Resistance to energy efficient homes: The move towards mandatory energy efficiency in new homes has always been met with some resistance. For some reason the move to 5-star energy rated homes is thought as insurmountable as the old 4 minute mile. I don't know about running the 4-minute-mile, but read on and find out how to easily get a 5-star home and why we need to.

In a recent media releases the HIA and MBA have both expressed their concern that more energy regulations could be imposed on home builders despite mounting doubts over their environmental benefits.

"A Victorian Government survey of more than 600 builders earlier this year indicates that the Victorian model of five-star regulation adds 6.04 per cent, or more than $13,000, to the average Tasmanian home." said the HIA representative.

As an accredited First Rate energy assessor and licensed builder in Tasmania, I did the exercise on two homes that I was building. A small 2 bedroom home of around 100m2 and a large 2 story home with around 260m2 of living areas on a difficult block. Both homes were architecturally designed and neither falls into the category of ideal for solar passive design.

Both homes could be upgraded from 4 stars to achieving 5 star energy efficiency by some minor adjustments to their insulation and both for under $2,000. For $13,000 these houses could be very close to a zero-energy rating house.

The argument that we don't need 5-star homes to save the environment... According to the HIA media release all of this extra cost is to achieve a mere saving - estimated by the Australian Greenhouse Office- of just 0.8 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

When I first started studying energy efficient design principles in 1989 I was very excited by how some small changes like facing windows north in living areas and adding insulation can have such a positive impact on our homes.

However, the reality is that transport and commercial energy use contribute far more to greenhouse gas emissions and energy use pollution. It seems to date that the housing sector has bore the brunt of changes to lessen the amount of impact from greenhouse gas and energy use.

The real advantage of cutting energy use in the home: Our grandparents turn the light off when they leave the room because of memories from the financial hardships of the great depression. We do it now because we want to save energy. Creating awareness is the big key and the great advantage of drumming energy efficiency into everyone that owns or lives in a house. We are all aware because it touches us every day. Especially when comparing a new house and a house that was built 10 years ago. The level of comfort and energy efficiency has changed dramatically.

Commercial buildings are changing also. The Building Code of Australia is now implementing changes and requirements for energy efficiency in commercial buildings. So the times they are-a-changing as Bob Dylan sings. This snowball will continue to build momentum partly because we have made excellent inroads to energy efficiency in our homes. And we can see the advantages every day.

Three simple steps to a 5-star home without spending an extra $12,000 ... 1. Get the fundamentals right in the design. Face north as much as you can and let the sun heat the living areas - not the laundry! 2. Use insulation products like concertina foil batts and foil board to provide added insulation to walls and floors 3. Have an energy rating done at design stage to see the effects of insulation and minor changes and cost them to see which is the most cost effective means of achieving a 5-star energy efficient Home

The energy rating software used to determine the start rating of homes is not perfect. But it is a simple to use and powerful tool to help people look at the energy efficiency of their home in a tangible way: By seeing how many points or stars their home has and how to make changes.

Not the final word... The snowball will continue to roll and gain momentum. People will complain about costs. Costs will come down with innovation and peoples expectations and standards will lift and the snowball will roll again until we all realise that Sense and Sustainability are actually synonymous.

Article Source: http://www.energyefficienthomearticles.com

Libe Chacos is Director of Sunrise Homes. Libe has over 15 years experience in the building industry and nearly 5 years as an accredited energy assessor with the First-Rate software. Contact Libe and sign up for the free homes for living newsletter at www.sunrisehomes.net.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=132 Article Source: www.goarticles.com

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