EnergyFit Homes Initiative working paper 4: Housing specialist and real estate industry survey results

Executive Summary
This report is a milestone deliverable from CSIRO for Project RP3016: ‘Enhancing the market for energy efficient homes at point of sale and lease’, funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living and other project parties, including the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, CSR, AGL Energy, Australian Windows Association, Clean Energy Council, Energy Efficiency Council, Stockland, Fletcher Insulation, Knauf Insulation, the Centre for Liveability Real Estate, and the Energy Efficiency Certificate Creators Association.
Two online surveys were conducted in February 2015 to examine the gaps in information and skills held by housing industry representatives to support increased sales and rentals of low carbon (‘energy efficient’) homes. The aim of the housing construction specialist survey was to identify the demand and knowledge held by the housing sector in energy efficient features, perspectives held by specialists regarding energy efficiency standards and rating systems, preferred information sources and gaps of information regarding housing energy efficiency, and related industry knowledge and training. Respondents’ demographic and socio-economic data were also collected. The online survey of real estate agents and property managers explored which features were perceived as important overall and which contributed to energy efficiency, whether – and how- the energy efficiency-related features were actively promoted during engagement with potential buyers and tenants, how information could be presented to maximise uptake, the perceived barriers to marketing energy efficiency housing features, the interest in ‘leading’ promotion of energy efficient housing, the existing knowledge of home energy rating tools and information systems, gaps in training to build familiarity with energy efficient housing.
The survey of housing construction specialists received 492 responses, from across Australia - with the most responses from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The respondents represented architects, non-builder trades, builders and designers, plus a smaller representation of a range of related specialisations. The survey of real estate agents and property managers received 140 responses. The respondents were based in all Australian states, with the majority from New South Wales and Queensland. One-third of respondents had been trained as ‘Liveability’ specialists through the Centre for Liveability Real Estate.