Switch Your Thinking

Switch your thinking logo Switch your thinking! is a program that aims to engage our community’s participation in a series of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the south-east region of the Perth metropolitan area.

Together, Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire and the Cities of Gosnells and Armadale are working towards a community greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 15% by the year 2010/11.

Working as a region has its advantages. The three member Councils, known as the South East Regional Energy Group (SEREG), are seriously concerned about the future of the planet and, of course, about how global changes in climate will affect our little corner of the earth. SEREG actions and activities are primarily about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the community save money on energy and water bills, but we also want to promote health and liveability in the region, and to develop partnerships with business, industry and residents.

The SEREG have worked as a team since 1999, to act to reduce both Council and community greenhouse gas emissions. All three Councils agree that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are responsible for warming the earth’s atmosphere and bringing about climate change.

What's with the lollypop symbol?

Our lollypop is a stylised railway switch, used in former times to change the direction of trains. Our switch your thinking! brand is included in this logo, whose imagery shows that a small movement of the switch, a change in the way we think and live, can make a big difference to our future global climate. The slogan for the program, a small change can make a big difference, reinforces the visual message.

Enviro-Friendly Retrofitted Home Project

Proving it doesn’t cost the earth, to save the earth…and some money!

In partnership with program partners, the Department of Housing & Works and the Maddington Kenwick Sustainable Communities Partnership, SEREG recently retrofitted an existing dwelling in Maddington, with the goal of making it a model of sustainability, particularly from an energy perspective, but also with regards to water and waste.

The successful retrofitting of an older, existing home demonstrated to the local community that the environmental performance of residential dwellings can be substantially and cost-effectively improved by addressing a few simple areas.

The selected dwelling was representative of many in the region (i.e. poorly designed and built in the in 60’s – 70’s). The home was retrofitted specifically for this project by local contractors (helping to support local businesses) and using local products, to demonstrate that sustainable, energy and water efficient retrofits are easily achieved, are affordable and attractive.

Consideration was also given to orientation of the lot and the existing layout of the house, with a focus on improving comfort levels and minimising the need for additional heating and cooling. Features such as a solar hot water system, insulation, skylights, selection of energy efficient appliances and water saving devices (including grey-water recycling), waterwise gardens and the like, were also incorporated.

Retrofitting of the home was deliberately done to be seen as mainstream, practical and easily replicated with the emphasis being on the promotion and display of the energy and water efficient features.

The home was open to the public as a demonstration home 12 months in 2006 and acted as an effective education tool for the broader community (including residents, schools and other Councils). It also demonstrated that the application of sustainable retrofitting principles does not require significant capital investment by occupants / homeowners. It demonstrated that any style of home, regardless of age and location, can be successfully retrofitted with energy efficient and waterwise features.

This project was proudly supported by program sponsors Solahart, the Water Corporation, Examiner Newspapers and the Sustainable Energy Development Office.

South East Sustainable Display Homes

Demonstrating the benefits of doing things right in the first place!

SEREG also recently worked closely with Stockland, SEDO and WA’s leading builders to design and construct 11 new display homes showcasing energy efficient and waterwise design principles.

The homes were designed to be seen as mainstream, practical and affordable. The cost of the sustainable homes is comparable with other ready to buy / off the shelf builder homes.

The display village was the first in Western Australia to be rated at least 5 STARS under the House Energy Rating Scheme.

The Newhaven Estate display village demonstrated the benefits of incorporating a myriad of sustainable initiatives into new homes, and offered a range of home designs and builders to choose from, including Easy Living Homes, Impressions, Content Living, Plunkett Homes, Dale Alcock Homes, Ventura Homes, Don Russell Homes, Celebration Homes, National Homes, Commodore Homes and New Generation Homes.

Stockland, recently awarded the national HIA Greensmart Professional of the Year award, showed great leadership in becoming the first developer to work with SEREG Councils to show in a very tangible way how energy efficiency can be incorporated into new homes.

Although new housing only accounts for approx 2% of the housing market, with hundreds of new homes expected to be built around the display village over the next 5-10 years, and many more across Perth’s south-east, the display village was perfectly located for maximum exposure.

The Sustainable Energy Development Office (SEDO) was also supportive of the project, enabling SEREG to use the house energy rating software tools, and the Five Star house energy rating logo, which can be used for houses that meet the five star level of energy efficiency.

For further information on the estate and the display village see www.newhavenestate.com.au or call Stockland on 9368 9222.

This project is proudly supported by program sponsors Stockland, Solahart, the Water Corporation and Sustainable Energy Development Office.