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Scorecard Update: January- March, 2024
International research findings
RMIT University report: Optimising housing assessment to drive low carbon energy efficient housing upgrades.
Home energy assessment programs have an important role to play in providing trusted information, helping upgrade existing homes and reducing greenhouse gases.
This report by RMIT University analyses home energy assessment programs globally and provides best practice recommendations for home energy assessments in Australia.
The report identifies a lack of knowledge within Australia about energy efficiency and where to find reliable information.
Also included are chapters on:
- balancing costs, benefits and outcomes
- criteria to analyse effectiveness, efficacy, and trust of assessment tools
- practical implications for design parameters.
The RMIT study proposed 4 design objectives for an optimised housing assessment for Australia:
- Assessments must be accurate, reliable and certified by an expert assessor.
- Assessments must be consistent, demonstrate integrity and have quality controls in place.
- Assessment results must be clear and easy to understand.
- Assessment tools must be transparent and regularly updated to adapt to change.
To learn more this report along with other publications, please visit our Publications page.
Engaging with our advisory groups
The Scorecard team recently met with the Program Advisory Group (PAG) for the first time in 2024.
The PAG is a broad group comprised of representatives from the building industry, Real Estate industry, Non-Profit organisations and academic researchers.
The Scorecard team values hearing a broad range of perspectives and understanding various sector needs so we can ensure the Scorecard program is delivering best practice.
During this workshop we heard from guest presenter, Associate Professor School of Property, Construction and Project Management (PCPM) RMIT University, Dr Trivess Moore.
Dr Moore presented on the Optimising housing assessment to drive low carbon energy efficient housing upgrades (see above) research report findings focusing on International Best Practice - how Home Ratings can drive home upgrades at scale.
There was general support shown for the report findings and agreement that strong standards should be prioritised.
To learn more about the PAG please email: scorecard@delwp.vic.gov.au
The benefits of Scorecard
Local governments and businesses across Australia are using Scorecard to create a greener, brighter future.
Scorecard is more than just a software tool, it is also:
- a national data base of objective information on the performance of Australian residential homes. Meaning you can verify the impacts of retrofitting homes on the energy and comfort performance, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- expert advice, tailored to the individual home and circumstances of the occupants meaning targeted and value for money upgrades.
This is why several local governments, businesses and community organisations around Australia have been using Scorecard to help enact their climate action plans.
Stonnington City Council had this to say about their new Towards Zero Home Energy Assessment program.
'It’s imperative that we provide our residents with a program that provides expert and independent advice. Knowing that Scorecard assessors have undergone training and regular quality checks ensures our residents are getting the correct up to date information and continues to build trust with them around our programs.'
Work in local government?
Are you interested in learning more about how Scorecard can help? Register your interest in our upcoming webinar for local government by emailing: scorecard@delwp.vic.gov.au
Interested in becoming a Scorecard assessor?
Looking for a job where you can make a positive contribution to your community? Hear from Scorecard assessor Cal Forsyth on the benefits of being a Scorecard assessor.
Supporting the all-electric transition
We have created a new 'Make your home all-electric' page on the Scorecard website.
This page helps explain the many benefits of going all-electric.
It includes:
- estimates about how much money householders can expect to save,
- the importance of the building shell
- information about how Scorecard assessors can help.
To further support the transition to all-electric, we have also developed with the support of the ACT government, a fun animated video as well as a series of case study videos showing how Scorecard helped electrify and prepare a 100-year-old house for the next 100 years!
We have started sharing these videos on our Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channels. They are an engaging way of explaining the benefits of Scorecard and electrification. Please feel free to reshare these videos through your channels.
Assessors in the wild!
Going Green Solutions' Lucinda Flynn.
‘People think, well I need to do something about my house and they start investigating. They get so overwhelmed that they don’t know where to start.’
Lucinda was recently featured on Renew Economy's SwitchedOn podcast explaining the role of Scorecard.
'The first thing we do is sit down at the kitchen table and just talk about the house and the people who live there.'
Lucinda Flynn with a householder
Lucinda explained her role as a Scorecard assessor and how she uses her expertise to help people achieve their goals. That might be reducing energy bills or making their home all-electric.
'My goal is: identify a whole lot of upgrade opportunities and then demonstrate using the Scorecard modelling how people can get to a 10-star home.’
A home is an ecosystem. All the elements need to work together to keep people comfortable.
For example, simply upgrading to a split system may not be enough to reduce energy bills and maintain comfort. It’s important to consider upgrading other elements, like insulation and sealing gaps and cracks.
Scorecard assessors know every home is different and so are people's circumstances. An assessment is a great opportunity to ask all your questions. No matter the goal, they'll tell you the best way to do it.
Sustainability Certified's Mel and Kel Lupis.
Mel and Kel were spotted at the Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) booth at the February Everything Electric Show in Sydney.
Kel also made a presentation on “Energy efficient retrofits - how to refurbish for thermal comfort”
He had this to say of the successful event...
Kel Lupis presenting at the Everything Electric Show
"Melanie and I had a great time volunteering at the HEAT (Home Energy Advice Team) stand at the recent Everything Electric Show hosted at Sydney’s Olympic Park. There were several other Scorecard assessors on board to offer free home energy efficiency and thermal performance tips and tricks to visitors from all over Australia.
It was a busy three days with each one of our available sessions fully booked and the info sessions including “Energy Efficient Retrofits” were very well attended. We’re looking forward to an even bigger show next year."
Scorecard Brand Guidelines
The Scorecard Brand Guidelines have been refreshed and a new streamlined resource, created.
The guidelines are designed to help users of the Scorecard brand to be consistent, professional and reflective of the program’s integrity.
They include a selection of downloadable files that help you present your Scorecard business to a high standard.
These guidelines cover items like:
- logo marks
- images use and,
- use of the Scorecard name.
In addition to Scorecard information, we have included some general tips to help communications achieve best practice.
Thoughts?
Anything you want to see more or less of in these updates?
Send a reply to this email, we would love to hear from you!
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