Much of Australia is enduring the coldest start to winter in decades. But chances are the reason you’re cold is not only due to a polar air mass sweeping the country, but because millions of Australian homes aren’t well insulated.
The average Australian home built before 2003 averages just 1.8 stars on a scale from zero to 10 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Homes with zero stars provide little to no protection from the outside climate. On the other end of the spectrum, 10-star homes require little-to-no heating or cooling.
Experts estimate more than 70% of Australian homes were built before 2003. The chart below estimates the number of dwellings in each star category based on when they were built.
