An ambitious new standard for Australian homes will help drive the transformation of the housing market to ensure new homes are built to a higher standard which is focused on health, resilience and net zero energy.
As part of a webinar on future homes, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released the report Green Star for Homes: A strategy for the future.
CEO Davina Rooney said the GBCA has been working in partnership with industry and government to help accelerate the transformation that has already begun in the residential sector.
“The delivery of new homes that meet a Green Star standard at volume is ambitious and challenging, but we are confident that we can support the housing market to deliver the transformation that has already begun,” Ms Rooney said.
“Since its inception, our voluntary Green Star certification program has demonstrated the appetite of Australian companies to take action to achieve a lower emissions future.
“Green Star has helped define what we expect from our buildings, and importantly, it has created opportunities and value for all those who help create our buildings and cities to deliver on these expectations.”
With more than 2,600 certifications and the uptake of Green Star continuing to increase, Ms Rooney said extending into the residential homes space was the next logical step to achieving emissions reduction at scale.
“All the evidence clearly establishes that living in a healthier, more energy efficient and resilient home is better for people, for families, and for the planet,” she said.
Data shows that on average, Australian families spend 90 per cent of their time indoors, with two-thirds of this at home. So it’s not surprising to hear that 57 per cent of Australia’s total emissions come from our homes.
“If we are serious about limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees, as committed to in the Paris Agreement, we can’t ignore our homes,” Ms Rooney said.
She explained that all Green Star rated homes should be powered by renewables, comfortable and resilient to future climate change.
“We are currently engaging with industry and government to develop a standard that will achieve these outcomes,” she said.
“The release of this strategy now builds on the extensive consultation we have already undertaken and enables deeper engagement with industry and government to seek further feedback.”
A comprehensive pilot period will test the standard with industry and investors to ensure it is fit for purpose in helping support consumer demand, provide a competitive advantage for volume home builders, and assure outcomes for banks, investors and insurers.
We have had strong interest in the pilot program and we are pleased to announce early commitments from Chatham Homes, Delos, Development Victoria, HEZ Development, Ingenia Communities, Metricon, New South Homes, Rawson Homes and Stockland.
