The Sustainable Housing Task Group has released a report on the drivers of demand for zero and towards zero emissions residential retrofits.

This report is a reference document for upcoming Sustainable Housing reports outlining an industry roadmap to Net Zero Emissions Homes and also a marketing study.

This ‘Retrofit’ report finds that the strongest factors influencing the uptake of energy efficient refurbishments include the age and condition of the building, rising energy prices, short payback times and increased property value, appearance and visibility of the measures, householder income group and the desire for increased comfort and convenience.

For a widespread adoption of energy efficient refurbishments this report recommends a range of initiatives which address professional practice, social practice and changing concepts of ‘home’. Simple mechanisms including choice, price, technical solutions or voluntary codes will not sufficiently mobilise homeowners towards to high energy efficiency standards. The most effective strategy will need to build on broader understandings of the correlations between decision-makers’ motives, the skills and expertise of building professionals, technical solutions, regulations and householder practices.

This report is based on a desktop study undertaken by RMIT’s Centre for Design and made possible with the generous funding of Sustainability Victoria

Click HERE to download the full report.