New industry definitions for low-energy and zero-carbon homes

New industry definitions contained in a report developed by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) will deliver a common language for low-energy and zero-carbon homes.

The report, Defining Zero Emission Buildings - Review and Recommendations, was developed by ASBEC’s Zero Emissions Residential Task Group with the support of Sustainability Victoria and in conjunction with the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at the University of Technology Sydney.

With guidance and support from a broad range of stakeholders, this paper marks the first stage of a comprehensive strategy designed to promote a shift to low- and zero-emission housing in Australia by 2020.

The report recommends adopting common language and definitions for use in the discussion of low-energy residential development and is aimed at equipping both industry and the consumer with a clearer understanding of the low-emission-housing landscape.

“Acknowledging the lack of clarity in this area, ASBEC’s Zero Emissions Residential Task Group has been working closely with ISF to produce a strong set of recommendations relating to a common language for low-emissions housing,” said Mark Allan, Task Group Chair, representing the Green Building Council of Australia.

“We are encouraged to see so much work being done in Australia around low-carbon homes and this paper will serve to strengthen the discussion on how we bring these concepts into the mainstream market.”

“The residential sector is estimated to be responsible for nearly 10% of Australia’s total emissions - making it an obvious target for sustainability initiatives,” says ASBEC’s Chair Tom Roper.

“It is vital that we are all speaking the same language and using the same terminology to ensure that expectations are met, particularly if we are to be measuring and reporting accurately and consistently across government, industry and the consumer market,” Roper added.

A number of low-emission housing projects are underway in Australia, among them the CSIRO’s Australian Zero Emissions House, Mirvac’s Harmony 9 house with a 9.2 Star+ NatHERS rating, Climate Positive’s Cape Paterson Ecovillage, South Australia’s Zero Carbon Challenge and Sustainability Victoria’s Zero Emissions Neighbourhoods project.

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency also released The Pathway to 2020 for Low-Energy, Low-Carbon Buildings in Australia: Indicative Stringency Study in 2010, outlining the legislative regime available to government to stimulate a transition to low-emissions buildings, further highlighting the clear path emerging towards a low-carbon residential sector.

”ASBEC looks forward to engaging across the sector to encourage the use of this terminology and to promote the residential sector’s transition to a low-carbon future,” Roper concluded.