Start over with your acreage

Buying any kind of Australian real estate is exciting, and presents the new owner with plenty of opportunities to revamp their lifestyle, or fundamentally change how they live on a daily basis. However, the most prominent chance to reinvent one's lifestyle comes from moving from residential real estate to a luxury rural property.

When it comes to owning a house in the country, you open yourself up to new entertainment options, better ways to host people and a myriad of ways to enjoy your leisure time. But something that can often be overlooked is the chance to completely change your interaction with the environment.

Owning a luxury rural property gives rise to many ways in which you can reduce your environmental footprint, and save money in the long run.

Solar

Reducing your reliance on electricity generated from fossil fuels is a great way to feel better about your lifestyle, and can reduce your power bill. While you may not want to go completely "off the grid", complementing your power use with a supplemental source of solar energy can certainly make a difference, according to YourHome - Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable homes.

If your acreage is large enough, you could consider investing in freestanding solar panels, but most likely you will opt for the variety that attaches to the roof. Not only are these unobtrusive, but they catch a lot of sun.

By installing solar panels on your roof, you can reduce your environmental impact without harming the aesthetic appeal of your property or taking up usable land. Even if you decide not to go the whole hog with solar power, it could still be very beneficial to link your hot water supply to solar panels, as well as the heating for the pool. Heating up water is one of the single biggest drains on your power bill according to YourHome.

Wind and water

This will depend on your specific set up, but if your land has the suitability and the space, you could seriously consider a wind or water turbine. Wind turbines can be large and noisy, but newer developments have decreased the size and noise profile of these machines, while increasing their output. Probably only an option for the biggest of spreads, it is still worth considering. The Australian Government body YourHome recommends consulting a local installer to assess suitability.

If you're fortunate enough to have an all-year stream or river running through your property, one or two water turbines could drastically reduce your needs for conventional power supply, without costing you too much. There is also the added benefit of these systems being largely unseen and unheard.

If you have a seasonal stream that only kicks in in winter, you could opt for a small generator to pick up the slack from your solar power system while the sun is away and the rain is pouring.

Going green

Owning a large spread of land opens up opportunities for those with green thumbs or any experience in animal husbandry. If you work from home, or no longer need to work, running a few animals on your land could provide a serious means of generating your own food, while also giving you a new pursuit to enjoy. Keeping a coop of chickens is probably the easiest to undertake, and could provide a good supply of eggs according to the Department of Industry.

More likely, you will be inclined towards a veggie garden or an orchard of fruit trees. Gardening is a very rewarding experience and is an obvious benefit of living the Australian rural lifestyle. While you may not be planting rows of corn or fields of beetroot, you could quite easily assemble some planter boxes or retain a small section of your land, to start a more suitably sized vegetable patch.

If you're new to vegetable growing, pick plants that are easy to grow, which can get you into the swing of things. Planting tomatoes, green beans and capsicums is a good way to start. Working your way up to more finicky plants can be done over time.

Best of all, with all of the fresh produce you are able to provide for your own table, not only will you keep the grocery bill down, but you can be assured that everything was grown 100 per cent organically in your own garden. Giving excess fresh fruit and veggies to your friends, family and neighbours is a great way to establish yourself in your new rural community.