A Government-led northern suburbs housing development will feature exclusively light-coloured roofs, in a plan to increase sustainability and decrease household electricity bills.
The Playford Alive housing development in Munno Para comprises, mostly, of houses with dark-coloured roofs – known to draw and retain heat, creating a phenomenon called the ‘urban heat island effect’.
The effect results in hotter streets, increased daytime temperatures, and reduced night-time cooling.
According to this Seed Consulting 2018 heat mapping report, northern suburbs light roofed houses were 4.3°C cooler than average during the day, while dark roofed houses were 4.6°C hotter than average during the day.
The same report found light roofed buildings were 5.81°C cooler that average during the day, while dark roofed buildings were 4°C hotter than average during the day.
This compares to a western suburbs 2017 report dark roofs were 2.8°C above the average surface temperature while light roofs were 2.3°C cooler, equating to substantially less heat absorbed.
Research shows light-coloured roofs reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, resulting in cooler indoor temperatures and reduced energy consumption for cooling purposes. This is especially important in greenfield projects, like Playford Alive, where the tree canopy is still developing.
Dark-coloured roofs will be eliminated in all future stages of the Playford Alive development, while National Construction Code (NCC) changes – including new sustainability measures – will be implemented across South Australia from October 1 this year.
Changes to the NCC include the introduction of mandated 7-Star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) ratings on residential homes and 5-Star National Australian Built Environment (NABERS) ratings for all new commercial developments.
To achieve the standards, consideration will be given to house orientation to maximise shade and solar access, increased glazing and insulation standards, new lighting standards and eliminating dark roof and wall colours to reduce solar absorption and heat retention.
The move at Playford Alive is a significant step forward in promoting environmental responsibility and enhancing the overall energy efficiency of properties at Playford Alive – a financial win for residents experiencing growing cost-of-living pressures.
It is part of a series of sustainability measures Renewal SA intends on rolling out as the development progresses.
Sixty per cent of the 28 blocks within Stage 6G – bound by Coventry Road and Newton Boulevard – are being sold at an affordable price point starting from $170,000 for land. Demand for land at Playford Alive remains strong, with the lots in Stage 6G selling quickly, with only two lots currently remaining.
Renewal SA is selling 35 allotments in Stage 6H at Playford Alive in the first quarter of this year, to further assist in reducing land shortages and provide more affordability and accessibility to home buyers.
The Malinauskas Labor Government’s Better Housing Future plan is working to
improve housing affordability and rental market capacity in South Australia.
Through the plan, the Government has implemented significant reforms to release record amounts of land, cut taxes for home buyers, turnaround the long-term decline in public housing, streamline planning approvals, and reform the rental market to
deliver new benefits to tenants.
As put by Nick Champion
Encouraging the use of light-coloured roofs in home designs helps to reduce temperature fluctuations in the home – lowering electricity bills and minimising the environmental footprint associated with traditional building practices.
This is an opportunity for Government to lead the way and encourage developers and builders to get on board with these more sustainable, energy-friendly measures.
It is imperative that we mitigate any potential urban heat island effect by implementing these changes now, as our infill is built-up to meet housing demands.
As put by Master Builders Association director of communications and policy Kym Morgan
Light-coloured roofing just makes sense, particularly out north where we know it gets hotter.
It leads to significantly cooler homes and that ultimately means less time running air conditioners and lower energy bills. It also means cooler suburbs if consumers adopt lighter roofs en masse.
Well done to the SA Government for taking the lead. As the peak industry group for the building and construction industry, Master Builders SA will encourage private builders in this stage of Playford Alive to also get on-board and steer their consumers towards light-coloured roofing.
