The vast majority of Australian homes were built before construction standards were introduced in the early 2000s. These homes are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and thermal comfort, meaning that a large number of householders live in energy poverty and are vulnerable to extreme temperatures in their own homes.

A large number of homes also remain connected to gas, a high-emissions fossil fuel that impacts indoor air quality.

Achieving a zero carbon, healthy future for Australians will therefore require transforming the country’s housing stock to ensure that new homes and existing homes become highly efficient and zero carbon. 

This requires defining what a zero carbon home looks like in practice – essential for informing policy-makers, lenders, the construction industry and households in the transition to Australia’s zero carbon future.