When Australia faced a housing crisis 80 years ago, the government was urged to promote the building of more climate-responsive homes. So why are so many homes today still not made for our climate?
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Buildings can be engineered to resist bushfires, but we can’t engineer the many aspects of human behaviour and decision-making that will still put lives at risk.
Dehumidifiers can help if you’re clever with that you’re trying to achieve, but you should always look to solve the underlying cause. That means, where possible, improving exhaust and ventilation.
The research, focused on the Jordan Springs estate in Western Sydney, found houses were built close together and made from materials which exacerbate hot weather.
Proposals to improve the capital’s urban design and density must also take account of the city’s unique streetscapes.
Builders compete for customers by touting the features of their homes. Some builders promote ‘six-star’ home energy ratings in ways that could mislead consumers and breach Australian Consumer Law.
Our health depends on the quality of air indoors, where most of us spend 90% of our time. The easiest solution is to open a window, but what if that’s not an option?
The idea of a hot and sunny land is so baked into our thinking about Australia that we’ve failed to design and build houses that protect us from the cold.
The latest heatwave put huge pressure on our electricity grid, as Australians turned on their air conditioners. Smarter design and regulations could solve the problem.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor in Architecture, Adelaide University
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Senior Research Fellow, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie University and the South West Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Sydney. Affiliate, Centre for Safe Air., UNSW
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Senior Lecturer - Energy, Queensland University of Technology
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Professor of Housing Research, Adelaide University
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Associate Professor in Property, The University of Melbourne
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Research Officer, University of Sydney
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Honorary Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor of Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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Research Associate, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor, QUT Law, Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology
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Professor of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne
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Erika Bartak is a Friend of The Conversation.
PhD Candidate (& ESD Consultant), Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne
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Adjunct academic, mycology, Flinders University
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GTP Safety And Facilities Manager, Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University
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Senior Research Fellow and Curator, Architecture Museum, Adelaide University