Water efficiency is an important part of sustainable housing in Australia. A home may be energy efficient and comfortable, but if it uses water carelessly or relies on a high water landscape, it may not be as resilient or future ready as it could be.
In a Green Star Homes context, water efficiency supports the broader goal of creating homes that are positive, healthy and resilient. It connects fixture selection, appliance choices, rainwater harvesting, irrigation, planting, stormwater, BASIX commitments and the way the home responds to drought, heat and changing rainfall patterns. Green Building Council of Australia YourHome
Water efficiency supports Green Star Homes by reducing household water demand, improving drought resilience and helping homes respond better to Australian climate conditions. It can include efficient showers, taps, toilets and appliances, rainwater tanks, appropriate landscape design, stormwater management and careful coordination with BASIX water commitments where relevant.
Australia’s climate makes water efficiency a practical design issue, not only an environmental idea. Many homes need to respond to dry periods, water restrictions, higher temperatures, changing rainfall, landscape demand and the long term cost of water use.
A water efficient home uses less potable water for everyday activities. It may also make better use of rainwater, reduce unnecessary irrigation demand and select landscaping that suits the climate rather than working against it.
This is especially important in sustainable housing because water, energy and comfort are connected. Hot water uses energy. Garden irrigation affects site resilience. Rainwater systems need roof area, tank location and plumbing coordination. A good water strategy is part of the whole home design, not a separate item added at the end.
Green Star Homes is built around the idea of positive, healthy and resilient homes. Water efficiency supports these outcomes by reducing unnecessary resource use and helping the home respond better to future environmental pressures.
It supports positive outcomes by reducing demand on treated mains water and lowering household water use. It supports healthy outcomes when outdoor areas, gardens and moisture related systems are designed carefully. It supports resilience by helping the home and landscape perform better during dry conditions or water stress.
Water efficiency is therefore part of the broader Green Star Homes story. It sits alongside energy efficiency, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, materials, electrification and climate readiness as part of a more complete residential sustainability outcome.
One of the simplest ways to reduce household water use is to choose efficient fixtures and fittings. Showers, taps and toilets are used every day, so their performance can have a meaningful effect over the life of the home.
YourHome explains that the easiest way to save water around the home is to choose water efficient showers, toilets, taps and appliances. These choices can reduce water use without requiring major changes to how the home is lived in. YourHome
For residential projects, fixture selection should be coordinated with BASIX, specifications and construction documentation where relevant. The fixtures nominated in an assessment or certificate need to match the fixtures intended for the final build.
Appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers also influence household water use. Water efficient appliances can reduce potable water demand and, in some cases, also reduce energy used for hot water or appliance operation.
This is useful because water and energy performance often overlap. A household that uses less hot water may also reduce operational energy demand. A more efficient appliance may reduce both water and electricity use over time.
For a Green Star Homes aligned project, appliance decisions should be considered as part of the whole home performance story. They are not as visually obvious as façade design or glazing, but they affect how the home performs in everyday use.
Rainwater harvesting can reduce reliance on mains water by collecting water from roof areas and storing it for appropriate uses. Depending on the project, rainwater may be used for garden watering, toilet flushing, laundry use or other approved uses.
YourHome notes that harvesting rainwater can be essential for rural areas and can reduce household water bills in urban areas. It also explains that the best water savings are achieved when rainwater is used indoors, for example to supply toilets and washing machines, in addition to garden watering. YourHome
Rainwater systems need early coordination. Tank size, tank location, roof catchment, overflow, plumbing, pump requirements, filtration, maintenance and intended uses all affect how useful the system will be.
Outdoor water use can be significant, especially where the landscape design relies on high water lawns, unsuitable planting or large irrigated areas. A sustainable home should consider the garden as part of the water strategy, not as a separate decorative layer.
Low water planting, climate appropriate species, mulch, soil improvement, shade, efficient irrigation and reduced lawn areas can all reduce demand. In many Australian contexts, restrained native or drought tolerant planting can support both water efficiency and a calmer architectural landscape.
For Green Star Homes, this matters because resilience is not only inside the building. The home’s outdoor spaces should also respond sensibly to heat, drought and local climate conditions.
Water efficiency is not only about using less water inside the home. It also includes how water moves across the site. Rainfall, roof runoff, hard surfaces, drainage, infiltration, garden beds and stormwater systems all affect how the home responds to weather.
A climate ready home should avoid treating stormwater only as a disposal problem. Where appropriate, water sensitive design can help slow, reuse, absorb or redirect water in ways that support the landscape and reduce site impacts.
