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CHOOSE A 5 STAR HOME
Victoria's 5 Star rating for new homes is a key feature of the Victorian Government's environmental policy and will help save our finite energy and water resources..jpg)
Introduced from 1 July 2005, the 5 Star standard now requires all new homes in Victoria to include a greater range of energy efficiency and water saving features, improving occupant comfort and reducing energy bills.
5 Star standard - Extension of the 5 Star standard to home renovations and relocations
In the Victorian Greenhouse Policy issued on 5 June 2005, the Victorian Government committed to requiring renovations and extensions to homes to achieve the 5 Star standard. On 1 May 2008, the requirement for alterations to achieve 5 Star will come into effect in the Building Code of Australia 2008 (BCA 2008). The extension brings Victoria in line with national standards.
5 Star homes are cheaper to run. An independent study by Jettaree Pty Ltd, for the Building Commission, revealed average annual savings from 5 Star homes:
- $200 on household heating and cooling bills
- $100 saving on hot water for installing a solar hot water system and
- $50 saving on water bills for installing a rainwater tank - and the potential for even more if used wisely.
5 Star homes look the same and are more comfortable
Even without using the heating or cooling systems, 5 Star homes are up to 5 degrees warmer in winter and 10 degrees cooler in summer than the typical 2 Star new home built prior to the introduction of the 5 Star Standard.
- Increased economic growth in Victoria of up to $570 million.
- Greenhouse reductions from new homes grow by 40,000 tonnes per year
- Savings will amount to two million tones of carbon dioxide within 10 years
- Equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from our roads or planting three million trees
- Solar hot water changes mean another million tones of carbon dioxide are saved in 10 years
HIA GreenSmart: is a voluntary practical approach to building that focuses on educating builders, designers, product manufacturers and consumers about the benefits of environmentally responsible housing.