Readying Australian homes and households for climate extremes

New AHURI research shows how to futureproof Australia’s housing stock against climate change and make communities more resilient.

The study developed guidelines that match climate change adaptation measures to current and future local climate conditions, rating each measure on its track record, level of innovation and whether it amplifies other risks.

Study lead, Adelaide University Senior Research Fellow Dr Michaela Lang, said the research addresses serious gaps in how Australia protects homes from climate change.

“Australia lacks a central source of guidance on climate resilience,” Dr Lang said. “The National Construction Code and Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme include some requirements but do not account for future climate conditions.”

The proposed climate ready housing guidelines (CRHG) include measures for new and existing homes, matched to the risks they address, including bushfires, floods, cyclones and extreme heat.

Measures ranged from established adaptations like fire-rated shutters to innovative solutions like smart windows that switch between opaque and transparent or close in high winds, and vacuum insulation panels.

Each measure in the CRHG required a holistic analysis, because climate threats and adaptations interact in complex ways and risks vary widely across Australia.

“Measures that keep houses cooler in summer can make them colder in winter, and vice versa,” Dr Lang said. “Sealing a home against water can work in minor floods, but if floodwaters breach the seal, it can hinder drainage, increase mould and slow recovery.”

“Climate adaptations also need tailoring by region. Northern areas face intensifying cyclones, extreme heat and shifting disease patterns, while the north-west experience heavier rainfall, and the south-east and south-west worsening droughts and bushfires.”

Three climate-resilient case study homes were examined, which had adaptations ranging from a rooftop sprinkler system for fire protection and evaporative cooling, to home automation to manage heat and energy demand.

“These were gold-standard examples, but interviews with practitioners and householders show households can manage climate risks through more affordable temporary measures, as well as permanent home improvements,” Dr Lang said.
 

How to increase homes’ climate resilience

Researchers found standards for new housing need to be strengthened and modernised, which could be achieved by mandating basic and established CRHG resilience measures for heat, bushfire, flood and cyclone risks.

Hazard zones based on projected climate exposures should be expanded and used in adaptation guidance, and climate triggers set that prompt updates to the National Construction Code.

“The risk is resilience standards will be based on scattered evidence and lag emerging climate realities,” Dr Lang said. “Living systematic reviews, like those used in medical research, provide a blueprint for a continuously updated system to guide response based on new evidence and technologies.”

Climate resilience could also be built into the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, and disclosure schemes adapted to alert potential buyers and renters. For example, the Existing Homes Disclosure Framework could require sellers and landlords to flag when a property falls below a minimum energy standard.

Household energy security could be improved through backup power supplies, including home batteries, and installation of underground power lines in the regions.

The research also recommends Governments scale up retrofitting, prioritising basic and established CRHG measures.

Retrofitting could be achieved by setting minimum resilience standards for rentals, targeted incentive programs to encourage upgrades to insulation, shading, air sealing and ventilation, and providing low-interest loans for structural retrofits.

Researchers found household resilience is affected by surrounding properties and community knowledge, and governments should support peer-to-peer learning, expand tree canopy and water-sensitive design.

Government can also extend resilience hubs to provide shelter during extreme events and embed ‘build back better’ principles in disaster recovery.

The study is the first part of an AHURI Inquiry into making Australia’s housing climate-resilient by 2050. It was undertaken for AHURI by researchers from Monash University, Adelaide University and RMIT University.