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 […]
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 ….
Energy ratings: From planning to finance
August 28, 2020
Energy Ratings are not only be used for National Construction Code compliance: Bank Australia has recently launched the nation’s first Clean Energy Home Loan. Partnering with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Bank Australia have offered up to a 0.5% discount over five years on homes built with a minimum 7-star NatHERS rating. The discount also […]
Homes with higher energy ratings sell for more. Here’s how Australian owners could cash in
January 23, 2020
Homes with higher energy ratings sell for more. Here’s how Australian owners could cash in Daniel Daly, University of Wollongong Everybody wants an energy-efficient home. After all, an energy-efficient home is comfortable to live in, without large energy bills. These can be important factors for prospective home owners or renters. Our review of international research found […]
Energy efficiency ratings don’t measure air tightness, experts have said new measures may be needed
January 17, 2020
Link to article in The Canberra Times by Lucy Bladen
Editorial November 2019
November 7, 2019
A recent article in The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/australias-still-building-4-in-every-5-new-houses-to-no-more-than-the-minimum-energy-standard-118820) shows that the majority of purchasers of new houses in Australia get the minimum allowable energy efficiency level for their new home. The authors reported that this “six-star minimum falls short of what is optimal in terms of environmental, economic and social outcomes. It’s also below the minimum […]
Does the energy efficiency of a new dwelling vary with the socio-economic status of the area in which it is built?
November 7, 2019
(This research was presented by Melissa James at the Improving Residential Energy Efficiency (IREE) conference held in Brisbane in April 2019) New residential buildings in Australia are subject to the energy efficiency provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC). When designed and built they must meet a prescribed minimum standard. Whilst this confers some protection […]
A new data portal from Australia’s national science agency
May 2, 2019
Through the Australian Housing Data (AHD) Portal, CSIRO is centralising a vast amount of energy efficiency data that will underpin key decision making, training and awareness. Around 11.4 per cent Australia’s emissions can be attributed to households, and with construction continuing at a steady pace, the AHD Portal can pinpoint where energy efficiency efforts are […]
Chenath v3.21 update
December 13, 2018
A new Chenath engine (currently assigned version 3.21) is planned for release in 2019 which includes the following potential updates and improvements. Addition of limestone in the construction material library Changes in the effective thermal resistances of waffle pod modelling The effective thermal resistances of waffle pod construction modelling will be changed to R0.57, R0.60, […]
Zero energy home of the future – open for business
December 12, 2018
Net zero energy homes of the future entered the housing market in October 2018 with the opening of a display home at Timbertop Estate near Melbourne. Eight years after the groundbreaking work of CSIRO and partners to complete the Australian Zero Emissions House (AusZEH), Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio recently […]