WANT to do your bit to ‘go green’ but not sure what to do or how to go about it if you’re building a new home? Luxury Perth builder RiverStone has done all the homework for you.

The company has identified the energy-saving and water-saving features that can make the most difference and made them part of its standard specification.

The custom-builder has also lined up a comprehensive list of optional extras to choose from so that you can boost your new home’s green credentials even further if you wish.

Tim Marshall, operations director at RiverStone, says the company is well equipped to advise clients on all things green and sustainable when it comes to building a bespoke home.

“We have done significant research and can achieve that fine balance between great design, the client’s brief, and the client’s budget,” Tim says.

With the new 6-star energy rating and carbon tax among today’s hot topics, homebuyers are increasingly demanding smart homes that keep electricity and water bills to a minimum.

Water tanks and solar hot water systems have been topping the list of must-haves for many RiverStone clients so the builder now includes a 5,000-litre underground water tank and a gas-boosted solar hot water system in all its homes.

Harvesting rainwater to use in the toilets and laundry trough, the water tank and pumping system can easily be upgraded so that it feeds garden reticulation, too.

Placing the system below ground means there’s no unsightly tank taking up valuable space on today’s smaller building blocks.

Many clients are also opting to add a greywater system or provision for a greywater system.

The energy-efficient solar hot water system included in RiverStone’s standard specification is gas-boosted so that clients are never without hot water.

All RiverStone pools come with solar heating or provision to add solar heating down the track and the company’s air-conditioning systems use energy-efficient inverter technology.

“Again, we’ve done the research to find the most efficient and cost-effective systems for our clients,” Tim says.

Many homebuyers are also weighing up options such as photovoltaics and double-glazing, turning to their builder to help them make considered decisions.

As a result, RiverStone has teamed up with a range of suppliers to offer clients the product knowledge and competitive pricing they need.

Using thermally-broken double glazing, for example, can be a great solution if you want lots of glass without compromising your home’s energy rating or you simply want to keep noise out.

Clients who have installed a 1.5kW photovoltaic system, which turns the sun’s energy into electricity, report reduced power bills.

At the end of the day, however, nothing beats good design when it comes to energy-efficiency.

Making the best use of your block’s orientation is the first step to helping your new home stay naturally warm in winter and cool in summer.

“It is so important to maximise the northern sun and the natural air flow,” Tim says.

In many respects, orientation is the big “freebie”, especially when you’re working with a luxury builder that individually designs all its homes.