18a Betrice St DesignBuilder

Improving the energy efficiency of housing is crucial to address the pressing challenges of climate change. Older houses in Australia built before the introduction of national energy efficiency regulations are often regarded as less efficient than recently constructed houses in terms of their energy performance. This study investigated the thermal comfort and energy consumption of a pre-war house built in the 1930s in Adelaide, Australia, through a combination of environmental monitoring, occupant responses, and building performance simulations. Focusing on this case study, this paper examines the performance of the house and evaluates whether retrofitting can enable such dwellings to achieve net-zero energy consumption. By conducting parametric optimisation analyses of various retrofit strategies and comparing the results with the Australian Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), the study assesses the effectiveness of these interventions in enhancing energy performance. The thermal performance results of the existing building challenge conventional assumptions regarding the inherent inefficiency of older Australian houses. Furthermore, the parametric optimisation analysis results of retrofit strategies demonstrate that a strategic combination of insulation, reduced infiltration rates, upgraded glazing, and optimised external shading can reduce total heating and cooling loads by 78% compared to the original design.