The national debate over the cost and potential outcomes of new regulations to increase energy and water saving is missing the point if householders are not educated accordingly, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects said this week.
"You could have a ten star house but if the occupiers did not manage it correctly, it could be an energy and water guzzler defeating all of the aims of the sustainable regulations which add thousands of dollars to a new home", said Managing Director of Archicentre Robert Caulfield.
"If people in the household regularly have twenty minute showers the entire water conservation platform is blown away," Mr Caulfield said.
Mr Caulfield said that whilst Archicentre saw merit in the aims of the five star approach, it was only half of the story with the housing industry and government needing to play a bigger part in educating people how to manage their homes.
"When people buy a car they get a manual that covers every detail of the operation and maintenance schedule. When people purchase a new home or renovation they get an envelope with the warranties of the appliances," he said.
"Whilst smart technology can help adjust the running of appliances in the future, the millions of existing homes require people to manage their situations now with simple activities of night purging of hot air by opening windows, shorter showers, turning off appliances at the switch, careful watering programs in the garden, and planting gardens that need less water."
Mr Caulfield said the five star program should be accompanied by mass produced Australian low cost products, and a standard education program on how to manage a house to minimize energy and water use.
