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Compared with a standard project home, KPMG forecast reductions in energy consumption in the first year of a green building’s life of 60 per cent, 56 per cent and 56 per cent in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne respectively, and falls in greenhouse emissions of 37 per cent, 33 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively.
With energy costs expected to increase, the benefits to consumers of a more energy-efficient home would increase over time.
Chris Nunn’s record of the extremes in temperature in his old 1950s weatherboard house, typical of many in Australia.Credit: Chris Nunn
The chief executive of Green Building Council Australia, Davina Rooney, said it had always known a Green Star home was better for the planet and for occupants’ health.
“Now we have independent modelling to show that it is also better for your hip pocket,” she said.
“An energy-efficient home commands a premium on the sale price of up to 10 per cent, according to research from the University of Wollongong.”
Condensation caused mould to grow inside and behind the walls of the Nunns’ old weatherboard house. Credit: Chris Nunn
Chris Nunn said his old home was typical of many. The weatherboard cottage in Sydney’s north had no insulation in the walls or under the floorboards, it had single glazed windows and no external shading, and it used 10 times as much energy to run as the home he built on the same block for his family.
It was far from the healthy indoor temperature range of 18 to 24 degrees recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Nunn is a sustainability expert and the general manager of environment, social and governance at Scape, which builds student housing. He decided to practise what he preached.
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“[The new house] has perfect temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees inside year round, and heating and cooling are only required on extreme days,” he said.
The two-year-old home was the first Green Star home to meet the standard established by the Green Building Council.
“Humidity is always right. You just cannot get condensation or mould because of the way that the construction is done, with double-glazed windows, air tightness, sealing and improved insulation.”
The discounted green home loan was an extra incentive, he said.
“You can access cheaper interest rates by having a clean energy home loan. So, the interest rate payments are lower. Plus we are literally saving $2000 to $3000 a year on energy bills [the cost in 2019], which is more disposable income that you can put towards your home loan.”
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