Labor revealed in April 2018 a plan to partner with land developers and home builders in a $2.18 million project to supply zero net carbon homes in growth (high-demand) areas of Melbourne, defined as: areas in the north, west and south east or in the Geelong and Mitchell regional areas.
Sustainable Victoria will work with the home builders to deliver energy-efficient and appealing homes for the market.
“Between now and 2050 an estimated two million new homes will be built in Victoria. Collectively, these homes represent one of the biggest financial investments Victorians will make. Building homes to be energy efficient and with low greenhouse gas emissions can aid Victoria’s transition to a low-carbon economy and provide environmental benefits too.” source
key features of the new-build homes would include :
- appropriately sized rooftop solar systems
- high performance building material (insulation, double-glazed windows, etc)
- high efficiency heating, cooling, water heating, lighting and appliances.
These buildings could cut carbon household emissions in half, are more comfortable to live in and deliver savings on energy bills to the dwellers.
“Already, a number of home builders around the country…are offering consumers the option to have solar and battery storage included with their new-build homes…
And just last week, the federal government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation announced it had committed $90 million in debt finance to a Mirvac plan to build more than 300 family homes in Sydney and Brisbane, each with built-in solar and battery storage.” Source
In order to be part of the project developers must create more than 200 site starts annually.
Sustainability Victoria believes this project will act as a catalyst for marketing transformation in the new home market:
“…the volume housing market presents one of the biggest, most readily available and untapped opportunities for emission reductions, cost savings, improved health and wellbeing, as well as productivity in the residential sector.”
