next Generation of Green, Smart Homes

There is a common misconception in this interconnected marketplace, that by turning your home into a ‘smart home’ is converting it into a green, sustainable home. This thought bubble is incorrect. However, when building your new Green Home, everyone who wants to ride the way of a connected life should talk to their builder about making it a ‘Smart Home.’

But how does one save energy using more electrical devices? A recent article from The Conversation suggested that in a trial of 46 homes, a majority indicated that they used these smart devices as a chance for a lifestyle change, rather than directly aiming to reduce electricity. The results? Positive! There is a well-known fact that nobody wants to get up and turn off lights/power points throughout the house when watching the Grand Final. Well smart devices, such as Google Home and TP Link Smart Plugs, allow you to do it from the comfort of your lounge.

It is inevitable that homes of the future will be completely integrated with the cloud – whether we like it or not, allowing us to know when we are low on milk or out of cereal. With the global growth and awareness of tech giant, Tesla, has generated a plethora of discussions online regarding the future of electricity and ‘the grid.’ With energy prices on the rise – only to increase in the near future – how does one make sure that their green smart home is equipped with the latest energy saving tools?

The evolution of Google’s assistant from simply giving you directions to telling you about your day, means that over time she will learn your habits, which rooms you spend the most time in, when you turn the kettle on each morning to give you a shot of coffee. But instead of leaving the kettle in standby mode on all night & day, what if you could set it to turn on between 7 – 8 am? With devices such as the aforementioned TP-Link smart plugs, you can do exactly that – however not just limited to the kettle, any power-point controlled device can be remotely shut-off (not put into standby, completely turned off). Not only does this give you complete control over your home from your mobile phone or smart assistant, these plugs allow you to measure the energy output from that specific plug – giving you real time access to see your expenditure.

Green Homes can be Smart Homes. You could build a standard house, and then purchase smart devices, install them and use them – they will assist you in seeing your energy output and automate your life, however you lack the key ingredient. Energy Efficiency at the core of the home to begin with, allowing for your lifestyle to be at the forefront, combine that with the power of smart homes and you will potentially see even further savings, as well as a much more automated lifestyle.