QUEENSLAND should upgrade to 7-Star energy efficient homes to drastically drive down household bills while reducing emissions, a new report has found.
The Climate Council's Tents to Castles report found living in a 7-Star, all-electric house in the state's capital Brisbane, would save occupants on average $119 per year on heating and cooling costs compared to the current building standard of 6-Stars. In Cairns, where temperatures are more extreme in summer, savings would increase to $233 per year.
Updating the National Construction Code to make 7-star homes the new standard in the Sunshine State would save 31,000 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere each year. That's the equivalent of $932,000 of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) or taking almost 19,000 cars off the road.
The report is released as State and Territory Ministers prepare to meet in July to review 11-year old regulations that govern minimum energy efficiency standards in new home builds.
The Climate Council is calling on Ministers to amend the National Construction Code to increase the 6-Star standard to 7-Stars. Even a short delay in implementing this change will lock in higher bills and emissions for decades to come.
Climate Councillor and report co-author, leading economist, Nicki Hutley said:
"Australians cop some of the most expensive energy bills in the world, with as many as 85 percent of us experiencing bill shock last year.
"Greater energy efficiency means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential for tackling climate change. This update would save Queenslanders living in these super energy efficient homes up to $233 a year on their energy bills.
"But that's not where the benefits of making homes more comfortable to live in stops: we can also improve people's health and wellbeing, reduce emissions, strengthen our energy grid and create jobs.
"Australian homes are energy guzzling compared to those built to higher minimum standards overseas. It's time Australians got to enjoy better living in better quality new homes. It's a win-win that will raise our standards of living, cut our energy bills and help address climate change."
Climate Councillor and health Professor Hilary Bambrick added:
"Poor energy efficiency standards have left too many Australians living in substandard homes dubbed as 'glorified tents', which are unbearable during summer and freezing in winter.
"In Australia, extreme heat claims about 3000 lives a year.*
"If we urgently update our new build standards as well as upgrade poorly built existing homes we'll all be much happier and safer, and as a country we'll be contributing fewer emissions."
The Climate Council recommends Australia triple its efforts and aim to reduce national emissions by 75% this decade, and reach net zero by 2035.
*Between January 2006 and October 2017, 36,765 Australians lost their lives due to extreme heat.
