5 Star breaches Trade Practice Act - House Energy Group from Certainteed
The Victorian Government has almost certainly breached the Trade Practices Act by using the name '5 Star' for its new home efficiency rating system, according to industry group the Energy Conscious Housing Council.
'Your dictionary says five-star means the ultimate, whether you're talking hotels, movies or cars.' says ECHC chairman Ross Wilson. 'But these so-called 5 Star ratings can result in houses that are wasteful of energy and distressingly uncomfortable to live in. So the name itself will mislead consumers into thinking they're buying the ultimate, comfortable, energy efficient home, when in fact they can do very much better with their money.'
| 'Look at the glaring errors in the very photo used in those expensive full page advertisements. Huge windows are pointed straight into the blazing sun. In summer, the unfortunate occupants of that house will be thrashing the air-conditioning system and maybe hanging bamboo blinds over |
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| the windows as well, in their desperation to create some shade. The government's model house gets 5 stars for being a solar oven and a big minus for energy efficiency ... there should be laws AGAINST houses like that! |
In winter, the same house will suffer from cold transferred by the large window area, unless the windows have effective double glazing or are insulated with heavy, pelmet to floor curtains.
Wilson is also frustrated that the new regulations could be abused. 'You can trick the 5 Star system with energy efficient, double glazed windows on one wall for added energy points. But the rest of your windows will still be transferring frosts and heatwaves as if you were living in a tent. With double glazing, as with all aspects of home insulation, you have to do the whole house or you're wasting your time.'
'All the Victorian government has done is create a false expectation that a 5 Star house is truly energy-efficient. This is misleading and could create widespread disillusionment. Homeowners will ask, "If this is all we get out of 5 Stars, why waste our time and money." It would be better to give 5 Star a less ambitious name because we need to go far beyond the current standard.'
'The First Rate system, which includes 5 Star, is a step in the right direction. But if there's to be any truth in advertising, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will force the Victorian Government to rename the new building standard. I suggest they call it One Star because it is so easy to build homes with at least five times greater energy efficiency.'
The Energy Conscious Housing Council was formed by a group of industry professionals to promote awareness and understanding of energy efficient housing design and products. Mr Wilson runs seminars in 4 states to introduce home buyers to energy conscious housing methods.
Further Information, Interviews: Ross Wilson, Chairman, 0409 090 468.
Photo: This heat-trap is the Victorian Government's idea of energy efficient housing.
(Reproduced from 'The Age' 30th June 2005, page 10)
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