ABSTRACT

The argument of financial benefits from lower running costs persists due to lack of post-occupancy performance data while studies indicate life-cost benefits accrue mainly to second and third homeowners. This chapter concerns how much more environmentally sustainable housing costs than traditional housing. An understanding of the costs and benefits of more environmentally sustainable housing is needed to understand the effects on housing affordability. Post-occupancy monitoring and evaluation for more sustainable houses is lacking and reporting such data is crucial to demonstrate achievement of the initially projected costs and benefits. It is possible for more sustainable housing to be both financially feasible and socially beneficial. The introduction of building sustainability index (BASIX) has seen the development of better practice models for more environmentally sustainable project homes. The chapter sought to raise awareness of the need for debates on housing affordability and environmental performance to coalesce in Australian housing policy discourse.