Sustainably-sourced or recycled timbers are a major player within all Your Abode kitchens. To minimise the build-up of VOCs, Darryn avoids the manufactured board products that are most commonly used in the construction of kitchen cabinetry. ‘They comprise a lot of glues and there’s a lot of off-gassing with these products,’ he says. A better option is plywood: ‘There’s a greater content of timber in plywood than glues, so as far as the material goes it has a less manufactured base.’ The same considerations can be made for flooring, with recycled timber, exposed concrete or linoleum all getting top marks for performance and sustainability. Durability of materials is essential in the kitchen, where water, heat, heavy saucepans and sharp knives can all test the limits of worktop surfaces. ‘We install a lot of stainless steel kitchen benchtops. It’s unbelievably durable and can cop an enormous amount of abuse which makes it perfect for a high work zone cooking area. It’s also totally recyclable.’ SKIP THE ON-TREND ROSE GOLDS In the bathroom, he says the best strategy is AND BLACK IN FAVOUR OF to avoid overly trendy finishes and colours that CLASSICALLY-STYLED CHROME PIECES are likely to date. Same goes for tapware, which is currently being touted as a high-fashion, easily updateable bathroom feature. Skip the on-trend rose golds and black in favour of classically-styled chrome pieces that won’t need ‘updating’ in a couple of years. Choose taps, showerheads and toilets with a high WELS rating to minimise water consumption, and look at energy-saving design measures such as positioning windows to optimise natural night and ventilation. Eco-conscious housing isn’t just about improving liveability and comfort, it’s about preserving and protecting the future of our planet. Sadly, Darryn feels the home buying public are increasingly focused on the ‘gloss’, or the superficial aesthetic value of their home, rather than how it’s going to perform or what it’s going to be like to live in. And this, he says, comes down to a basic lack of understanding around the infinite potential and ongoing benefits of building for energy efficiency and sustainability. ‘I don’t think there’s sufficient groundswell in Australia for [sustainable home design] to have the same shopping list requirement that fancy kitchen appliances do, for example.’ While the mainstream media continues to focus on the aesthetic aspect of housing, Darryn believes that a grassroots campaign driven by home builders could be one way to effect change. ‘As builders we make the mess, we fill the landfill when we build a building. So we have a responsibility to educate our clients about the advantages of eco-aware design and construction, to present it in a stronger way.’ Discussing the tangible benefits – such as reduced utility costs, a home that’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer, improved family wellbeing and health – will help convince clients to green-light sustainable strategies. He adds that customers naturally seek, value and trust the expertise and advice of their builder, which puts SUSTAINABLY-SOURCED OR RECYCLED housing professionals in the perfect position to TIMBERS ARE A MAJOR PLAYER WITHIN generate the growth of sustainable housing and ALL YOUR ABODE KITCHENS drive positive change right across the country. www.yourabode.com.au MAY 2018 HOUSING 69 INTERIORS