An aerial view of the Ampol oil refinery on Brisbane’s Lytton Island which has been under pressure since fears of fuel supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images
New data reveals some of Australia’s most affordable suburbs rank among the top 50 most energy-efficient regions in the country – leaving capital cities stumbling.
New iSelect data shows seven of the top 50 most energy-efficient areas were priced below the national median house price of $480,719 – one of which, Boddington (median $330,833) in Western Australia, ranked second best in the country.
“There’s a common assumption that energy-efficient living comes with a premium price tag, however, the data tells a different story,” the iSelect research statement said.
More than 700 residents and visitors at the South32 Summer by the River celebration in Boddington WA which has been ranked second in the country for energy-efficiency. Picture: Shire of Boddington/Facebook
The latest iSelect energy-efficiency rankings have some surprise results. Source: iSelect
Among affordable areas on the top 50 list were Fraser Coast (median $469,105), Bundaberg $428,139 and Gladstone $410,231 – “all well below what most Australians picture when they think of a high-performing, efficient home”.
The data showed the median house prices across Australia’s top 10 most energy-efficient regions was $664,959 with places like Sydney’s most expensive council region Mosman far down the research list ranked 328th out of 365 for energy efficiency.
The Sunshine Coast was named Australia’s most energy-efficient region, with cheaper parts of Queensland like Fraser Coast ranked third, Gympie fifth, Moreton Bay seventh and Bundaberg ninth. Apart from Boddington, other WA areas in the top 10 were WA’s Augusta Margaret River fourth, Murray sixth, Chittering eighth and Serpentine-Jarrahdale 10th.
All had solar takeup over 60 per cent across homes there, with WA’s highest-ranked LGAs Boddington and Augusta Margaret River leading the top 10 on new construction efficiency and Energy Star ratings.
Australia’s most expensive council area Mosman in Sydney was ranked towards the bottom for energy efficiency, 328th out of a group of 365 areas surveyed
The iSelect research found capital cities were being dragged down by lower rooftop solar adoption and a higher share of pre-1980 housing stock -”which are two of the index’s most heavily weighted categories due to their impact on energy efficiency”.
“Every central capital city LGA ranks outside the top 40 most energy-efficient places to live. Brisbane is the standout performer at rank 45, but Adelaide (117th), Melbourne (229th) and Sydney (272nd) all sit in the mid-to-lower end of the index.”
Julia Paszka, iSelect general manager utilities, said “the gap between Australia’s most and least energy-efficient regions is significant”.
“While not everyone can renovate their home or install solar overnight, switching to a better energy plan is something any Australian can do right now,” she said.
The latest iSelect energy-efficiency rankings have some surprise results. Source: iSelect
“Small changes at home can also make a real difference. From upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and improving insulation, to simply being more mindful of when and how you use power. Every bit adds up, and the savings can be significant over time.”
She said location played a key role in the most energy-efficient regions with Queensland and Western Australia – which had five each of the top 10 – consistently outperforming others thanks to solar takeup, newer housing and favourable climates.
All ten of the lowest energy-efficiency areas were in regional Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, with the worst being MacDonnell in Northern Territory – home to Uluru.
“These aren’t areas lacking in sunshine or space, but they are areas where the infrastructure and investment needed to convert that potential into clean, efficient energy haven’t yet caught up.”
Woollahra in Sydney was the worst metro area on the least-efficient list – scoring just 34.43 out of 100.
“It’s a surprising entry for one of Australia’s most affluent suburbs, and a good example of how high-density, older housing stock can offset any advantages that city living might otherwise bring.”
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