Over the coming decades, Australia’s population is set to swell. By 2050, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tips the latest count of around of 26 million will increase to somewhere between 34m- 41m people. By the same date, Australia has enshrined in law a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
On one hand, millions of extra people are going to need somewhere to live — and millions of new homes are going to need to be constructed to house them. On the other, the country needs to find ways to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint and embrace a more sustainable way of living.
So, how are we going to get there?
For the average Australian home buyer, sustainable features are no longer considered to be bonus extras — they’re now very much integral components of a desirable home.
In PropTrack’s new Energy Efficient Housing Report, the majority of respondents (56%) listed energy-efficient home features as extremely important — an increase of 17% year-on-year.
While environmental concerns are front of mind for consumers, so too are economic ones. The rising costs of living — particularly around fuel and electricity prices — led to a 39% increase in survey respondents saying “reducing the likelihood of bill shock” was a major factor in their interest in energy efficiency.
Solar power is the most popular feature among survey respondents, followed by efficient lighting, insulation and air flow. If you are considering buying or selling property it is worth including energy efficiency as one of your non-negotiables.