Output details

Size matters : house size and thermal efficiency as policy strategies to reduce net emissions of new developments

This paper compiles research outcomes and modelling from the Lifetime Affordable Housing research project that provided essential research to underpin policy enabling Australia to provide high performance urban housing within current and future economic and environmental limits. The funding was provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC) to carry out this work under the Linkage Projects Scheme for a period of three years. Co-authors Moore and Morrissey were CI’s.

The paper modelled 72 house size and energy efficiency scenarios across all states of Australia. The paper connected the overlooked area of housing size as being a key contributor to housing emissions, and suggests policy innovations that would encourage smaller dwellings in Australia, who at present build the worlds largest homes. The expansion of house size was identified to negate advances in building energy efficiency that have been made.

The paper was presented to the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Canberra.