Energy & WATer eFFICIenT FIXTURES, FITTINGS & APPLIANCES
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energy & WATER
EFFICIENT FIXTURES,
FITTINGS & APPLIANCES
Environmentally sustainable design (ESD) fact sheet 2
VERSION 1/MARCH 2011
Photo - Michael Ward
Water-efficient sensor controlled tap with rainwater supply
The Grove Library and Community Centre is jointly funded by
the Town of Cottesloe, Shire of Peppermint Grove and Town of
Mosman Park, and is supported by funding from the Australian
Photo - Michael Ward
Government under the Green Precincts Program.
Josh Byrne
Environmental Scientist, Project Consultant and Ambassador for
The Grove: Leading. Learning. Living.
a great place to grow
Photo - Michael Ward
Energy-efficient fluorescent roof lights with zoned
motion sensors
Why are energy & water-efficient
fixtures, fittings & appliances
important?
Australia has one of the highest rates of greenhouse emissions and water
consumption per capita in the world. As a nation now and into the future, we
are facing a range of growing challenges associated with a warming climate,
changing weather patterns, decreasing rainfall and groundwater reserves, as well
as electricity and water infrastructure that is stretched and nearing capacity.
While electricity and water are essential in our everyday lives, they are also limited and have finite
reserves that we should never waste. We need to respond and meet such challenges by starting
to use energy and water more carefully and minimising our demands on these valuable resources
wherever possible.
Choosing energy and water-efficient fixtures, fittings and appliances is one of the smartest
(and easiest) ways to reduce our consumption of electricity and water. This approach saves
money and reduces environmental impacts without comprising our lifestyles in any way (we use
less electricity and water to achieve the same outcome or result). Energy and water efficiency
essentially means getting something done just as effectively but using less resources, which
is made possible by either improvements in technology or simply adopting a smarter way to
tackle a job. While governments around Australia are playing an important role by introducing
national standards and ratings to improve the environmental performance of fixtures, fittings and
appliances, the second piece of the puzzle is for consumers to start selecting the most efficient
options available (based on their budget and other requirements).
THE GROVE — ESD FACT SHEET 2: energy & water efficient fixtures, fittngs & appliances pg 2
a great place to grow
what has been done
at the grove to showcase
energY & WATER EFFICIENCY?
A number of energy and water-efficient fixtures, fittings and appliances
have been incorporated into The Grove as part of achieving a key objective
of the three Councils to provide a tangible real-life example of sustainability
in action.
The Caroma Profile 5 toilet and H2zero Cube
Energy Efficiency
waterless urinal are particularly innovative
Starting with energy efficiency, the interior fixtures. The Profile 5 is Australia’s first 5-star
lighting of the building predominantly consists toilet, and its design includes an integrated
of fluorescent T5 lamps with dimmable daylight hand basin that reduces total bathroom water
harvesting controls, plus motion sensors in use by allowing the same water to be used
infrequently used areas. Lighting is grouped in for two purposes (fresh water is first used for
zones and local dimmer controls are provided hand washing and then flows into the cistern to
to suit usage and prevailing conditions. External ultimately flush the toilet). The H2zero Cube has
lighting uses a combination of LED and metal won an Australian Design Award for Excellence
halide lights with photo sensor controls. and incorporates new cartridge technology
Individual workstation lighting consists of with a one-way, airtight valve that seals the
highly energy-efficient Z-Bar LED task lights urinal from the drainage system, thereby
and floor lamps, as well as Hafele LED desk eliminating the need for chemical-based seals
lights. traditionally used with waterless urinals.
In addition to active lighting, there are also a
number for architectural features at The Grove
to maximise natural lighting within the building.
Photo - Michael Ward
This includes a roof light for the library, roof
light/clerestory in the foyer area, and 8 sky
domes to illuminate the corridor and internal
spaces in the administration building.
Each of these energy efficiency measures has
a real and measurable impact on reducing Caroma Profile
electricity consumption and associated 5-star toilet
with integrated
greenhouse emissions. For example, it is hand basin for
estimated that the dimmable lighting control greywater reuse
system at The Grove alone will result in (toilet flushing)
electricity savings of approximately 17,000kWh
per year, which translates to a reduction of It is estimated that the water-efficient
around 14,000kg in greenhouse gas emissions fixtures at The Grove will result in water
annually. The estimated savings achieved savings of approximately 175,000L each year.
through maximising natural light within the Comprehensive metering of all energy and
building will be approximately 10,000kWh each water uses at The Grove as part of an overall
year (an annual reduction of around 8,200kg in Building Management System (BMS) will
greenhouse gas emissions). enable detailed monitoring and reporting of
electricity and water consumption over time.
