{"id":85954,"date":"2024-08-14T05:57:08","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T20:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=85954"},"modified":"2024-08-23T14:48:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T05:18:28","slug":"energy-efficiency-australian-homes-mb2985","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/energy-efficiency-australian-homes-mb2985\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Efficiency: New Australian Homes Performing Better Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Air<\/p>\n

New homes in Australia are more comfortable and have lower energy bills as a result of marked improvements in air tightness says the CSIRO.<\/p>\n

Heating and cooling Australian homes, particularly older buildings, is an energy intensive activity accounting for (depending on who you ask) around 36% of an average household’s energy consumption. While standards for energy efficiency have become stricter over time, millions of homes were constructed before minimum energy efficiency standards even existed.<\/p>\n

The minimum energy standard for new homes is currently 7-stars in some states and 5 – 6 in others. But homes built before 2003 average 1.5 stars; and these homes can be a money pit when it comes to heating and cooling. One of the issues is air tightness. The more gaps there are – for example, under doors – the more heat is lost in winter and gained in summer; increasing energy bills by up to 20 per cent states the CSIRO. These gaps can also allow more dust, pollen and other pollutants to enter a home.<\/p>\n

But air tightness has improved dramatically in recent years according to recent research from the organisation, which indicates new Australian homes are up to 50 per cent more airtight compared to the new homes tested in 2015. This was based on an assessment of 233 apartments and detached houses built in the last four years in Melbourne, Sydney Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide; but excluded homes that were specifically designed for air tightness.<\/p>\n

Improving, But Could Be Even Better<\/h2>\n

However, there is further room for improvement as leakages were found in most new homes. These were mainly associated with bathroom fans (especially combination ones), sliding doors and poor or missing door seals. Door seals were the biggest issue, identified in 65 per cent of houses tested.<\/p>\n

Suggestions for addressing these issues include swapping out a fan with one featuring a damper that closes the fan when it\u2019s not in use, using sealant to fill gaps in walls, and sealing strips fitted around doors and windows. Even a trusty door snake will help stop draughts under the door.<\/p>\n

But sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome other homes, particularly apartments, were found to be extremely airtight, which can result in issues impacting building performance and resident health, if controlled ventilation is not included,” said<\/a> Senior Experimental Scientist and project lead Michael Ambrose.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Without controlled ventilation, condensation and mould can form and carbon dioxide\/monoxide levels increase, impacting the health of those living within such homes.<\/p>\n

The CSIRO’s report has included recommendations for improving Australian building codes in relation to air tightness. Among them:<\/p>\n