Comments on: Is it Time to Legislate Green Housing? http://www.renovateaustralia.com/2008/05/02/is-it-time-to-legislate-green-housing/ A home improvement blog about renovating our Queenslander house in Townsville, Australia Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:30:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill Hutchison http://www.renovateaustralia.com/2008/05/02/is-it-time-to-legislate-green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-17197 Bill Hutchison Sun, 04 May 2008 01:37:01 +0000 http://www.renovateaustralia.com/?p=276#comment-17197 I have the same thoughts on the subject as you do. Australia is doing an alright job I think at the moment using the stick and the carrot approach. It is a very fragmented approach though, as each individual state is doing their own thing. Some states are offering incentives (money back / subsidies) for things like rain water tanks and solar hot water systems. At the same time many of the individual states are requiring new houses to be built to an environmental standard. I have the same thoughts on the subject as you do.

Australia is doing an alright job I think at the moment using the stick and the carrot approach. It is a very fragmented approach though, as each individual state is doing their own thing.

Some states are offering incentives (money back / subsidies) for things like rain water tanks and solar hot water systems. At the same time many of the individual states are requiring new houses to be built to an environmental standard.

]]> By: Paul http://www.renovateaustralia.com/2008/05/02/is-it-time-to-legislate-green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-17068 Paul Fri, 02 May 2008 18:48:49 +0000 http://www.renovateaustralia.com/?p=276#comment-17068 I don't think older houses should be forced to comply with newer environmental rules. It is one thing to say "from this day forward, we build them like this..." But older buildings have many issues with modifications. Perhaps, for a particular house, there is no way to bring it to the newer code. What happens then, does it get torn down? What about people who can't afford to upgrade? They can't sell their house? I am in the solar business. I think that everyone needs to do there part to protect the environment, but it can be expensive. I don’t think older houses should be forced to comply with newer environmental rules. It is one thing to say “from this day forward, we build them like this…” But older buildings have many issues with modifications. Perhaps, for a particular house, there is no way to bring it to the newer code. What happens then, does it get torn down? What about people who can’t afford to upgrade? They can’t sell their house?

I am in the solar business. I think that everyone needs to do there part to protect the environment, but it can be expensive.

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