The right strategy depends on site conditions, local council requirements, soil, slope, rainfall, flood risk, landscaping and project scale. For some homes, simple rainwater and landscaping decisions may be enough. For larger residential projects, stormwater may require a more detailed consultant pathway.
Greywater reuse may be considered in some residential projects. Greywater generally refers to wastewater from showers, basins, baths and laundries, excluding toilet waste. Depending on local rules and system design, it may be reused for certain outdoor or non potable purposes.
YourHome explains that many Australian homes use potable water for nearly everything in the house and garden, and that potable water use can be reduced by treating and reusing greywater and blackwater where appropriate. YourHome
Greywater systems need careful design, maintenance and local compliance. They are not suitable as a casual afterthought. The project team should consider health, plumbing, soil, planting, household products, maintenance and council requirements before relying on greywater as part of a water strategy.
In NSW, BASIX is a key reason water efficiency becomes part of the residential approval process. BASIX covers water, energy and thermal performance for many residential projects, and water commitments can include fixtures, appliances, rainwater tanks, pools, spas, landscaping and other project specific items.
This means the water strategy needs to be realistic and documented clearly. If a BASIX Certificate relies on a rainwater tank, fixture rating or landscape commitment, those items need to be carried through into the drawings, specifications and construction.
For a Green Star Homes aligned project, BASIX water commitments can support the broader water efficiency story, but they are not the whole sustainability conversation. Green Star Homes thinking also asks how the home becomes more resilient and practical over time.
Water efficiency problems often occur when the water strategy is added late or when documentation is not consistent. Common issues include:
A water efficient home is more resilient because it is less dependent on high levels of potable water use. This becomes important during drought, water restrictions, heatwaves and changing rainfall conditions.
Climate resilience is not only about extreme events. It is also about ordinary household systems being better prepared for a less predictable future. Efficient fixtures, appropriate landscapes, rainwater systems and sensible site water design can all help the home perform better over time.
This is why water efficiency fits naturally within Green Star Homes. It is practical, measurable and closely connected to how homes are used every day.
For architects, builders and developers, water efficiency should be reviewed before BASIX, plumbing documentation, landscaping and site planning are locked in. This is especially important where rainwater tanks, pools, irrigation or shared systems are part of the project.
Rainwater tanks need space, access, overflow, pump planning, roof catchment and plumbing connections. They should be shown clearly on the site plan and coordinated with BASIX assumptions where relevant.
Water efficient fixtures and appliances should be selected early enough to align with BASIX, specifications and client expectations. Late changes can affect the certificate or construction commitments.
Landscape design should suit the local climate and water availability. Low water planting, mulch, shade, soil improvement and efficient irrigation can reduce ongoing demand.
Pools and spas can affect both water and energy performance. If they are added or changed, the BASIX and Whole of Home assumptions may need to be reviewed.
BASIX, architectural drawings, landscape plans, hydraulic information and specifications should all describe the same water strategy. Inconsistent documentation can cause confusion during approval or construction.
Certified Energy helps residential project teams understand how water efficiency relates to BASIX, Green Star Homes principles and broader residential sustainability outcomes.
For NSW residential projects, our team can help review BASIX water commitments, fixture assumptions, rainwater tank requirements, pool or spa impacts, landscape water considerations and the relationship between water, energy and thermal performance.
The aim is to help project teams create a clear, practical and consistent water strategy that supports compliance, sustainability and long term residential resilience.
Send your plans to Certified Energy and our team can help review the BASIX, water efficiency and broader sustainability pathway for your home.
Get a QuoteWater efficiency is important because it reduces household water demand, supports climate resilience and helps homes respond better to drought, heat, changing rainfall and long term water stress.
Common water efficiency features include efficient showers, taps, toilets and appliances, rainwater tanks, low water landscaping, efficient irrigation, stormwater management and, in some cases, greywater reuse systems.
Yes. BASIX assesses water, energy and thermal performance for many NSW residential projects. BASIX water commitments may include fixtures, appliances, rainwater tanks, landscaping, pools, spas and other project specific items.
Not every sustainable home needs the same rainwater strategy. Rainwater tanks can be useful, and may be required in some assessment pathways, but the right approach depends on the site, roof catchment, intended uses, local rules and project requirements.
Yes. Landscaping can have a major effect on water use. Low water planting, climate appropriate species, mulch, soil improvement and efficient irrigation can reduce ongoing water demand.
Water efficiency should be reviewed early, before BASIX, plumbing, landscaping, stormwater and site planning are finalised. Early coordination helps avoid inconsistent documentation and late design changes.