The Federal and State Governments should consider a national program of insulation by making it compulsory for every home being sold to be insulated, said Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Robert Caulfield, managing director of Archicentre said, “the Federal Government’s move to provide $500.00 subsidies to home owners and $1000,00 for rental properties for insulation to create jobs and cut greenhouse gases is a good program which could be backed up with some legislation on condition of sale.
Archicentres pre purchase inspection statistics show that 40 per cent of inner suburban homes in Australia’ capital cities have no ceiling insulation.
It cost $2,000 to insulate an average home and whilst the $500 subsidy is a good initiative. Linking it to sale of every home in the future would ensure its take up quickly providing not only a benefit to the home owner, but also the community through less stress on the power grid and cutting of greenhouse gases.
For the vendor they would end up with a more valuable property to sell in an increasing environmentally aware market place. With people moving home on average every seven years it would not take long in relative terms to insulate Australia.
Archicentre launched a J for Jobs campaign in the building renovation area with 100 free Seminars across Australia including “10 things You Need to Know about Building in a Changing Climate” covers the importance of insulation.
Caulfield said the approach also be used to lift the environmental quality of Australian housing stock to include energy and water saving devices, a major part of the Federal Government’s Climate Change policy.
