An international comparison of housing energy efficiency and performance standards

This paper provides a summary of the results of an international study which set out to compare building energy standards and energy efficiency in typical domestic dwellings across Australia with those in comparative climate zones in other parts of the world. This research was undertaken to establish how other countries' housing performs relative to Australia's National 5 Star Standard for homes. Eight climate zones, as recognised by the Australian Building Codes Board, were matched with climate zones in the USA, Canada and the UK by comparing maximum and minimum summer and winter temperatures and precipitation. Six typical housing designs from each comparative climate zone were collected: three detached houses, two attached houses and one multiunit (low-rise residential unit in a complex of apartments of no more than four stories high). Using these designs, an assessment was undertaken of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme energy efficiency star rating and heating and cooling energy load, (MJ/m ²) using climate data from the equivalent Australian location. The results of the study are presented and demonstrate that the current efficiency of Australian homes is below comparative international standards in terms of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.