STEPS
The STEPS program - Sustainable Tools for Environmental Performance Strategy - was developed to assess the environmental impact of dwellings and has been adopted by many councils to be included in planning applications. STEPS seeks to reduce the environmental impact of development by:
Reducing the total operating greenhouse emissions (kilograms of CO2) per 'resident'
Adopting enonomically viable energy efficiency design initiatives
STEPS awards scores for the five most critical elements in constructing environmentally sustainable dwellings:
Greenhouse emissions from operating energy
Peak energy use
Mains (drinking) water use
Stormwater quality impacts
Building materials impacts
STEPS also provides a calculation for the number of bicycle spaces required and the areas needed to provide for waste recycling services.