Newton, P W and Tucker, S N (2011) Pathways to decarbonizing the housing sector: A scenario analysis. Building Research & Information, 39(1), pp. 34-50. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Australia's housing sector currently has no consistent or clearly defined role in the nation's carbon-abatement schemes, despite the housing sector being a major national emitter of greenhouse gases. This effectively removes a significant incentive for innovation in green building, distributed and renewable energy generation, and energy-efficiency initiatives, locking in poor performance of dwellings and wasteful behaviour by households. Pathways to a low-carbon housing future are identified via a new class of hybrid building (energy-efficient envelope, energy-efficient plug-in appliances and local energy generation linked to a national grid). Modelling is used to demonstrate the routes that a spectrum of detached housing, ranging from 'carbon clunkers' to new 'project' homes, can take to achieve zero-carbon status. Hybrid buildings can achieve zero-carbon status through combined lower energy consumption and local energy generation, achieving reductions in emissions of 11 tonnes of CO2-e per dwelling per year, compared with new 5 Star energy-rated 'project' homes (the current building standard) which generate on average 9.5 tonnes of CO2-e emissions/year. Key transitions for Australia are identified in hot water heating, space heating and cooling, built-in appliances and plug-in appliances that can significantly reduce domestic carbon footprints. A portfolio of technical and policy options is explored for decarbonizing the housing sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | appliances; Australia; climate change; energy efficiency; housing policy; low-carbon society; zero-carbon homes |
| Index terms: | low-carbon society, carbon footprint, option, space heating, green building, household, hot water heating, housing policy, Australia, modelling, renewable energy, climate change, greenhouse gas, energy consumption, housing, local energy generation, energy efficiency, efficiency, scenario analysis |
| Subjects: | environmental impact, mechanical systems, energy systems, climate science, public policy, analytical methods, performance management, Geography, sustainability assessment, design practice, demography, decision analysis, policy studies, sustainability and energy, construction type |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Geographical Context, Quality Management, Urban Studies, Governance, Design Practice, Risk Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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