NEW SOUTH WALES should upgrade to 7-Star energy efficient homes to drastically drive down household bills while reducing emissions, a new report has found.
The Climate Council’s Tents to Castles report reveals living in a 7-Star, all-electric house in central Sydney, would save occupants on average $225 per year on heating and cooling costs, compared to the current building standard of 6-Stars.
In Western Sydney, where temperatures are more extreme in summer, savings would increase to around $400 per year.
Updating the National Construction Code to ensure new buildings in NSW are built to a 7-star minimum would save 46,000 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere every year. That’s the equivalent of $1.3 million of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) or taking almost 28,000 cars off the road.
The report is released as State and Territory Ministers prepare to meet in July to review 11-year old regulations that govern minimum energy efficiency standards in new home builds.
The Climate Council is calling on Ministers to amend the National Construction Code to increase the 6-Star standard to 7-Stars. Even a short delay in implementing this change will lock in higher bills and emissions for decades to come.
Climate Councillor and report co-author, leading economist, Nicki Hutley said:
“Australians cop some of the most expensive energy bills in the world, with as many as 85 percent of us experiencing bill shock last year.
“Greater energy efficiency means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential for tackling climate change. This update would save New South Wales residents who live in these 7-star homes up to $400 every year on energy bills.
“But that’s not where the benefits of making homes more comfortable to live in stops: we can also improve people’s health and wellbeing, reduce emissions, strengthen our energy grid and create jobs.
“Australian homes are energy guzzling compared to those built to higher minimum standards overseas.
“It’s time Australians got to enjoy better living in better quality new homes. It’s a win-win that will raise our standards of living, cut our energy bills and help address climate change.”
Climate Councillor and health Professor Hilary Bambrick added:
“Poor energy efficiency standards have left too many Australians living in substandard homes dubbed as ‘glorified tents’, which are unbearable during summer and freezing in winter.
“In a sunburnt country like Australia it’s appalling that living in environments that are too cold contributes to six percent of deaths. That’s double the rate in Sweden, where winter temperatures reach minus -30oC.
“If we urgently update our new build standards as well as upgrade poorly built existing homes we’ll all be much happier and safer, and as a country we’ll be contributing fewer emissions.”
The Climate Council recommends Australia triple its efforts and aim to reduce national emissions by 75% this decade, and reach net zero by 2035.
People who live in super energy efficient homes are
