Poor home energy efficiency is a reality of life for most Australians.
Dwellings are expensive to heat and cool – and even then, are often still uncomfortable to live in.
These inefficient homes don’t just waste the occupants’ money. They waste energy – and the emissions that come with producing it.
In our changing climate, the unpleasant, potentially dangerous conditions inside Australian homes will become more frequent unless action is taken.
Until recently, any systematic approach to improving Australia’s dwellings fell at the first hurdle: knowing what types of homes needed to be upgraded.
Recent work from Climateworks Centre’s Renovation Pathways project addresses this gap in knowledge about Australia’s housing stock.
We now know the most common types of homes, where they are and what they’re made of.
With this information, we know how to get them climate-ready.
Join our Renovation Pathways team to learn more about how Australians can drastically reduce home energy use and save thousands of dollars each year.
Dr Gill Armstrong shares the background to our research, which investigates the feasibility of a national renovation program capable of improving outcomes for residents, construction industry, the energy system and Australia’s national climate goals.
A conversation with CSIRO’s Michael Ambrose digs into the details of the analysis that uncovered key data about Australia’s housing stock.
Finally, Josh Danahay breaks the data down by state and territory to reveal what it says about renovating for the climate you live in.
Michaela Morris, Head of Program Delivery at Climateworks, hosts the conversation.
PANELISTS
Dr Gill Armstrong,
Buildings Project Impact Manager,
Climateworks Centre
Gill works in Climateworks’ Cities team, leading research and policy projects to decarbonise Australia’s buildings sector, including residential and non-residential buildings, and both new and existing builds.
Her background spans more than 10 years’ experience as a registered architect (UK) and Chartered Architectural Technologist, specialising in adaptive reuse of residential and healthcare buildings. Gill is also research trained, earning her PhD in the adaptive reuse and regulation of vacant office buildings in Australian CBDs.
Michael Ambrose,
Senior Experimental Scientist,
CSIRO
Michael joined CSIRO in 1992 and is a senior experimental scientist in CSIRO’s Energy Business Unit.
He leads projects for industry and the Australian government, involving building energy efficiency, life cycle analysis and sustainable urban development.
Josh Danahay,
Project Manager,
Climateworks Centre
Josh works in the Cities team on projects to decarbonise Australia’s buildings, most recently through the Renovation Pathways program of work.
Josh previously worked in Climateworks’ Sustainable Economies team, assisting with the delivery of projects focused on renewable energy industrial precincts. This collaborative solution will enable regional industries to reduce emissions while maintaining existing industries and attracting new ones.
HOST
Michaela Morris,
Head of Program Delivery,
Climateworks Centre
Michaela oversees Climateworks’ program development and delivery, ensuring excellence across the portfolio. She brings to this role more than decade’s international expertise as a climate change and ESG strategist, skilled in translating climate science and policy into tangible action.
Trained in political issue management in her native Germany, Michaela forged her career advising organisations on how to transition to net zero and build their climate resilience across both private and public sectors throughout the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia. Her roles spanned waste and resources management, climate change capacity building, as well as policy and corporate strategy advisory.
