Green Design Solutions

09/06/2023

The Australian Tiny House Association has just launched a petition to advocate for living legally in tiny houses on wheels. Please help us get 100,000+ signatures to show the Governments we need innovative housing solutions. Please sign and share with your networks. You will need to confirm the signature in your email address, which might go to your spam folder.
Please help to make this action count

Support Tiny Houses on Wheels as an affordable and sustainable housing option in Australia

01/07/2022

Recently I received a call to engage my Sustainable Design and Planning services to design their family home, which was burnt down back in the 2009 Black Saturday fires. Understandably sometimes it can take a considerable time to rebuild on a property and a family that has been devastated by a natural disaster. It is wonderful to help clients achieve their dream and delighted that they sought to learn about sustainable building design, by first buying my Sustainable Design Webinar series which features:
1. Site selection and Planning
2. Creating goals for your home and lifestyle and setting a realistic budget
3. Floor plan layout and use for now and the future
4. Designing for your climate and construction materials
5. Insulation and thermal mass
6. Glazing and window selection
7. Lighting and appliance selection
8. Sustainable building products
9. Renewable energy and water conservation
https://www.greendesignsolutions.com.au/sde-webinar-series/
If you would like to learn more about sustainable building design then why not checkout the webinar series and if you are considering a sustainably designed new home or renovation project then please reach out to see how I can assist.🙏

Sustainable design expert webinar series Are you interested in renovating your home or building from scratch with sustainability features in mind? Welcome, you’ve come to the right place. My name is Janine Strachan and I have 15+ years of experience in sustainable housing design. In this Sustainab...

23/03/2022

I have been featured in HIAs national Housing Magazine, talking about my passion for sustainable housing. Check out the article here.

Janine Strachan, 2021 HIA Australian GreenSmart Professional award winner, looks at the shift in sustainable housing during her career and reveals why she’s so passionate about it.

21/02/2022

I have just finished the Sustainable Design and Planning process for this home of two pods, connected with a breezeway. Highly insulated walls and roof using structurally insulated panels, exposed concrete floor in all living areas, large north facing windows for winter sun and large eaves for summer shading.
The land was small lot farmland in farming zone and required planning approval for the dwelling.
The client is an owner builder and this system that we have used is easy to construct with.
If you are looking for an experienced sustainable designer and require planning approval then why not reach out and see how I can help you.

20/02/2022

I have just finished the Sustainable Design and Planning process for this home of two pods, connected with a breezeway. Highly insulated walls and roof using structurally insulated panels, exposed concrete floor in all living areas, large north facing windows for winter sun and large eaves for summer shading.
The land was small lot farmland in farming zone and required planning approval for the dwelling.
The client is an owner builder and this system that we have used is easy to construct with.
If you are looking for an experienced sustainable designer and require planning approval then why not reach out and see how I can help you.

LIVEABLE, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE HOMES Sustainable homes for homeowners that are comfortable, healthy and efficient. Our Green Designs embrace your climate and block so that you can reduce your demand of heating and cooling required within your home. WHAT WE OFFER Plan Read More DESIGN Read More learn...

25/01/2022

Listen to what site conditions I consider when designing sustainable homes. If you are ready to get the most out of your block and have a beautiful and comfortable home then PM to discuss my design and planning consultancy..

19/01/2022

Summer tips for keeping your house cooler - Open up the windows during the days when a cooling breeze is present and flows into the home. Turn on ceiling fans or portable fans to circulate the air, which provides a cooler breeze over our bodies. You could also open the windows as the sun goes down to help purge the hot air inside the home. You could even use your bathroom exhaust fans to help extract heat from the house. If you are looking for advice on how to renovate or retrofit your home to make it more comfortable then DM me to arrange a consult.

04/01/2022

How can you live more comfortably over summer? Whilst it is best to design your home for your climate to achieve maximum efficiency there are many existing homes that could benefit from some simple tips to achieve a more comfortable home over the summer. Achieving a good level of insulation R value with insulation batts in your ceiling will help to reduce heat entry from your roof cavity into the home. Reducing solar radiation from hitting your windows to reduce heat gain can be achieved through installing external blinds or slatted screens for the east and west windows and horizontal shade sails or pergolas on the north. of course vines and other vegetation is great for shading but they take a while to establish.

19/12/2021

I was delighted to be interviewed by the Housing Industry Association on my recent win as the HIA GreenSmart Award winner as Professional of the year for 2021 in the latest GreenSmart publication. You can read the interview here

What sustainable materials should builders and consumers consider? 'Builders should help consumers select materials with lower environmental impact. Consider the low hanging fruit, such as higher levels of insulation in the ceiling or the walls. Prefabricated materials are an excellent option and he...

16/12/2021

When it comes to building your Green Home, timber plays a key role... Abodo crafts timbers with lasting beauty that is safe for people and the environment. Many exterior timbers are harvested from unsustainable old-growth forests or are treated with harmful chemicals.

"Formed in 2001 by the Gudsell family, Abodo remains a New Zealand-owned, family business with a purpose. Abodo timbers are crafted to be enjoyed for years to come. Designed to age with grace, our timbers have exceptional weatherability and maintain their durability and beauty for a lifetime. Our timbers are harvested from New Zealand’s FSC® certified rapidly renewable plantation forests. They are ethically crafted with respect from beginning to end – allowing us to meet today’s increasing needs without disadvantaging future generations. Abodo’s thermally modified timbers stand the test of time, they are beautiful, durable and sustainable. Even better, they’re safe for people and the environment."
- Abodo
https://www.abodo.com.au/

15/12/2021

Kind words from Robert Wilson. Thank you for choosing me to help design your sustainable home and guide you on your journey 💚

03/11/2021

Wow! Looking back to 2016 and this amazing day spent at the Federation Square Sustainable Living Festival.