As energy efficiency becomes a global focus in buildings, a new report shows that Australian homes built after 2010 are twice as energy efficient as those built before 2010. This gap is closely related to changes to the National Building Code (NCC), highlighting the importance of policy in improving building standards.
The ACT leads the nation in energy efficiency, with Sydney and Hobart missing out.
CoreLogic's analysis found that homes built after 2010 had a median energy efficiency rating of 5.9 stars, compared to just 2.8 stars for homes built before 2010. According to the latest report, "Amped Up: How Energy Efficient Are Australian Homes?", the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) ranked first in the nation for energy efficiency, with the Molonglo region achieving a median rating of 6.1 stars, making it the only region in Australia to achieve a rating of 6 stars or higher.
In contrast, Sydney and Hobart failed to make the list of the nation's 30 most energy-efficient areas, highlighting the disparity in building quality across the country.
Building codes drive efficiency improvements
Tom Coad, head of banking and financial solutions at CoreLogic, said the significant improvement in housing energy efficiency since 2010 was directly related to the increasing energy requirements of the National Building Code.
"Residential electricity consumption accounts for 241 TP3 tonnes of the nation's total electricity consumption and over 101 TP3 tonnes of carbon emissions. The recent proposal to freeze building codes for ten years will hinder Australia's carbon reduction targets."
He stressed that policymakers should encourage the construction of energy-efficient buildings rather than put the brakes on it.
Global Experience and Local Differences in Energy Efficiency
"As energy efficiency standards increase, the need to measure and analyse the energy resilience of buildings is becoming increasingly important," said Tim Lawless, research director at CoreLogic.
He mentioned that many European countries have implemented mandatory collection of energy efficiency data. For example, in the EU, houses must obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when they are built, sold or rented.
Key findings: Differences in energy efficiency across the country
- ACT leads the nation: Molonglo leads the country with 6.1 stars, followed by parts of Darwin at 6.4 stars.
- Victoria performs strongly: Six regions achieved 5.8 stars, including the regional Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula.
- South Australia sees steady growthAdelaide's Eastern Harbour region recorded 5.5 stars, making it one of the highest in the state.
- Hobart and Sydney lag behind: Although some new homes in Hobart achieved 6.3 stars, its overall performance lagged behind due to the large number of older buildings, recording only 2.6 stars.
Conclusion: Policy promotion and renovation of old buildings should be given equal importance
The energy efficiency of Australian homes has improved significantly, but more efforts should be made to renovate and improve the energy efficiency of older buildings. Following the example of European countries, promoting mandatory energy efficiency ratings may be an important direction for future Australian policymaking.
Improving building energy efficiency not only reduces carbon emissions but also helps lower household energy costs, bringing dual benefits to the environment and residents.
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