Researchers from RMIT, in conjunction with the Victoria State Government, have released a report that challenges the traditional cost benefit analysis of sustainable housing. The report authors argue that traditionally the ongoing costs of heating and cooling homes, as well as greenhouse gas emissions and benefits to health and wellbeing that sustainable house can provide have not been taken into account.

The study was conducted over a three year time period and focused on a small sustainable housing development in Horsham, Victoria. The sustainable housing was compared to seven control houses in the same suburb and to a technical model of standard industry practice.

The study found that the re-sale value of the sustainable housing was higher and that the utility consumption was consistently lower than the control houses.

Read the full report here.