Homes that are environmentally sustainable have never been more in demand, with builders, land developers and customers increasingly looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
From double glazed windows to the use of recyclable steel and the installation of solar panels and battery storage, utilising a range of clever and efficient products have become the norm.
Tanya Steinbeck, chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of Western Australia said the move toward more sustainable development practices and the delivery of more sustainable homes had been in motion for more than a decade.
She said the development industry was also taking more action in this space as consumer demand for sustainable products grows.
“Many developers are now not only meeting the growing expectations of consumers in relation to sustainable products and practices, they are often leading and pushing the envelope in this space,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“In general, water and energy efficient packages that include sustainable fixtures and fittings in new homes along with native or water efficient landscaping packages are becoming commonplace.”
Options for solar packages as well as battery storage are also much more common nowadays thanks to a surge in buyer demand, Ms Steinbeck said.
New Generation Homes head of design Peter Wilkinson said people were far more conscious of the footprint they leave on the world around them and for the past few years have increasingly opted for choices that were better for the environment.
“Builders are definitely much more conscious of shifts in the world around us like climate change, and clients asking for more sustainable inclusions have increased tenfold in the last few years, in line with increasing temperatures,” Mr Wilkinson said.
Demand for green products like solar panels and battery storage is booming. Picture: Getty
Double glazed windows to keep rooms cooler and reduce the need for air-conditioning, the use of insulated wall cladding, and a BrickHybrid construction, a method of building combining brick and steel to build a home, were now common, Mr Wilkinson said.
BrickHybrid keeps homes warm in winter and cooler in summer, he said, with another plus being its sound-proofing quality.
Kristin Brookfield, the chief executive of industry police at the Housing Industry of WA, said national energy efficiency building standards were introduced in 2003 and every new home across Australia has been required to meet them since.
“The standards and rating tools used have changed over time, increasing from four to five stars, and to six stars currently,” Ms Brookfield said.
“Plus, new homes have requirements for efficient lighting, hot water systems and heating and cooling appliances.
“Industry has had to keep up with these changes and find ways to deliver affordable and sustainable homes that meet the customer’s expectations and needs.”
The Central Park apartment development in inner-Sydney is an award-winning example of sustainable building and the incorporation of green technology. Picture: Getty
More than 90 per cent of people who responded to the Home Purchasing Sentiment Survey, conducted by the Urban Development Institute of Australia and its research partner Urbis, said they were interested in adding energy efficient features to a newly purchased home.
However, cost remained an important factor for consumers, Ms Steinbeck said.
“While consumers are interested, they are not generally willing to add too much to the end price of their new home, with close to 50 per cent willing to pay less than $5000 extra for energy saving features,” she said.
“The younger age groups, particularly those aged between 25- to 34-years-old, were more willing to pay extra for energy saving features, with approximately 35 per cent in that age bracket willing to pay between $5000 to $10,000 extra.”
Younger new home buyers are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable features. Picture: Getty
Most respondents expected a payback period of around three to six years for energy saving features such as solar panels, the survey found.
“Overall, these figures show that there is certainly appetite from consumers for more sustainable products and the development industry is keen to deliver on those expectations,” Ms Steinbeck said.
Lisa Calautti
