Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of Archicentre said with every household in Australia on average producing 14 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, which is almost a fifth of Australia's total, a national Climate Change Building and Management Code needs to be introduced.

Mr Caulfield said,"the success of any climate change policies recommended by the Garnaut Report to be delivered to the Federal Government and the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday will largely depend on behavioural change by Australian home owners.

"You can put the most water efficient shower head available in the home but if people continue to have half hour showers the initiative is a failure."

Mr Caulfield said, the introduction of the Home Owners Green Manual for every new home or commercial building would provide builders with a major marketing opportunity to stress the environmental advantages of their project and provide environmental maintenance tips to protect the value of the asset.