Green Home Building Inspections in Brisbane – Who Does What?
Green homes symbolise a sustainable lifestyle, one encompassing energy efficiency, water conservation, and eco-friendly materials, all designed to minimise environmental impact and promote well-being. Designs that feature everything from solar panels to energy-efficient appliances, landscaping considerations and waste reduction initiatives are being built more frequently in and around Brisbane.
Brisbane City Council’s Green Building Incentives are paving the way for more green homes to come on the market. These additions are also great for renovating for profit. Whilst this is a positive, essential building inspections, which play a pivotal role in ensuring that these older green homes continue to meet the highest of standards, are more critical than ever.
A green home building inspection is effectively a layered process. Not only will you require the services of an independent building and pest property inspector, but also qualified electricians and technicians to assess and confirm your home meets the Green Star rating that you are paying for.
So, who does what?
Building Inspectors – What do they do?
A building inspector’s role is to independently assess various aspects of a property to identify significant issues that may require immediate attention. Examinations can vary, however typically extend to the allotment (i.e., the driveway, garden structures, fencing, retaining walls, patios, and verandahs), the house exterior, underfloor areas, the roof, the ceiling cavity, walls, and insulation to identify signs of damage, deterioration, or defects.
A pre-purchase building inspector may also do a limited visual check to identify the presence of electrical systems, fixed electrical appliances, lighting, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, and smoke detectors, however, full operational and safety inspections of these items can only ever be carried out by qualified professionals. Calling in a licensed electrician and/or a licensed plumber is essential.
All findings from the inspection are documented in detail, outlining issues or recommendations for repairs, suggested improvements, or if further investigation by the appropriately qualified professional is required.
Green home inspections – What a Building Inspector won’t do
A regular building and pest inspector will not carry out a green home building inspection, they undertake inspections to identify defects present in the property. When a green home requires an inspection, it also needs to be evaluated from an additional angle – the Green Star rating.
Green homes are built with a focus on energy and water efficiency. Energy-efficient features such as insulation and double-glazed windows are used throughout a home to ensure it meets green building standards. Then there are water conservation measures, such as low-flow fixtures and rainwater catchments. Consideration is also given to the overall structure, design, and layout of the home, reflecting on natural lighting, ventilation, and thermal mass.
Your inspector can assist in identifying the materials your home is built from and whether there are any defects. They can also identify some of the energy-efficient features that exist, and the type installed (i.e., the type of insulation, whether the windows are double-glazed) and whether they are in good repair. However, they cannot advise as to whether the included features meet the standard required for a Green Star rating.
Building Inspectors are also not qualified to undertake electrical work. It is mandated that a qualified electrician attend the property to inspect and undertake testing of solar battery systems and electricity-saving devices to ensure that everything is in good order.
Building inspectors are also not plumbers. They can check allotment drainage generally, gutters and downpipes for disrepair, and visually inspect tapware for obvious defects, however, as with an electrician, a qualified plumber is the only person who can legally inspect water saving systems for operational functionality and safety.
Inspecting your Brisbane ‘Green Home’ – Green Star rating test
If the property you are buying is advertised as a ‘Green Building’ or ‘Green Home’, check with the Green Building Council Australia to verify whether the property in fact is certified with a Green Star rating. Whilst more homes include ‘green’ features, and may even be advertised as a green home, they may not actually be certified as a green building. You will also need a specialist technician to undertake Green Star rating testing to verify that the ‘green’ features you are paying for are all still in good working order.
Building and pest inspections
Even as green homes are gaining in popularity, some of these developments break a few classic rules about building and pest damage prevention. Gardens and greenery up against structural features are a potential concern with the increased chances of pooling water undermining the soundness of the home’s foundation and giving pests, like termites, easy access to enter the structure.
Your independent pre-purchase building inspector will give you a full and unbiased report as to the current condition of the property, noting any defects, so you can make an informed decision about the purchase of your green home.
While green homes in Brisbane promise sustainability and efficiency, their true value hinges on the multi-layered expert inspections that are required to ensure the tick of approval the property is stamped with is authentic. A qualified independent building and pest inspector can identify structural defects and green features, yet it is essential that a licensed electrician, plumber and qualified Green Star technician perform additional checks. Together, you’ll be protecting both your investment and the environmental intent.