An eave-less imperil
0 Comments | New Straits Times, Jul 30, 2010 | by Gunaprasath
REMOVING overhanging eaves from homes Down Under has proved to be a major environmental mistake, said Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects.
According to South Australian Archicentre spokesperson Edward Lukac, people buying new homes or renovating can increase the water harvesting potential of their roofs by 20 per cent with the added advantage of shade over windows and walls, including the traditional overhanging eave.
With the exclusion of eaves, hundreds of thousands of homes are poorly equipped to cope with climate change.
Years ago, eaves were a fundamental part of Australian homes and the roofs of its 7.2 million homes represent its biggest major urban dam potential, which was possible with water captured and reused without the need for expensive infrastructure.
Lukac also said a new report by Australia’s major water utilities estimates that demand for water will escalate by almost one trillion litres by 2056 based on a population of 31 million.
He believes that will see governments consider legislation in the future to make it compulsory for people to install rainwater tanks, water efficient shower heads and dual flush toilets.
He added the future increase in power and water costs will also be a driving market force to support government policies to introduce national binding building codes.
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