Aussie homes are were most likely to have a metal roof, brick veneer walls, and a concrete floor.
A new data portal from CSIRO will track residential energy efficiency progress to support the next wave of sustainable homes.
Through the Australian Housing Data (AHD) Portal, CSIRO is centralising a vast amount of energy efficiency data that will underpin key decision making, training and awareness.
Around 11.4 per cent of Australia’s emissions can be attributed to households, and with construction continuing at a steady pace, the AHD Portal can pinpoint where energy efficiency efforts are on track, and where they may need increased focus.
The AHD Portal will be an important tool in tracking and supporting the progress of the national plan agreed by COAG Energy Ministers that sets a trajectory towards zero energy (and carbon) homes in Australia.
Key findings include:
- 195,000 new homes were built in Australia in the past year
- Average dwellings were most likely to have a metal roof, brick veneer walls, and a concrete floor
- There is steady progress in the building of high-performance homes, especially in Tasmania and the ACT
- Overall, Australian homes are increasing in size, with an average floor area of 132 m2 (this includes houses and apartments)
- The average newly-constructed home had an energy rating of 6.2 stars. This is an improvement since the introduction of star ratings in 2001, when the average home was estimated at 1.8.
This article was first published in The Fence magazine.