Why

• a 5 Star house is better for you
• 5 Star houses are better for Victoria

Better

• use of the sun
• building site choice
• materials
• design
• windows
• heating & cooling
• water management

Misc. Nav

• A few things you'll want to know about the 5
  Star standard
• Making the most of your 5 Star house
• Implementation of the 5 Star standard

Better water management.

The 5 Star standard for new homes and apartments in Victoria are built to incorporate certain environmental features.

As a result of 5 Star, Victorians will enjoy new homes that are:

• better quality and more comfortable
• more affordable
• environmentally sound
• good for Victoria's economy

After years of below average rainfall, it's obvious that the pressure on our water resources is growing. Climate change is adding to the problem.

The 5 Star standard will reduce the amount of water used in new homes by up to 25 per cent. The following features can help you better manage the water use in your home:

Water saving fixtures
Water-efficient taps, shower heads and pressure reduction valves in 5 Star houses will save hundreds of litres of water every day in every new house. Under the 5 Star standard:

• Shower heads, basins, kitchen sinks and laundry trough tap flow rates cannot be more than 9 litres per minute or less than 7.5 litres per minute.
• Maximum outlet pressures within a building where there is reticulated water supply must not exceed 500 kPa static pressure.
• Flow and return pipes for solar water heaters must be insulated to achieve a minimum ‘R' value of 0.3.

Rainwater tanks
Approximately 20 per cent of the water we use is flushed away in our toilets, so the use of rainwater tanks for toilets will provide a major water saving. Household rainwater tanks must have a minimum capacity of 2,000 litres and a minimum roof catchment area of 50m².

Better hot water systems
Victorians have access to 15 per cent more solar energy than Barcelona in sunny Spain and the same amount as North Africa. Using the sun's energy to heat water can reduce your household hot water bills by more than 60 per cent each year, that's a saving of around $200 - $300 each year for the average family. This could add up to thousands of dollars saved over the lifetime of the system.

Solar water heaters are generally equipped to ensure you are never without hot water. Technology advances in recent years mean systems are now 20 per cent more efficient than their counterparts of 30 years ago.

For further information on the different types of solar hot water systems available, how they work and practical considerations of purchasing one for your home, as well as the Victorian State Government's solar hot water rebate visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.