Why You’re More Likely To Feel Colder In An Aussie Home Than In A Scandinavian Home This Winter

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If you’ve been feeling cold in your home this winter, you’re not alone. In fact you’re more likely to feel colder in an Australian home than a home in Scandinavia.

In the last few years, it’s come to people’s attention that our homes aren’t actually built to withstand the cold. Aussie homes have been called “glorified tents”, and the problem with that is that if the indoor temperature of our home drops below 18 degrees, we could face health risks.

Those living in old and poorly insulated rentals or in public housing are impacted the most. So much so that sustainability and environmental experts are calling for an overhaul in our national building standards to combat climate change and improve living conditions.

Poorly Insulated Homes Are Impacting Australians More Than You Might Think

Around a quarter of Australians struggle to keep their homes warm enough during winter. And one in five renters on very low incomes can’t afford to warm their homes in winter.

People are freezing their mitts off because of a number of reasons.

For one, Australia’s housing types, which were brought over from England, “haven’t really been adapted for climate here”. Our older homes don’t actually meet basic housing requirements, and even our minimum building standards for energy and comfort fall well behind other countries.

In the 1970s, energy efficiency as a result of the Arab Israeli War started influencing building codes across North America and Europe. But Australia didn’t start bringing in similar requirements until 1991. And we had to shiver for another 30 years before the Building Code of Australia set housing efficiency standards in 2003. Bulk insulation only became mandatory in 2005, hence why a lot of old terrace houses are both hot in summer and cold in winter.

In saying that, Dr Trivess Moore from RMIT pointed out that the “majority of new houses in Australia are only built to meet the minimum building code requirements” which are “not sufficient to deliver year round thermal comfort, especially with a changing climate”.

Those Living In Public Housing Are Worse Off

For those living in social housing, more often than not it means living in poor quality buildings. The risk of the cold is even greater for those living in caravans and mobile homes.

Research from the University of Wollongong found that one-quarter of NSW social housing properties recorded winter temperatures below the recommended global guideline for more than 80% of winter. More than half were below the line for more than half of winter. Social housing tenants reported that they were forced to choose between keeping their homes warm or making sure their energy bills were manageable. This is called fuel poverty, and it impacts around 28% of Australian households.

Fuel poverty leaves the most vulnerable feeling the effects of winter the most. Those impacts go beyond just living uncomfortably. Cold homes means consistent cold air, which has been linked to health conditions like asthma, poor mental health, increased blood pressure, respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

In fact, it was found that more people die from the cold temperatures in Sydney than in Sweden, according to a 2015 study. Cold weather was found to have killed 2600 Australians every year. Sydney had a higher rate of deaths at 7.6 percent, to Stockholm’s 3.69 percent.

How Do We Fix The Issue?

To stop the unnecessary deaths, coldness, and chills, Australia’s building regulations need to be tightened and more in line with the EU by having all buildings nearly meeting zero energy performances which will keep the environment happy at the same time. As a priority, we need to radically mend our old buildings to meet future standards and future climates.

To do that though there needs to be significant government funding, especially for those in vulnerable positions.