Water
Our water reporting follows the principles set out in the guidelines adopted for emissions.
Download Emissions & Water Footprint spreadsheet
The apparently dramatic increase in water consumption reported for our development and housing activities (6 percent in 2008, up from 0 percent in 2007) is a consequence of errors with billing and interpretation of billing in 2007. We believe our development and housing results are more accurate this year. We chose to overcome these issues by extrapolating data from the sites with statistics that we are most confident about and, as a consequence, confidence factors applied to data for individual sites have in most cases been lowered from 40 to 20%. The investment portfolio was not affected.
Case study
Landscape Philosophy for Clarendon Victoria Homes Display
Clarendon Homes Victoria first engaged cycas to develop landscape designs for display homes in Melbourne in 2007. Cycas is committed to sustainable practice in landscaping and the landscapes they have created around Clarendon Homes display homes have been developed adhering to sustainability principles as closely as possible given the constraints of budget, location and timing.
The landscape design incorporates low maintenance and drought tolerant plantings and keeps hard landscape areas to a minimum. Trees are used for climate control in these gardens and surface treatments allow for ground water replenishment and moisture retention. Planting regimes in Clarendon display homes are generally upward of 75% indigenous with the balance being appropriate exotics that can thrive in the given locations.
In relation to hard landscape; where solid paving is desired, both natural stone material and man made product manufactured by companies with sound environmental credentials have been specified. Areas in these displays that do not require solid paving are treated with decking with plantation or recycled timber and casual pathways are combinations of gravels and stepping stones to allow permeability.
The soft landscaping in these gardens are always mulched, whether it be through organic means or using gravels and aggregates providing both moisture retention and aesthetic value. Materials such as pebbles sourced from Asia have been discouraged and materials such as quarried bi-product encouraged.
Cycas have advised Clarendon Victoria that there is room for further improvement. In particular, cycas have recommended that both Clarendon Homes and the developers of the estates they display in develop the infrastructures to allow for harvesting both rain and grey water, incorporating solar and wind generated electricity systems, and reforesting our urban environment.
Clarendon Victoria display homes with water-sensitive landscaping. Click to enlarge.