26 June 2008
Government Should
Legislate on Home Sales to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
The Federal Government should legislate to make homes and commercial premises for sale subject to climate change requirements and part of the emissions trading program.
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects said that millions of energy inefficient Australian homes and commercial premises will need to be brought into Australia's emissions trading policy.
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Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of Archicentre said, legislation could make it compulsory for people selling a home to ensure it complied with appropriate environmental standards for energy and water efficiency by including roofing insulation, dual flush toilets, and water efficient showerheads and taps. In the longer term solar roofing panels could become a legislated requirement of a property sale. Mr. Caulfield said, "the increase in water and energy prices would help the Federal Government sell the concept of including homes in the emissions trading program as part of an overall policy to reduce greenhouse gas. "On average people move home every seven years and this would provide an orderly retro-fitting program that vendors could use as a selling advantage. "In Canberra it is compulsory to sell a home with an energy rating, but that does not fix the problem. In Victoria the policy is to try and cut 10% of greenhouse emissions of every home. |
"New building regulations have enhanced modern buildings environmentally, but millions of Australian homes are energy and water inefficient because of poor design and inefficient fittings such as single flush toilets and water wasting showerheads and taps."
The move to legislate will be borne out of necessity and the greater understanding of climate change issues, Mr. Caulfield said.
"Whilst the Federal Government and Opposition are concentrating on petrol pricing, it is also time for policy development around the millions of homes that need be considered as part of the emissions trading policy."