<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334986</docID> <postdate>2024-12-10 10:05:29</postdate> <headline>New homes lead the way in energy efficiency</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-334989" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205146305495674-original-1.jpg" alt="" width="702" height="468" /></p> <caption>Canberra boasts some of the most energy efficient homes in the country. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Jacob Shteyman</b> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The improved energy efficiency of new homes has been revealed, sparking calls for politicians not to water down building standards that would result in steeper electricity bills for residents.</strong></p> <p>The typical house built in 2010 or later is twice as energy efficient as one built before then, when new minimum standards in the National Construction Code were introduced, a report by property analytics provider CoreLogic has found.</p> <p>Newer builds achieved a median rating of 5.9 stars out of 10 on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), compared to 2.8 stars for pre-2010 houses.</p> <p>The findings follow a promise by the coalition to freeze the building code for a decade if they succeed at the next federal election, due by May 17.</p> <p>They claim changes to energy efficiency standards have added up to $60,000 to the price of a new home.</p> <p>CoreLogic research director Tim Lawless questioned the coalition's figures, saying there was conjecture around the estimates, with some industry bodies putting the cost at closer to $10,000.</p> <p>"For the advancement of Australia's energy outcomes, I really think taking a pause or a step backwards on energy resilience is the wrong way to go," Mr Lawless told AAP.</p> <p>Residential buildings account for almost a quarter of Australia's electricity usage and more than a tenth of the country's carbon emissions.</p> <p>Even if the emissions standards do add to the cost of new builds, it's a cost the government should be supporting, Mr Lawless said.</p> <p>"Otherwise, the fact is we'll get closer to 2050 and we'll find we're a long way off from reaching our Paris Agreement targets of net zero," he said.</p> <p>The report found suburbs with a higher proportion of new housing had higher median energy efficiency standards, with the ACT over-represented at the top of the league table.</p> <p>The newly-developed region of Molonglo in Canberra's west was the nation's most energy-efficient area, with a median star rating of 6.1.</p> <p>Sydney and Hobart, with comparatively older housing stock, were the only capital cities that missed out on having regions appear in the top 30 for energy efficiency.</p> <p>Hobart's relatively low dwelling completion to population ratio contributed to its lower scores, as well as heritage restrictions and the heating demand from its cold climate.</p> <p>The analysis examined detached houses and townhouses, but not apartments, and did not take into account efficiency improvements from retrofits of existing homes.</p> </body>