Celebrating 25 years of the GreenSmart program, the HIA Future Homes Forum and GreenSmart Awards was an inspirational and innovative event held in Hobart in August. The forum hosted an abundance of eco thought-leaders and pioneers on consumer trends, planning and environmental changes, while the 2024 HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel was an unforgettable evening.

We’ve come a long way since 1999, when the GreenSmart concept was conceived. As sustainability has become paramount for environmentally conscious consumers seeking healthy, efficient homes, green building practices and solutions continue to evolve.

‘A new house in 2024 has to deliver a lot – from being a shelter that mitigates against fires, floods, high winds, hail and changing climate to meeting broader societal goals such as accessibility and liveability,’ said HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin at the HIA Future Homes Forum.

Nowadays, homeowners have embraced energy-efficient, sustainably built homes but want to include their own choice, personal taste and lifestyle when building.

We are left with consumers and builders who are confused, finding it difficult to subscribe to sustainability goals. As a result, adopting new technologies and methods can be seen as an impost, a cost or a barrier preventing people from building their ideal home.’

In the residential building industry, many builders, designers and manufacturers have evolved their business and expertise. ‘The challenge is for the industry to learn new things, try new products and innovate,’ said Jocelyn.

From the experts 

Following Jocelyn’s speech, environmentally driven innovators and leaders looked at different elements and inspirations in the sustainability field.

Tasmania State Premier Jeremy Rockliff explained that Tasmania is upping the pace of home construction by reducing red tape and relying on new time-saving technology. ‘We are one of the few places on earth that is 100 per cent efficient in renewable energy,’ he said. ‘We are the first jurisdiction to achieve net-zero emissions, and we have maintained that status for nine years.’

HIA’s policy team – Simon Croft, Matt King and Shane Keating – looked at how policies and economics can improve the future of environmental outcomes.

Simon Croft, Chief Executive, Industry and Policy, looked at new home construction forecasts that have predicted Australia will fall 200,000 short of necessary target levels despite the recent launch of the national housing agreement. So, is it possible to deliver 1.2 million homes in five years, or is it just a pipe dream? ‘There’s not one silver bullet solution. It requires a multi-pronged coordinated effort across all tiers of government and supported by all industry segments,’ said Simon.

HIA Senior Economist Matt King looked at how consumer preferences have shifted to a focus on green buildings. Matt explained the financial viability of having a clean energy home. ‘The rise of green building has been coupled with a corresponding prevalence of green loans; that is, discounted loans for building, buying or renovating a home with green features,’ he said.

‘At least 10 recognised banks are offering a green home loan option at a discounted rate. However, obtaining one of these loans is no small task, and bank certifiers require the property to be 7 stars or higher under the NatHERS rating scheme.’

When it comes to finding out about the recent draft edition of the NCC 2025, Shane Keating, HIA Executive Director, Building Policy, is the man. With substantive proposals involved, he explained what’s being recommended and what it will mean for future buildings. According to Shane, emerging national energy efficiency policies will likely be a focus of HIA government engagement, including mandatory disclosure of existing building energy ratings and the proposed coordination and control of consumer energy resources like PV.

The future of construction 

Following a recent global forum, Neil Savery, ICC Oceania Managing Director, discussed positive environmental outcomes.

‘With the acceleration of climate change, buildings are predicted to be increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, particularly those affecting developing countries and cities,’ he said.

Fang Chen, Distinguished Professor and Executive Director at UTS Data Science Institute, explained how artificial intelligence is revolutionising construction by enhancing efficiency, productivity, safety and sustainability. ‘Among these innovations, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out for its potential to revolutionise construction processes, enhancing efficiency, productivity, safety and sustainability,’ she said. ‘By leveraging AI, the construction sector can navigate current challenges and harness emerging opportunities to build a smarter, safer and more efficient future.’

Australian futurist Steve Sammartino also agreed that the construction industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution. Steve explained how AI can utilise robotic techniques to address the housing crisis, improve efficiency, and create more affordable homes.

One of the country’s leading energy-efficiency experts, Andrew Pickard, has a personal mission – to improve how we use energy and ensure this informs how and why we design buildings and their key features. As the Director of Powerhaus, his firm has launched its groundbreaking energy-efficient home design app. This cutting-edge tool allows builders, architects and designers to optimise the energy rating of their building plans with real-time performance feedback.

This makes energy-efficient, sustainable design for new houses more accessible and intuitive than ever before. More than just a tool for achieving star ratings, the Powerhaus app focuses on the lived experience of a home. It helps professionals design homes that deliver long-lasting comfort, health and sustainability for occupants.

Business recognition

Events such as the HIA Future Homes Forum are important as many people in the residential building industry have evolved their businesses and expertise. The HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards is equally worthwhile as it recognises residential builders, designers and manufacturers who have embraced the sustainability ethos.

It celebrates those who build or design environmentally responsible homes, provide solutions to make homes more efficient or create new sustainable products for the building industry.

First published 6 January 2025