An overview of energy, climate and resource considerations for residential appliances and equipment

Cover Image.  The Lake House, Tasmania, by biotope architecture.interiors has been designed to be self-sufficient for water and energy with additional energy generated fed back to the grid (Image: Peter Mathew)A summary update has been provided for this note in June 2023. This summary reflects updates to this topic on the National Construction Code 2022 and BASIX.

This Note provides an introductory review of the energy use and climate and resource impacts of appliances in residential buildings and factors that influence their performance. Its main focus is on the design stage, but it may also assist designers when they work with specifiers, contractors and clients. Many decisions made during design, construction and equipment installation have significant climate impacts associated with input materials and services, operation and end of life. The extreme urgency of shifting towards a zero-emission economy and society increases the significance of these decisions, which lock-in immediate and long-term climate impacts, and adaptation potential.

This note complements Cutting lifetime residential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by Pears (2020), which provides an overview of lifecycle climate and energy impacts and issues in the residential sector.

Related courses - Available via Online CPD

note summary
  1. Introduction
  2. Roles of building designers for appliances
  3. Appliance life cycle
  4. Selection of energy sources
  5. Appliance operating energy and emissions
  6. Key appliances and equipment and the services they deliver
  7. Conclusion
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