Support for tougher rules on green housing

Sunday Age
Sunday 3/8/2008 Page: 5

TOUGHER rules to make new houses greener could "easily" be achieved and are widely supported by people who recently built, or are planning to build, a home, a Government commissioned report has found. The report, obtained by The Sunday Age under freedom-of-information laws, found that the State Government could improve the energy rating scheme for new homes from five stars to six "immediately and with no major problems" and seven stars was "attainable in the medium term."

Spring Street is reviewing the five-star system, which makes it compulsory for new homes to have either a solar hot-water system or a rainwater tank. Houses are also required to have more energy-efficient building materials, restricted water pressure and reduced flow rates for shower heads and taps. Victoria's system was an Australian-first, but international comparisons have since found that for a climate like Melbourne's, 7.5 stars is the average mandated minimum in developed nations.

The Sunday Age believes that the Government is considering scrapping the choice between the rain tank and solar hot water and will instead focus on setting water, energy and stormwater targets and additional requirements for lighting, heating and cooling. The Government is facing stiff opposition from the building industry, which opposes more regulation on new homes. The Master Builders Association argues that more "stars" reduce housing affordability and existing houses should instead face energy-efficiency standards.

But the report - the only one of seven climate change policy documents the Brumby Government has not released publicly contradicts the argument that home builders are unwilling to pay extra upfront costs. The report's author, Wallis Consulting Group, conducted four focus groups with different home builders: some from the inner city, others from new suburbs, some who individually designed their homes, others who brought "off the plan."

Most of the home builders interviewed wanted the Government to be more "strict" with energy regulations and were happy with six stars. Six stars was explained as better insulation and orientation of the house on the block. The groups were told this would add 1-2% to building costs but reduce demand for heating and cooling by 24%.

The focus groups also backed seven stars - which includes even better insulation, ensuring no large unprotected windows faced east or west, and eaves on windows - but there was some resistance, particularly from those who felt it may be difficult to change the way a house sat on a small block, and from those who did not want to modify windows.

It was explained the seven stars would add 2-6% to building costs but reduce demand for heating and cooling by 45%. Eight stars, which included a high standard of insulation, careful design and orientation would, the focus groups were told, add 4-12% to the cost of a house but reduce heating and cooling needs by 65%.

This was supported only in greenfields developments such as housing estates. "This rating would act as a deterrent to most to build and the cost implications are seen to be large," the report found. But the authors did find universal support for the progressive tightening of regulations over time. The report also found that people have a "very poor and confused" knowledge of green energy and there was little appetite for regulation of lighting.