EAPING over the five-star environmental rating for new houses, which came into force last week, an agency claiming to be "the world's first environmental real estate company" has launched a 25-frog eco-efficiency rating.
ECOproperty, which caters for buyers and sellers of eco-efficient homes, farms and businesses, uses frogs rather than stars to rate the ecological sustainability of properties for sale.
"Because we deal with eco-property all around Australia, the properties we assess can be anything from an organic farm, permaculture garden or bush block to an urban or suburban house," the company's founder and managing director Catriona MacDiarmid said.
Owners and real-estate agents can have properties assessed, issued with certificates and listed for sale with ECOproperty. The assessments are made by professionals in real estate, architecture, building, organic farming, permaculture, social sciences, accounting and business development.
Properties on the Victorian-based company's website www.eco.com.au include a NSW South Coast home with organic herb and fruit gardens, a Wyong home with energy-efficient design, solar heating, dams, water tanks and a wildlife conservation agreement, a "biodynamic" cattle property at Bathurst, and acreage with ecotourism approval in prime bird-watching country near Coonabarabran.
But why frogs? "We wanted to use a symbol that was natural and appropriate to our commitment to sustainability," Ms MacDiarmid said. "We chose the rare and endangered Corroboree frog."
She said the five-star standards were a step in the right direction, but applied only to the built environment, while ECOproperty rated an entire property.
"Within five categories land, built environment, community, energy and water we assess a wide range of features."