What the Victorian Healthy Homes Program Taught Us About Comfort, Health and Energy Efficiency
Why Energy Efficiency Is About More Than Just Star Ratings
We talk a lot about energy efficiency in buildings—star ratings, U-values, heating loads—but at the end of the day, it’s about something much deeper: the way homes feel to live in, and the real impact they have on our health and wellbeing.
A recent study from the Healthy Housing Centre and CSIRO has put hard data behind what many of us in the industry already suspected: poor-quality housing is compromising the health of everyday Australians, particularly those on lower incomes or living in older, less efficient homes.
📌 Here are just a few of the key findings:
🔹 1 in 4 renters and 1 in 6 homeowners say their homes are uncomfortable for large parts of the year
🔹 These households are also more likely to report poor health
🔹 Only 3% of rental homes built before 2005 have an energy rating of over 6 stars
🔹 More than 80% of pre-2005 homes have no official energy rating at all
🔹 High energy bills and poor thermal performance are contributing to financial stress, and in some cases, dangerous living conditions
You can view the full report here:
👉 Healthy Housing Centre / CSIRO Report – Too Hot, Too Cold and Hard to Heat
https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/research-data-and-insights/research/research-reports/the-victorian-healthy-homes-program-research-findings
🏗️ What does this mean for builders, designers, and developers?
It means that good design matters more than ever. But it doesn’t have to mean expensive upgrades or starting from scratch.
At Efficient Habitat, our role is to help you identify easy, cost-effective solutions that can dramatically improve energy performance—whether you’re designing a new home or retrofitting an existing one.
We work with you to:
✅ Improve thermal comfort without breaking the budget
✅ Choose the right glazing, insulation, and shading strategies
✅ Reduce operational energy and long-term running costs
✅ Ensure compliance while supporting healthier, happier households
🏠 Energy efficiency isn’t just about ticking boxes.
It’s about creating homes people love to live in.
If you’re ready to take your project further, get in touch with the Efficient Habitat team. We’re here to help you deliver smarter, healthier homes—without the fuss.
📩 Want to chat about your next project?
We’re always happy to help.
👉 Learn more at netzeroplus.com.au. Energy efficiency isn’t just about ticking boxes.
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