This document is a resource for anyone planning or assessing new low carbon precincts. Its advice complements existing policy and may be of use to developers, planners, policy makers and the community—anyone who is seeking to understand how to create sustainable urban outcomes.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRC LCL) research project Mainstreaming Net Zero Energy Housing aims to improve industry understanding of Net Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) while addressing cost and consumer interest barriers. The project also provides a unique opportunity to increase collaboration between industry players such as land developers and volume builders.

This research comprises a longitudinal study of a cohort of residents moving into a low-carbon development and their pre- and post-occupancy household practices that consume energy and water.

In this paper, residents of an Australian low-carbon development (LCD) are studied in order to discover the expectations and motivations driving them to move to their new home, the emotional landscape of the home, and their subsequent experiences living in an LCD.

Buildings are responsible for a large share of the global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions generation. Most emissions are produced during the operation of the buildings.

The structure of this report is based on the CRCLCL RP3033 project activities which included:

Highlights

• A mixed method approach is used to analyze everyday practice in 8 homes over a year.
• Practices are performed in a sequential temporal spectrum as part of a routine.
• Practices are influenced by the interlocked practices and routines of other occupants.
• Highly interlocked and habitual practices are not easily influenced.
• Automation can enable change by dis-interlocking practices from the home system.

Abstract

Emerging results from practice-based research demonstrate that energy efficient houses often do not meet theoretical energy use based on the current standards of residential buildings. A factor influencing this inconsistency is related to user behaviour and everyday practices. The objective of this research is to uncover some of the complexities associated with the practices of heating and cooling in the home, which are influenced by motivations, knowledge and technologies, including the use of photovoltaic panels.

Highlights
A persuasive behaviour change program is assessed from a practice theory approach.
Most changes involved alterations in the technology element of the practice.
Alterations in the meaning and skill elements of practice are challenging.
Automation enabled dis-interlocking changes from the home system of practice.
Abstract

Monitoring household energy and water usage can provide valuable insights into building performance and occupant behaviour. The monitoring of building parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide levels can also be used to inform building management.