New energy efficiency tech to be tested in Australian homes
A new system which estimates energy efficiency in Australian homes is being trialled by CSIRO and property data analytics company CoreLogic Australia.
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and property data analytics company CoreLogic Australia are trialling a new artificial intelligence (AI) system to estimate energy efficiency for homes across Australia.
Understanding the energy efficiency of homes can help the industry and homeowners to improve energy performance and lower power bills, but before the trial, data on the energy efficiency of homes was limited or not readily accessible.
The pilot project combines CoreLogic’s 40 years of comprehensive property data with CSIRO’s RapidRate artificial intelligence model to produce an estimate of heating and cooling load, and an energy efficiency star rating for homes.
The insights from CSIRO’s RapidRate will initially be made available to CoreLogic’s core banking and finance customers, with plans to make it available to other market segments in the future.
The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) was initiated in 1993 to provide a standardised approach and regulatory framework on energy ratings for new residential homes, but the data is not easily accessible, and data on homes built before NatHERS is limited.
CoreLogic International Chief Executive Officer Lisa Claes said the revolutionary system has a multitude of potential economic, climate and societal benefits including supporting emissions reduction and aligning with pathways to net zero by 2050.
Ms Claes said there is an urgent need to fill knowledge gaps around energy performance of existing property that would result in more efficient, sustainable and comfortable housing that cost less to run.
“Combining our considerable breadth and depth of knowledge and respective industry expertise gives us the power and the privilege to make a real and significant difference towards improving energy efficiency performance across the entire residential sector," she said.
