Building comfortable homes that are cheaper to run
New homes can be designed and built to be more comfortable to live in, cheaper to run and better for the environment.
Independent research [PDF 3.1 MB] shows that improving a home’s energy performance from the beginning delivers real benefits for households and community.
Why home energy performance matters
A home’s design and how it is built has a lasting impact on household costs and comfort. Homes with better energy performance:
- Require less energy to heat, cool and power
- Stay comfortable during hot summers and cold winters
- Improve the overall health and wellbeing of the householders
- Help protect households from rising energy prices
- Support a cleaner, more resilient energy system
Many of these benefits come from simple design choices made during construction, using cost effective and readily available technologies, and these benefits are felt for the life of the home.
How households benefit
Homes with higher energy performance provide savings from the moment energy is first used in the home. While some features may slightly increase the upfront investment, the ongoing savings on energy bills can be greater than what is spent in additional mortgage repayments. This means household savings begin immediately, benefitting from lower day‑to‑day living costs and improved comfort.
What makes a home cheaper to run
The research found that strong energy performance can be achieved using familiar, practical features, including:
- Properly installed insulation and draught sealing
- Efficient heating, cooling, lighting and household appliances
- Electric heat pump hot water system
- Rooftop solar system sized appropriately for the household’s expected energy usage and roof constraints.
These measures are widely understood by the construction industry and do not require major changes to construction methods or home layouts.
How to measure a home’s appliance efficiency
A NatHERS Whole of Home assessment is a rating out of 150. It is a useful snapshot of home energy performance costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. While the scale ranges from 0 to 150 (where 100 is a net zero energy value home, i.e. generating an equal amount of energy to what it is using), ratings above 100 are possible. A way a home may rate over 100, is where it generates more energy than it uses, for example, through a larger solar system. To find an accredited NatHERS assessor visit www.nathers.gov.au/assessors
New homes must be built to a minimum score of 60 to meet legal minimum standards based on the National Construction Code, but research shows that aiming for a score of 100 can be more cost effective when the ongoing savings on energy bills are greater than additional mortgage repayments for most households.
A Whole of Home rating considers the following appliances:
- hot water, heating and cooling systems
- lighting, cooking and plug-in appliances
- pool and spa equipment
- solar energy generated onsite and battery storage.
Get free tailored advice about how to make your home energy efficient from the ACT Government’s Sustainable Home Advice Program.
What this means for you
Talking to your builder, architect or designer and asking the right questions early helps ensure homes are built to perform well and reduce running costs for decades to come. If you are planning to build or buy a new home, choosing cost effective features with higher energy performance can:
- Lower regular household bills
- Improve comfort and liveability all year round
- Reduce exposure to future energy price increases
- Support a cleaner, lower‑emissions future for the ACT.
Benefits for the wider community
More energy‑efficient homes make a difference beyond individual households. They provide broader benefits, such as:
Reduced pressure on electricity networks especially during peak demand, which helps keep downward pressure on electricity prices.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions, helping mitigate the effects of climate change.
Greater resilience during extreme weather, keeping people safe and comfortable.
Creates fairer outcomes for renters and future occupants, building an equitable society.
Building better performing homes today helps avoid higher costs and infrastructure challenges in the future.
Contact
Phone: 1300 141 777
Email: SustainableHomeAdviceProgram@act.gov.au
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.