A Wollongong building expert believes making houses affordable doesn’t have to mean squeezing a family of four into a shoebox apartment.
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TAFE Illawarra Institute’s trades and technical faculty director Marty Burgess believes making homes sustainable, or “liveable”, is key. This means in the construction of new dwelling or retrofitting existing homes.
Mr Burgess said many things can be done to new or existing homes to keep costs down and can suit all budgets. It’s much more than just adding some solar panels and a vegie garden.
“If the banks were smart, they’d be pushing this because they want you to pay off your mortgage,” he said.
“If the houses were more economic to live in people would be able to afford them better … from the banks point of view they want you to pay off your house, they don’t want you to go broke in it.”
Simple changes include using energy saving devices such as dishwasher drawers to conserve on water use; appropriate insulation in ceilings, under floors and in walls; switching to energy saving LED lights; pulling the blinds in winter to keep the heat in and grabbing nanna’s sausage dog door-stopper to kill the draft.
“Look at how well sealed the house is in terms of moving air, appliances, how much power it’s using, shading, efficiency in lighting,” said Mr Burgess.
Some companies can conduct an “energy audit” which will look at the occupants individual circumstances - such as do they feel the cold or heat most - and work out what changes they can make based on their budget.
Meantime Mr Burgess said there were plenty of incentives from governments for when choosing to build a more sustainable house, it’s just a matter of finding a builder who can do the job.
TAFE Illawarra has been working with the University of Wollongong to research and educate on sustainable housing.
UOW’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre deputy director Duane Robinson said the key was making a house more comfortable, affordable and flexible to age with its resident.
The biggest road block at present is new technologies as they could be more expensive in the outlay, but would save the occupant a significant amount in costs over time.
Both organisations are working to train more people in emerging technologies and create awareness with consumers so supply and demand will bring the costs down.
The Innovation Campus currently houses the Illawarra Flame House, which is available for ideas, showcasing 100 different things that could be done to a 1960’s fibro house to make it more efficient, affordable and comfortable.
Subtle changes are seen throughout such as bigger windows to take advantage of natural light, but with double glazing to keep the heat in.
Recycled timber has been used as window frames as aluminium allows a lot more transfer of heat, and they look nicer.
Mr Burgess said if the issue of housing affordability was going to be “fixed”, it would be done by retrofitting and renovating.
He said this is because 98 per cent of home that are here today will be here tomorrow and 60 per cent will still be here in 2050.
“What we need to do is help build the skills of this generation of workers to understand these new technologies and also educate the supply chain, and consumers, as to what their alternatives are to building and renovating,” he said.
Plans are also currently underway to produce more affordable and sustainable demonstration houses at the Innovation Campus.
The first is a quick-build structure, developed from the “flat pack style” train of thought, designed ready to go on Sustainability Street.
Tips to keep costs down
- Insulation - walls, floors, ceilings
- Closing blinds on windows
- Energy saving appliances
- Water tanks
- Sealing gaps under doors/floors
- Double glazed glass
- Change outside cladding