New Homes Achieve Unprecedented Energy Efficiency: What This Means for Future Builds
A recent report shows new homes are significantly more energy-efficient, raising concerns about potential changes to building standards and their impact on costs.
Australia, Energy Efficiency, Building Standards, Canberra, CoreLogic
Canberra: So, there’s this new report that’s got everyone talking about how much more energy-efficient new homes are these days. It turns out that houses built after 2010 are twice as efficient as those built before. That’s a big deal!
The report from CoreLogic shows that newer homes scored an average of 5.9 stars on the energy rating scale, while older homes only managed 2.8 stars. Pretty wild, right?
But here’s where it gets interesting. Some politicians are thinking about freezing building codes for a decade if they win the next election. They argue that the new energy standards are driving up home prices by as much as $60,000. But not everyone agrees with that number.
Tim Lawless from CoreLogic thinks the estimates are off, suggesting it’s more like $10,000. He believes that stepping back on energy standards is a bad move for Australia’s future energy goals.
Residential buildings use a huge chunk of Australia’s electricity and contribute significantly to carbon emissions. Even if these new standards add to home costs, Lawless argues it’s a necessary investment for the environment.
Interestingly, areas with more new homes tend to have better energy ratings. The Molonglo region in Canberra is leading the pack with a median rating of 6.1 stars. Meanwhile, Sydney and Hobart didn’t make the top 30, mainly due to their older housing and other factors.
So, while the debate continues, it’s clear that energy efficiency in new homes is a hot topic that could shape the future of building standards in Australia.