SAB Building Solutions

Are you aware it is National Recycle Week 2017 taking place next week?
Monday 12th to 18th November and we should all be reflecting on how we can recycle and reuse in respect to a better environment.
Some shocking statistics to consider provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, demolition and construction waste accounts for nearly 40% of what ends up in landfill. For the building industry in Perth, it is quite a hefty impost for disposal and this of course is passed onto you, the home builder.
Many builders are taking a proactive approach to separating waste on site but in the residential building industry, one does not always see good practice. Plus, the manufacturing industry can play a major part in utilising waste into their process and there are a number of innovative products incorporating waste, which would have gone to landfill, happening all around the world. But we need consumers to specify! Take a moment to check out the environmental credentials of a company before you order. Companies such as Holcim who provide the concrete for your driveways and foundations have embraced many initiatives to ensure their manufacturing process includes recycled content and water. There is no compromise to quality so why wouldn’t you consider it.
A number of companies now offer eco friendly composite decking and cladding. Futurewood decking consists of 90% recycled content and offers low maintenance and a very attractive sustainable alternative to traditional timber decking. And we all want no maintenance, right! The bonus a few more rainforest trees still standing.
The message for National Recycling Week is get involved. Mine is just take a moment to look at a product before you buy and ask does it have any recycle content and how will I dispose of it when it is obsolete.

Wanting to recycle my expired computer monitor, I delivered it to TADWA located in Bassendean in Perth today. This is where all old computers should go to be dismantled and recycled.

There has been quite a focus recently with the ABC’s Four Corners program highlighting the crisis that exists with recycling in Australia. There were several grates at TADWA stockpiled waiting for collection.

Sitting down reading over a cup of coffee, I came across an article about the work which is looking into future possibilities of recycling. The plastic waste from my computer monitor could be converted into one-dimensional filaments that then are utilised in the technology of 3D printing. The 3d printing is a burgeoning technology and how ironic to see an expired technology channelled towards the state of the art innovation.

In the construction area, a Danish company is up cycling end-of-life textile waste into high density Textile Board which can be used decoratively as internal cladding. It is a change of thinking to up cycling products that can be endlessly remade rather than the downscaling conventional recycling processes.

Wonder what the destiny will be for my computer monitor?

MOVIE TICKETS???!!!!
TO TURN DOWN OR TURN YOUR AIR CONDITIONER.
You truly wonder sometimes about forward thinking with our government. It is akin to shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. Summer is fast approaching and our states have demonstrated a poor track record coping to prevent blackouts with a heat wave.
Our national energy crisis is not going away any time soon. And yet wouldn’t it make sense to build houses that reduce the need for artificial cooling. In Australia, we have an obsession with air conditioners. Not surprising, a concerning number of heatwaves Australia has experienced recently and changing weather patterns, this summer will be testing for all. We have been let down by codes that set minimum requirements for energy efficiency in housing.
You could say economics and regulations are the root of the problems. A government not prepared to move to embracing renewable energy to sure up our stability in our grid together with a system of inconsistent and ill-enforced energy codes which certainly sends out conflicting signals and provides loop holes to the housing industry.
Once a house is built, it gets more difficult and costly to improve energy efficiency. So it is a worthwhile investment to look at the steps that you can take to make your home more energy efficient at the design stage.
Unfortunately, I came across many homes being built here in Perth that have poor thermal performance which means the owners pay significantly more for heating and cooling. Movie tickets won’t soften their high power bill.