PhD Research
Sustainable Housing for Equity and Energy Efficiency
| Researcher: | Phillipa Watson pwatson0@postoffice.utas.edu.au |
| School: | School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/scieng/geog/ |
| Sponsors: | The Office of Energy Planning and Conservation and the University of Tasmania |
Summary
‘Sustainable Housing for Equity and Energy Efficiency’ is a PhD research project currently underway at the University of Tasmania in the School of Geography and Environment Studies. The project is investigating opportunities for social and environmental improvements in the existing Tasmanian housing stock.
The renewal or retrofitting of existing housing, under sustainable guidelines, offers the opportunity for improvement in occupants’ quality of life and a reduction of ecological and economic impacts.
The research asks:
What drives and impedes sustainable housing renewal in Tasmania and how can we facilitate relevant sustainable action?
Links to sustainable built environment information is provided below:
- Tasmanian Sustainable Living Organisations
- Home Energy Management
- Home Water Management
- Environmental Design and Living Resources
- Retrofitting Houses
- Resource Efficiency for Organisations (Tasmania)
- Tasmanian Government Policy
- Australian Government Policy
- Climate Change
- University of Tasmania
Tasmanian Sustainable Living Organisations
Sustainable Living Tasmania is an organisation that provides support for sustainable living practices for homes and businesses - www.tasmanianenvironmentcentre.org.au
Up2me the Environment Challenge is led by the Sustainable Living Tasmania Centre and the Tasmania Government and challenges people to change their lifestyles - www.up2me.com.au
Launceston Environment Centre - www.lec.org.au
Sustainable Living Tasmania
Home Energy Guide - www.tasmanianenvironmentcentre.org.au (click on “Home Energy Guide’)
Sustainable Living Guides - www.tasmanianenvironmentcentre.org.au
NABERS HOME - National Australian Built Environment Rating System (a government environmental assessment tool)
www.nabers.com.au (Can be used to assess the energy and water efficiency of your home and suggests ways to reduce energy and water use)
Aurora Energy Residential Energy Saving Tips - www.auroraenergy.com.au/residential/energy_saving_tips
Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries and Water Environmental Quality: Use Woodheaters Properly - www.dpiw.tas.gov.au
Australian, Sate and Territory Governments:
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme
Australian Government and Building and Construction Industry Your Home Manual:
www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs20.htm
Australian Government Department of Environment and Water Resources Greenhouse Challenge Plus Fact Sheet #6: Water Efficiency
www.greenhouse.gov.au/challenge/publications/factsheets/fs6.html
Sydney Water 10 easy Ways to Save Water in Your Home
CSIRO House Water Expert Software
www.csiro.au/products/pfq3.html
Environmental Design and Living Resources
The Australian Council of Built Environment Design Professionals has a subscription to the Environment Design Guide that presents information on built environment issues.
www.bdp.asn.au/index_Page3512.htm
The Your Home Guide is published by the Australian Government and provides information on environmentally considered house design. It is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and the design and construction industries.
www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/consumer/index.htm
NSW Government Our Environment It’s a Living Thing: Easy Guides Resource Centre
www.livingthing.net.au/RC_Guide.htm
Victorian Government: Sustainability Victoria
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1517-home-page.asp
Making Your Home Sustainable: A guide to Retrofitting by Derek Wrigley presents practical ways to retrofit for improved comfort and efficiency in your home. This is an original book and provides useful information hard to find elsewhere. It is available from the website “Derek Wrigley Design” (2005 Scribe Publications, Melbourne)
(See also the work of Anthony Weaver, referenced below)
Resource Efficiency for Organisations (Tasmania)
The CleanBiz program is helping to encourage the efficient use of materials, energy and water by Tasmanian organisations.
www.environment.tas.gov.au/cleanbiz
Office Water Management
Australian Government Water efficiency guide: office and public buildings Department of the Environment and Heritage
www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications/government/water-efficiency-guide.html
Tasmania Together
www.tasmaniatogether.tas.gov.au
Affordable housing strategy for Tasmania
www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/agency/pro/affordablehousing/index.php
Tasmania Online Library: Sustainable development
National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development
www.environment.gov.au/esd/national/nsesd/strategy/intro.html
Federal, State and Territory Governments, National Framework for Energy Efficiency
www.nfee.gov.au/home.jsp?xcid=48
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Climate Change
Climatic Context
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
www.bom.gov.au (useful for rainfall, temperatures and prevailing wind information)
Thermal Mass and Thermoregulation: A Study of Thermal Comfort in Temperate Climate Residential Buildings is a PhD research project by Sam Parsons in the Geography and Environmental Studies School.
fcms.its.utas.edu.au/scieng/geog/studentprofiledetails.asp?lStudentProfileId=411&lStartPage=3
Weaver, A. 2004 Retrofitting Conventional Houses Inexpensively to Improve Energy Efficiency Masters Thesis, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania (Copies available at the University of Tasmania Library).
