Sustainability Victoria and the Victorian Government have
launched a free online renovation planning resource program—‘Smarter
Renovations’, which they say will guide energy efficient practices for all home
renovators.
The program will provide home renovators with interactive
tools, information and independent advice on how to improve and maximise the
energy efficiency of their building, be it any size or scale of project.
The organisation says they implemented the online tool to
combat what they called the “knowledge gap in the home renovation market.”
“There is little practical information available on energy
efficient retrofits and renovations, or advice provided to help renovators go
beyond minimum building standards (currently 6/10 stars),” said a statement
from the organisation.
“This results in missed opportunities which are crucial to
the comfort and ongoing energy costs of living in the renovated house.”
The research released from Sustainability Victoria indicates
that the knowledge gap in Victoria’s home renovations is particularly visual in
wall and floor insulation as well as energy efficient lighting.
Sustainability
Victoria’s research found:
- 2/5 of Victorian renovators (40%) fail to fit
wall insulation while almost 3/4 of Victorian renovators (72%) also fail to add
floor insulation.
- Almost 1/3 of Victorian homes (30%) do not have
adequate door seals.
- More than half of Victorian homes (56%) have
inefficient lighting.
- Only 1/4 of Victorian renovators (24%) chose to
replace existing windows with double glazed.
The Smarter Renovations Planner tool attempts to addresses this
knowledge gap by giving home renovators an accessible and free platform to calculate
accurate cost savings that can be achieved by making different energy efficiency
improvements. These improvements include things such as improving insulation,
windows or lighting, draught-proofing and upgrading appliances.
Users of the Planner tool are asked five initial questions
regarding the size, type of occupancy, location, material composition and
aspect of their homes, before being delving deeper into the goals of their home
renovation.
It works by assessing the type of house, current energy
needs and use, together with the renovation work being planned.
The Key features of the Smarter Renovations program include:
- The Smarter Renovations Planner – an online tool
that calculates accurate cost savings that can be achieved by making energy
efficiency improvements to any home.
- ‘Your Guide to a Smarter Renovation’ – a
consumer guide with comprehensive information and practical advice for novice
and experienced renovators on how to incorporate energy efficiency improvements
during a home renovation.
- A series of Renovation Profiles, detailing the
experiences of several individuals during their home renovation projects,
sharing their successes and challenges.
The program can be accessed here: