Lu, Y; Karunasena, G and Liu, C (2026) Preliminary study on building practitioners' compliance behaviour with 7-star house energy ratings in Australia: Perceptions of industry experts. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 15(1), pp. 253-272. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose – From May 2024, Victoria (Australia) will mandatorily raise the minimum house energy rating standards from 6 to 7 stars. However, the latest data shows that only 5.73% of new Victorian houses were designed beyond 7-star. While previous literature indicates the issue's link to the compliance behaviour of building practitioners in the design phase, the underlying behavioural determinants are rarely explored. This study thus preliminarily examines building practitioners' compliance behaviour with 7-star Australian house energy ratings and beyond. Design/methodology/approach – Using a widely-applied method to initially examine an under-explored phenomenon, eight expert interviews were conducted with building practitioners, a state-level industry regulator and a leading national building energy policy researcher. The study triangulated the data with government-led research reports. Findings – The experts indicate that most building practitioners involved in mainstream volume projects do not go for 7 stars, mainly due to perceived compliance costs and reliance on standardized designs. In contrast, those who work on custom projects are more willing to go beyond 7-star mostly due to the moral norms for a low-carbon environment. The experts further agree that four behavioural determinants (attitudes towards compliance, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and personal norms) co-shape building practitioners' compliance behaviour. Interventions targeting these behavioural determinants are recommended for achieving 7 stars and beyond. Originality/value – This study demonstrates the behavioural determinants that influence building practitioners' compliance decisions, and offers insight regarding how far they will go to meet 7 stars. It can facilitate the transition to 7 stars by informing policymakers of customized interventions to trigger behaviour change.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 7 stars; building practitioner; compliance; compliance behaviour; house energy rating; residential building |
| Index terms: | building practitioner, design phase, subjective norm, determinant, residential building, Victoria, regulator, Australia, methodology, norms, behaviour change, interview, compliance, energy policy |
| Subjects: | public policy, professional practice, construction type, practitioner, social justice, behavioral psychology, research methods, Geography, health safety and environment, regions and continents, data collection methods, risk assessment, sociology |
| Topics: | Ethics, Risk Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Design Practice, Governance, Construction Technology, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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