We make it easy for the building industry and land developers to design carbon efficient homes, and for homeowners to make energy saving home improvements. High efficiency, low emission buildings are essential to Victoria’s net zero emission target.
Our role is to ensure that the Victorian building sector has the confidence, the capability, and suitable incentives to transition to the energy efficiency provisions in the National Construction Code and to a minimum 7-star standard by mid-2024. We have led the way on the development and construction of energy-efficient homes through several programs.
We developed and funded the design of 7-star homes, zero net carbon homes pilots and energy rating software – all designed to ready Victoria for updated energy efficiency standards for new homes from 2024.
Our 7 Star Homes Program built capability and capacity within the residential building market in preparation for an increase to minimum energy efficiency standards. We provided rebates to registered builders and land developers to design and build 7-star NatHERS rated homes. We also provided online training resources for builders, designers and assessors to go from 6 to 7-star homes.
High efficiency, low emission buildings are essential to Victoria’s net zero emission target. We funded a pilot program in 2017 to develop and market zero net carbon (ZNC) residential homes in Victoria in collaboration with volume home builders including Metricon, Stockland and SJD Homes. This pilot and controlled study demonstrated that ZNC homes deliver a significant cost saving over a 6-star home over a 30-year period and have payback from year 1 due to the annual utility bill saving. These homes continue to be offered and marketed through those builders.
Sustainability Victoria’s FirstRate5® is an easy-to-use interactive software tool that enables designers and thermal performance assessors to generate energy ratings for a home. The software estimates a house design annual heating and cooling energy use and awards an energy rating.
Our whole-of-home approach to energy efficiency brings into consideration the performance of appliances and their impact on overall energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost. We developed a pilot whole-of-home assessment tool which is now integrated into our FirstRate5® software.
We also provide business, government and the community with detailed and practical energy efficiency tips and guidelines, available on our website and updated by our energy experts.