Water Efficiency The BMS will allow any performance issues to
be identified, as well as assist in verifying the
Shifting the focus to water, a range of water- extent of energy and water savings that are
efficient fixtures have been installed at The being achieved.
Grove, including low-flow showerheads (3-star
Caroma Liano - note that 3 stars is the highest Related Features
rating possible for a showerhead), taps (6- T
NOTE: Other related leading-edge features
star Zip Aquasense and 5-star Caroma Liano),
at The Grove such as the photovoltaic (solar)
toilets (5-star Caroma Profile 5 and 3-star
panels, solar hot water system and building
Caroma Water Wafer), plus waterless urinals (6-
cooling/heating system are explained in the
star Caroma H2zero Cube) in the male toilets.
separate Renewable Energy and Climate
Sensitive Design fact sheets.
THE GROVE — ESD FACT SHEET 2: energy & water efficient fixtures, fittngs & appliances pg 3
a great place to grow
what can you do at home?
Similar to what is being showcased at The Grove, you can choose energy
and water-efficient fixtures, fittings and appliances for your own home.
When it comes to appliances, again you should
Taking this action will enable you to: select those that are the most energy and
water-efficient to suit your needs and within
•• Save money on your electricity and your budget – for example a 5-star energy
water bills fridge, and 4-star water/4-star energy washing
•• Reduce the greenhouse emissions/ machine and dishwasher. Air conditioning is
carbon footprint associated with your one of the biggest energy users in the home, so
household electricity consumption choose a system has a 5/6-star rating as well
as a zoning functionality to isolate which areas
•• Reduce your mains water are being conditioned at any given time (this
consumption and help in conserving ensures that rooms are only air conditioned
Perth’s scarce drinking water when they are likely to be occupied).
reserves
•• Decrease the pressure and demand Focusing on energy and water-efficient
on our electricity and water product options is only half the story – it is also
infrastructure important to assess the need and minimise
the running time of appliances. For example,
do you really need a clothes dryer in Perth’s
An easy first step is to replace any conventional climate if you’ve got space for a clothes line?
incandescent globes in your home with Is that second fridge essential, and if so, does
compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or Light it always need to be on? Can you do some or
Emitting Diodes (LEDs). While LEDs are a all of your clothes washing using cold rather
more energy-efficient, durable and versatile than hot water (a cold wash can save up to
form of lighting than CFLs, they do tend to be 4 times more energy than using hot water).
more expensive (although this cost difference Can you do without an air conditioner if your
is rapidly diminishing with new advances in house is properly designed and operated? If an
technology). air conditioner is still important as a back-up
You should make sure that all your water during extreme periods, how can you minimise
fixtures and fittings are as efficient as possible its running time? For those appliances that are
– for example choose 3-star showerheads a ‘must have’, choosing an energy and water-
and 5-star taps in the bathroom, kitchen and efficient model and minimising its use can
laundry, as well as 4-star toilets (minimum). have a big impact on your energy and water
consumption.
Remember you can always assess and
compare the efficiency of different
products through the government-
endorsed national energy rating and
water rating schemes.
Photo - Michael Ward
Water-efficient low flow showerhead
(less than 9 litres per minute)
THE GROVE — ESD FACT SHEET 2: energy & water efficient fixtures, fittngs & appliances pg 4
a great place to grow
Photo - The Grove Library
The Grove, an environmental sustainability pioneer.
find out more on
energY & WATER EFFICIENT
FIXTURES, FITTINGS & APPLIANCES
FOR YOUR HOME
Further Information Relevant Organisations
Living Smart/Perth Solar City Program: Energy Perth Solar City Program: 1300 993 268
& Water Efficiency How to Guide
Living Greener: Household Energy Efficiency
Information
Living Greener: Household Water Efficiency
Information
Energy Rating Product Database
Water Rating Product Database
Please visit www.thegroveprecinct.com to download an electronic version of this fact sheet with
hyperlinks to the above online resources.
Content - Josh Byrne & Associates Graphic design - Oakridge Communication Group
The Grove Library Project is supported
by funding from the Australian
Government under the Green Precincts
Program
THE GROVE — ESD FACT SHEET 2: energy & water efficient fixtures, fittngs & appliances pg 5
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