Australia Faces the Clean, Green and Affordable Challenge

With home ownership in Australia having fallen from 40% to 33% in just ten years and 24% of renters spending more than 30% of their income on rent*, Australia is in urgent need of clean, green and affordable design solutions to battle climate change and housing affordability. *Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A deciduous creeper planted over a pergola providing shade in summer and sunshine for winter

David Hallett, Victorian State Manager of Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects said, smaller homes are now in demand as Australia's population ages with a trend increasing the number of households with two people rather than a family with children*. *Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.

"This increasing demand for smaller homes, which is a positive for the environment, needs to be supported with clever and affordable design to produce green healthy environments with reduced carbon footprints.

"However, the size of many existing homes in the future would be a major challenge for the government and the community as the current trend of building increasingly big homes had created highly environmentally inefficient living environments across Australia heavily reliant on air conditioners, major contributors to global warming."

Mr Hallett said a better use of materials in construction, orientation of buildings to maximise solar energy, lessening the use of air conditioners and heaters in homes and offices, could make a major impact on global warming.

"One of the biggest issues however, is changing peoples' attitudes to how they manage resources in their homes and workplaces. The simple task of placing a desk near a window in the home office could see natural light being used rather than full time lighting being required.

"Just wearing warmer clothes in winter in the home could see the lowering of the level of heat required.

"Climate change and its increasing extremes in temperature and less but heavier rainfall events mean new housing and renovations must use smarter and clever design backed by appropriate design standards to ensure homes will cope in the future."

The use of eaves in homes has a major impact on a property's sustainability increasing water harvesting potential by 20% providing valuable shade over windows and walls, keeping homes cooler in summer and conserving power. Eaves also offer the added protection to the interior of the home from flooding with internal spouts, Mr Hallett said.

"Historically the eave was a fundamental part of Australian homes, however, in the last decade its removal for fashion and mock building design has seen the building of hundreds of thousands of homes poorly equipped to cope with climate change demands such as increasing temperatures and storms.

"The future cost of power and water will be a driving market force to support government policy of the introduction of national binding building codes that in the long term will enhance the marketability of homes. The real estate industry is already promoting the 'Green Credentials' of homes for sale.

"With increased densities being pushed by Governments a green environment at home is becoming an increasing priority for home owners and home buyers becoming more conscious about their homes delivering healthy environments to deliver lifestyle outcomes."

Through Archicentre's design report service we are finding that renovators are focused on integrating landscaped outdoor areas into their informal living areas with the inclusion of walls of folding glass doors opening onto paved outdoor areas and decks.

"Basically people want to ensure they have a quiet spot within their home environment where they can relax and unwind from a busy world and adding the garden as a room is an affordable solution.

"The important issue for all home buyers is that they run the GREEN RULER over any property that they are purchasing to ensure that the property can be renovated in a cost effective way to deliver an environmental outcome," Mr Hallett added.

Archicentre has released a Guide to Sustainable Homes available for download at http://www.archicentre.com.au/pdf/Sustainablehomes309.pdf

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
David Hallett, Victorian State Manager Archicentre (03) 9819 4577 Mobile: 0439 439 115
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201

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