Budget’s energy bill relief and home retrofit funding is a good start, but dwarfed by the scale of the task
May 11, 2023
Trivess Moore, RMIT University and Ralph Horne, RMIT University The quality and performance of our housing have big impacts on the environment, cost of living and our health and wellbeing. The 2023-24 federal budget’s announcement of $1.6 billion for energy-saving upgrades to housing recognises the broad importance of retrofitting Australian homes. Until now, much of […]
We need a ‘lemon law’ to make all the homes we buy and rent more energy-efficient
April 27, 2023
Trivess Moore, RMIT University; Lisa de Kleyn, RMIT University, and Ralph Horne, RMIT University A long-awaited increase in energy-efficiency requirements for new homes is part of revised Australian construction standards taking effect on May 1. All new homes must achieve a minimum 7-star whole-of-home energy rating from October, following a six-month transition period. It’s a […]
RapidRate: AI-powered home energy insights
April 21, 2023
The challenge Making sense of home energy efficiency The case for energy efficient housing in Australia is clear. There is growing demand for residential energy efficiency data in Australia. Residential houses and apartments account for 23 per cent of Australia’s total electricity use and 11 per cent of carbon emissions. Energy efficient homes are more […]
7-star housing is a step towards zero carbon – but there’s much more to do, starting with existing homes
September 19, 2022
Gill Armstrong, Climateworks Centre; Alan Pears, RMIT University; Margot Delafoulhouze, Climateworks Centre, and Trivess Moore, RMIT University Energy-efficiency standards for new homes in Australia are being upgraded for the first time in a decade. New homes will be required to improve minimum performance from 6 stars to 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating […]
Analysis of 5,500 apartment developments reveals your new home may not be as energy efficient as you think
May 12, 2022
Michael Ambrose, CSIRO Apartment living is booming in Australia. Many people choose apartments for their good energy efficiency, which reduces the need for heating and cooling and leads to lower power bills. But not every apartment is as energy efficient as the development advertises. All proposed new dwellings, including apartments, require an energy rating certificate. […]
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 ….
Australian Energy Rating Webcast
August 28, 2020
With the postponement of the 2020 Energy Rating conference, in its place the team has been running Webcasts to deliver you essential updates. As we continue to run these webcast we invite you to both come along and get involved, help us deliver you the information you want to know. On 27 May 2020 CSIRO […]
Home energy efficiency could be improved significantly through simple tweaks like roof colour
January 24, 2020
Link to article on ABC Radio Perth by Emma Wynne
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 […]