- New research from Allianz Australia reveals that while almost a third of surveyed Australian homeowners are looking to renovate in the next six months (29%), a quarter of those who are planning a home renovation are not considering doing this sustainably (24%).
- Furthermore, a quarter of those surveyed with a renovation plan aren’t planning on making their home more resilient to extreme weather events (26%).
- Australian homeowners who were surveyed list the associated high cost (40%), complexity (31%) and the lengthy time commitment (23%) as the key barriers to sustainable home improvements.
- To help simplify sustainable renovations and improvements for all Australians, Allianz Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) have partnered to launch the online platform Green Specs.
- Green Specs simplifies the information available in GBCA’s Sustainable Home Renovations Guide (the “Guide”), which is a technical manual and checklist for sustainable home improvements.
Despite rising interest rates and building costs, new research from Allianz Australia has today revealed that 3.5 million Australian homeowners1 are looking to renovate or make improvements to their home in the next six months.
Yet, a quarter of those with a renovation plan who were surveyed aren’t considering making their home more sustainable (24%). Almost half of those surveyed don’t know where to start when it comes to sustainable renovations (46%), and almost nine in ten say there are barriers deterring them from making their home sustainable (86%).
Australian homeowners who were surveyed list the key barriers to sustainable improvements as associated high costs (60%) and complexity (31%). Furthermore, many say that making their home more sustainable feels like a very large task (51%) and are unsure of the benefits of sustainable improvements (27%).
Despite this, the research shows there is appetite for change, with surveyed Australian homeowners admitting they would consider making their home more sustainable if it increased the value of their home (46%), if they understood what the benefits are for them or their family (37%), or the environment (34%) or if they received more information on how they can make changes in their own home (34%).
To help bridge the knowledge gap of Australian homeowners, Allianz Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) have developed Green Specs, a digital destination aiming to help Australians make their blueprints green and break down the technical information available in their newly released Guide.
The Guide, developed by GBCA, is a technical manual and checklist for sustainable improvements aimed at industry professionals, while Green Specs is a visual representation of the Guide, simplified into an interactive plan via a website.
On Green Specs, Australians will be able to explore the rooms of a digital floorplan and learn new ways to make their home more sustainable – from small improvements to undertaking major renovations. Changes can be filtered by room and budget, – everything from:
- Positive changes (such as energy efficiency)
- Healthy changes (such as reducing harmful chemicals or emissions)
- Resilient changes (such as reducing the risk of extreme weather impacts on your home).
Green Specs comes as almost half of surveyed Australian homeowners say there isn’t enough information available on how to make their home more sustainable (49%), and almost two-thirds (63%) want to learn more about how they can make their home more sustainable.
Architect and leader in sustainable homes, Alexander Symes says, “It’s easy to think of sustainable renovations as complex and expensive, however this doesn’t have to be the case. By thinking holistically and choosing more sustainable products and materials, homeowners can not only support the planet, but be more resilient to a changing climate and manage their overall household energy use, benefiting from cheaper bills, and healthier and less environmental impact products.
“Having a tool that simplifies sustainable improvements available for Australian homes, from solar to insulation and even lightbulbs, Australian homeowners can be empowered to make greener decisions.”
Sema Whittle, General Manager of Sustainability at Allianz Australia, says, “The increasing frequency and severity of weather events makes it more important than ever to consider sustainable and resilient elements in our homes. The insurance industry has an important role to play in supporting our customers and the community to transition to net zero. In bringing Green Specs to life, our aim is to highlight ways to make homes more sustainable – from small improvements through to large renovations.”
Allianz claims data has revealed that 43% of home insurance claims made between May 2022 and April 2023 were a result of an extreme weather event. However, the research from Allianz Australia shows that when it comes to a sustainable home and its resilience to weather events and natural disasters, only half of surveyed Australian homeowners believe flood (55%) and bushfire (51%) resilience are features of a sustainable home.
Furthermore, a quarter of surveyed Australian homeowners with a renovation plan are not planning on making their homes more resilient against extreme weather events (26%).
“Our research has shown that three in five homeowners are looking to their home and contents insurer to inform them of how to make their homes more sustainable2 and more resilient to climate change3. Green Specs aims to bridge a knowledge gap for Australian homeowners by providing a wealth of information about everything from using sustainable building materials, choosing greener appliances, improving a home’s resilience to bushfire or flood, and more. We’re proud to partner with GBCA to bring Green Specs to life,” Sema added.
With 53% of Australia’s total built environment coming from our homes4,5, the partnership between Allianz and GBCA is designed to encourage Australians to play a role in changing how we use resources at home to help contribute to a more sustainable future.
“What’s really interesting is that changes that are good for the planet, can also be good for your health and your back pocket. By making simple updates to your home, such as replacing gas appliances, installing solar panels, or implementing energy-saving measures like sealing gaps around doors and adding insulation, you not only create a healthier living space but also reduce emissions and save on energy bills,” says Davina Rooney, CEO of GBCA.
Consumers and industry professionals looking to learn how to make their blueprints green can visit the Green Specs website.