A Sustainability Declaration is a compulsory checklist that must be completed by the seller (vendor) when selling a house, townhouse or unit. It is required as part of the sale from 1 January 2010.
Properties which have a greater number of sustainability features tend to have lower operating costs and are generally more energy and water efficient. They use less energy for heating and cooling, generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions, use less water—and best of all, are more comfortable to live in. However, much relates to behavior aspects, e.g. turning off lights, use of air-conditioning etc.
Sustainability features such as access and safety also mean that the property will be suitable for owners during their various life stages and will reduce the need for costly future upgrades.
The checklist will identify the property's environmental and social sustainability features in four key areas:
energy
water
safety
access
It will increase the awareness and marketability of the dwelling’s sustainable building features and will act as an incentive to improve the sustainability performance of Queensland’s 1.6 million existing homes.
For those homeowners who have already taken steps to improve the sustainability of their property, this means that the environmental, social and financial benefits of those features can be recognised when the property is on the market.
As energy prices inevitably rise, such improvements can provide long term saving of electricity, gas and water bills.
