The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has launched a new data portal to centralise information relating to Australian homes as part of a program to make them more energy efficient.
CSIRO’s Australian Housing Data (AHD) Portal is able to pinpoint where energy efficiency efforts are on track, and where they might need increased focus.
Director, Grids and Energy Efficiency Research at the CSIRO, Stephen White said the AHD Portal would be an important tool in tracking and supporting the progress of the national plan agreed by Energy Ministers at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
Dr White said the plan sets a trajectory towards zero energy (and carbon) homes in Australia.
He said key findings from data (based on apartments and houses) included that 195,000 new homes were built in Australia in the past year and that there had been steady progress in the building of high-performance homes, especially in Tasmania and the ACT.
Dr White said that overall, Australian homes were increasing in size, with an average floor area of 132 square metres and that the average dwellings were likely to have a metal roof, brick veneer walls, and a concrete floor.
“The average newly-constructed home had an energy rating of 6.2 stars,” Dr White said.
“This is an improvement since the introduction of star ratings in 2001, when the average home was estimated at 1.8 stars,” he said.
“This translates to an annual saving of approximately $560 in energy bills and 2.3 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in greenhouse emissions per house.”
He said the data showed steady progress in residential sustainability efforts.
“In order to meet national challenges of sustainable energy and resilient cities, it’s vital that we track progress,” Dr White said.
“As an independent research Agency driving innovation in energy, particularly residential energy rating, CSIRO is well placed to do this,” he said.
