MORE than 90 people including home owners, sponsors, committee members and the public took part in last Sunday’s Kalgoorlie-Boulder Sustainable House Day.

Coordinator, Linda Parker from Outback Energy Supply, said the community involvement was about a 45 per cent increase on last year.

“I have spoken to the national coordinators ... there were 11,500 visitors nation-wide with 142 houses. WA had 645 visitors, Perth having 479 guests to three households,” Ms Parker said.

“So Kalgoorlie, with four houses and 90 people and Esperance with 70 people and five houses are definitely showing how things are done.”

There were some reoccurring messages from the home owners – Jasmine and Jim Thomson, Elyce and Colin Donaghy, Morrie Goodz and Robin Lonsdale and Clare and Andrew Kirke – who opened their energy-saving homes for inspection.

Ideas showcased were swimming pool covers create the biggest single energy saving; good insulation and sealing off roof-top air-conditioners in winter helps cut heating bills; solar-assisted hot water systems and solar arrays can cut electricity costs in the long term; native plants and mulching cuts water usage on gardens; you can grow your own vegetables on a small house block; and water tanks will provide a significant saving in water costs.

The winners of the BP Solar donated fuel vouchers where Ainsley Cambell and Rosemary Dexter.