Building Smarter Renovations 

A renovation is the ideal time to incorporate energy efficiency to improve the comfort and value of a home. However, convincing clients to make their renovations more energy efficient is no easy task - it’s hard enough to get the design to meet the minimum 6 star requirements!

Renovation myths
Over the past 12 months, Sustainability Victoria has conducted market research which shows that renovators typically search the web for energy efficiency information, and they have difficulty finding customised information for their situation. Renovators are likely to do their own research online, before going to builders/architects/product suppliers for advice.  Research also shows that many renovators are convinced that they have done all they can in energy efficiency improvements and believe that 6 stars is the highest rating possible!

Renovation opportunities
SVs research has also shown that the greatest potential for cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in a renovation exist in the follow areas:

                                                       

What are the benefits?
A renovation is an ideal time to make energy efficiency improvements as the existing building shell will be modified, making the improvement cost-effective for home owners.

By going beyond the minimum BCA standards and adding best-practice examples of these four measures during a renovation can deliver savings of up to 70% in energy costs of the renovated home!

Introducing Smarter Renovations
 Sustainability Victoria has launched a new program, Smarter Renovations designed to assist renovators to build energy efficiency in to their renovations. The information can help you to ensure your clients get the best energy efficiency possible for their renovation.

This suite of energy efficiency information offers practical advice on how the four measures above can be included in a renovation to keep the home comfortable all year round, improve value and reduce energy use.  The information is available here. 

For more information about Smarter Renovations go to www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/smarter-renovations.