Building green to save money

Simple energy efficiency improvements in new housing stock can slash energy bills, cut Australia’s emissions by 10.8 million tonnes, and deliver comfortable and resilient homes, a new report suggests.

The Bottom Line – Household Impacts of Delaying Improved Energy Requirements in the Building Code, has been developed by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and ClimateWorks Australia.

The report finds that simple energy efficiency changes – such as sealing air leakages, installing ceiling fans in warmer climates, and improving insulation in cooler climates – could cut energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 51 per cent across a range of housing types and climate zones. This is equivalent to at least a 1 star National Housing Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) rating.

Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer of the Green Building Council of Australia, remarked that the report underscores the pressing need for more robust residential energy standards in the National Construction Code (NCC).

“Our residential and commercial buildings represent almost a quarter of Australia’s emissions and over half of the electricity demand, yet they have the potential to reach zero carbon through existing, cost effective technologies”, Madew says.

“This means buildings can achieve significant emissions reductions today, while other sectors are still developing new technologies and approaches.

The report, which was produced with the support of the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living and the RACV, also found that better energy standards would improve comfort and health in a changing climate.

“Forecasts show that some Australian cities face the prospect of 50-degree days by 2050. We need to update the NCC to ensure that our homes are built to a standard that provides safe indoor temperatures,” she adds.

Energy efficient homes are not only more comfortable and healthy, they also put less stress on the electricity grid, the report found. This means lowering electricity costs and reducing energy bills, at a time when many families are struggling to cope with rising living costs.