There has been an increased consciousness about water scarcity, and the drive for green or eco-friendly homes has been much more visible over the past couple of years and is set to continue to grow.
It is in the news daily, region to region, town to town, about some sort of water crisis in South Africa. From burst pipelines, allowing the water supply to become contaminated, to residents stranded high and dry for hours on end without water. The solutions are falling behind the demand, and our current systems are failing to supply the most precious resource of life to the people. South Africa is ranked the 30th driest country in the world. Our actions over the next 10 years will be the deciding factor of our country's water future.
However, the future doesn't have to be so bleak, putting into place some forward-thinking systems will future-proof your household and businesses water needs.
If you embrace five principles of sustainability, as identified by green advocates, you too can have a green home, says Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group.
1. Optimizing the use of solar energy and sunlight.
2. Improving indoor air quality.
3. Using the land responsibly.
4. Creating high performance and moisture-resistant houses.
5. Making wise use of natural resources such as water.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Water Storage Tanks
Rainwater Harvesting Systems have become the number one option for collecting, storing and using water in and around the home. They are easy to install and nearly effortless to maintain and will save you money.
Related article: Are you a backdoor survivalist or just a normal household water-saver?
Grey Water System
The water from your bathroom sinks, showers and bath can be easily recycled for further use. More than 50% of domestic wastewater production is greywater, which means that any recycling system you use has an enormous impact on household water consumption. Greywater systems collect the used water and pump it out onto your lawn, keeping your garden green and allowing nature to reclaim the water.
Grid-Tied Solar Power System
A Grid Tied Solar System is designed to augment your municipal power use, saving you money on your power bill. The grid-tied system is hooked up to the mains power supply of the home and consists of solar panels connected to a grid-tied inverter. South Africa is blessed with an abundance of sunny days that will now power your home or business every single day.
Related article: Grid-Tied Solar PV System – Your Household Power Saver
Especially today, people are investing more wisely when it comes to buying a home, or a second property for house-letting. This makes green homes more popular, providing energy and water savings on utility bills, as well as contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle. If you have not yet considered introducing green features into your home, then now is the time to start. Having a green home is a great selling point and adds value, making your home more desirable for buyers.