On 1st July 2004 the Victorian Government introduced sustainability measures for new homes in the Victorian Building Code. These measures are aimed at:

• Curbing the growth in energy usage and the environmental impact of greenhouse pollution
• Decreasing water usage to ensure sufficient water supply for urban uses

In broad terms all new houses have to achieve 5 Star energy efficiency PLUS include water saving measures and either solar hot water or a rainwater tank.

What is 5 Star?

A new house must achieve a 5 Star level of energy efficiency. For any house type there will always be several different ways to achieve the 5 Star rating. Features such as house orientation, internal design, building materials, shading of windows, insulation, glazing, as well as water saving fixtures are all taken into account. However, there is a great deal of flexibility and trade-offs can be made between different elements to achieve the end result.

Accredited computer programs are used to assess the impact of the combined effect of these different factors on the energy efficiency of the house. The software programs – AccuRate and NatHERS – also make it easy to measure different strategies for meeting the 5 Star standard.

Solar water heater or rainwater tank?
 

Under the regulations new homes must include either solar water heating or a rainwater tank plumbed for toilet flushing.

Both have around the same initial cost but a solar water heater provides much greater financial benefits to the home owner in energy savings year after year and can significantly reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions of the home.