Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment
School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
Thesis Abstract
The central aim of this research project is to develop a greater understanding of both the construction cost implications and downstream impacts on housing operational affordability of measures to improve housing energy efficiency. The research addresses a major problem for decision and policy makers, designers/builders and consumers in the housing market, i.e. what is the real cost/benefit to build to even greater levels of energy efficiency as legislation flows from a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) declaration that by 2011 all new housing in Australia must conform to six star housing energy efficiency provisions as a minimum.
The project involves comparative and parametric analyses of housing options across Australian climate zones and housing markets. The focus is on the predominant housing forms of the residential ‘project homes’ market in Australia and industry transformation and new processes using detailed survey and analysis of the various costs to build houses to improved thermal performance. The project includes the innovative development of a prototype model of a Home Energy Rating Cost Information System (HERCIS) combining the latest software based housing thermal performance modelling tools and housing cost analysis techniques.
