<
https://theconversation.com/people-are-shivering-in-cold-and-mouldy-homes-in-a-country-that-pioneered-housing-comfort-research-how-did-that-happen-188809>
"The poor state of Australia’s residential, and particularly rental, housing
stock is attracting increasing attention. This week it has been reported many
renters are living in unhealthily cold and damp housing. The head of UNSW’s
School of the Built Environment, Philip Oldfield, recently described the
average Australian home as “closer to a tent than an insulated eco-building”.
A joint statement by more than 100 property, community, health and
environmental organisations has called on next week’s meeting of the nation’s
building ministers to increase the energy efficiency of new homes. The alliance
wants to lift National Construction Code standards, such as raising the minimum
thermal performance to seven stars, alongside a “whole-of-home” energy budget.
The statement said Australia lags far behind international energy-efficiency
and building standards.
These concerns coincide with a growing housing shortage, rising building costs
and a changing climate. But these circumstances are no reason to defer housing
reforms. In the past, in a remarkably similar set of circumstances, Australia
became a global innovator through a dedicated government agency focused on
thermal comfort and performance."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
