Better building standards are good for the climate, your health, and your wallet. Here’s what the National Construction Code could do better
October 4, 2021
Trivess Moore, RMIT University; Alan Pears, RMIT University; Erika Bartak, The University of Melbourne, and Nicola Willand, RMIT University The recent IPCC report highlighted we must urgently transition to a low carbon future. One low hanging fruit is to improve the sustainability of new and existing housing. Minimum performance and quality requirements for new housing […]
What is dust? And where does it all come from?
September 28, 2021
Mark Patrick Taylor, Macquarie University; Cynthia Faye Isley, Macquarie University; Kara Fry, Macquarie University, and Max M Gillings, Macquarie University Everything in our homes gathers dust. But what exactly is it? Where does it come from, and why does it keep coming back? Is it from outside? Is it fibres from our clothes and cells […]
CSIRO energy site to lead emissions target
August 30, 2021
A decade after CSIRO and collaborators designed, built and verified Australia’s first zero emission house, CSIRO is aiming to achieve net zero emissions for: its Newcastle Energy Centre by 2025, all of CSIRO by 2030, and all of its indirect emissions and value chains by 2050. The Zero Emission House – Australia’s first volume built […]
Battery installs dashboard added
August 18, 2021
A new dashboard has been added to the AHD portal that looks at battery installs into homes. The dashboard is based on voluntarily disclosed data for batteries that were installed at the same time as the solar PV system and comes from data obtained from the Clean Energy Regulator. Collection of grid-connected installations with disclosed […]
Complicated, costly and downright frustrating: Aussies keen to cut emissions with clean energy at home get little support
August 4, 2021
Hugo Temby, Australian National University and Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Australian National University Even after A$4,000 in repairs, Heather’s $18,000 rooftop solar and battery system is still not working. Heather worked as a nurse until a workplace accident caused her to leave the workforce. She put most of her compensation towards making a switch to clean energy, […]
‘Die of cold or die of stress?’: Social housing is frequently colder than global health guidelines
July 22, 2021
Daniel Daly, University of Wollongong; Federico Tartarini, University of Wollongong; Gordon Waitt, University of Wollongong; Michael Tibbs, University of Wollongong; Paul Cooper, University of Wollongong, and Theresa Harada, University of Wollongong As you huddle inside this winter – possibly as part of a pandemic lockdown – you might be noticing the “thermal performance” of your […]
This is no time to delay raising minimum home energy ratings
November 5, 2020
Article in The Fifth Estate by Rob McLeod Go to article ….
Mould and damp health costs are about 3 times those of sugary drinks. We need a healthy housing agenda
October 26, 2020
Rebecca Bentley, University of Melbourne and Emma Baker The World Health Organisation has always been interested in housing as one of the big “causes of the causes”, of the social determinants, of health. The WHO launched evidence-based guidelines for healthy housing policies in 2019. Australia is behind the eight ball on healthy housing. Other governments, […]
Sustainable home upgrades for every budget
September 24, 2020
Article in The Guardian by Josh Byrne outlining simple actions that can be adopted in the retrofitting of your house or apartment to use less energy. Go to article
Australia’s biggest challenges driving innovation – Good quality housing is even more important
August 28, 2020
Editorial In order to build comfortable and cost- effective homes for the future it is vital to continue adapting and innovating to our changing climate and environment. 2020 began for us in Australia with the largest bushfires in recent history. Bushfires are increasingly affecting more and more of our population due to expanding urban sprawl […]