office of environment & heritage
TRANSCRIPT
Insert document title here
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Office of Environment amp Heritage Connecting comfort to energy efficiency and
sustainability
Prepared For Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)
Contact Emily Yip and Stephanie Jones
Consultants David Donnelly Eric Wu amp Dejana Calic
Reference J2072
February 2015
wwwinstinctandreasoncomshy
shy
SYDNEY LONDON CANBERRA
Level 1 420 Elizabeth 19 Devonshire Street 103 11 Trevillian Quay
Street Surry Hills London Kingston
NSW 2010 Australia W1G 7AH United Kingdom ACT 2604 Australia
+61 (2) 9283 2233 +44 (0) 203 355 4454 +61 (2) 123 0335
copy Copyright State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage
DISCLAIMER
This report was prepared by Instinct and Reason in good faith exercising all due care and attention but no
representation or warranty express or implied is made as to the relevance accuracy completeness or fitness
for purpose of this document in respect of any particular userrsquos circumstances Users of this document should
satisfy themselves concerning its application to and where necessary seek expert advice in respect of their
situation The views expressed within are not necessarily the views of the Office of Environment and Heritage
and may not represent OEH policy OEH does not accept responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete
information supplied by third parties No representation is made about the accuracy completeness or
suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose OEH shall not be liable for any
damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication
This document is subject to revision without notice and it is up to the reader to ensure that the latest version is
being used Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6shy
General overview ndash decision making process 6shy
Features and outcomes that create comfort 7shy
Understanding the meaning of comfort 8shy
Target audiences for strategy development 9shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 9shy
36 of the total sample 9shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 10shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 11shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 13shy
26 of the total sample 13shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 14shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers 15shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfort 17shy
Attitudes are right need to help them do it 17shy
Some attitudes need changing 19shy
Home buyers value energy efficiency information 19shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy efficiency messages for home buyers 21shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy efficiency messages fro renovators 21shy
2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 22shy
Research purpose 22shy
Research objectives 22shy
3 METHODOLOGYAPPROACH 23shy
4 HYPOTHESES ABOUT COMFORT 26shy
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions 26shy
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it asshy
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfortshy
At the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energyshy
What is comfort 27shy
which is all about indulgence 27shy
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiency 27shy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram 27shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiency 28shy
5 ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWS ALLOWED US TO SEE AND HEAR THE WAY PEOPLE TALK 29shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family 30shy
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible 30shy
Sarah ndash buyer with older family 30shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester 31shy
6 SURVEY FINDINGS WITH RECENT AND FUTURE RENOVATORS AND BUYERS 32shy
PROPERTIES OWNED EXPERIENCE IS HIGHLY VARIABLE 32shy
Factors taken into account when making final choices About renovating 33shy
7 WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF A COMFORTABLE HOME - PAIRWISE COMPARISON 34shy
Pairwise comparisons 34shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region 36shy
8 ATTITUDES TO COMFORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 37shy
What is a comfortable home 37shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary 38shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10 39shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11 40shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home 41shy
Attitudes to their home 42shy
Attitudes to the environment 43shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency 44shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2) 45shy
9 VIEWS ON VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE 46shy
Information affecting buying decisions 46shy
10 SITUATIONAL FACTORS THAT MIGHT LINK ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH COMFORT 48shy
11 HOW CAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAP INTO THE CAREGIVER ARCHETYPE 51shy
Caregiving 51shy
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-image 51shy
When does information about energy efficiency 52shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or choosing a home 53shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuade 54shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 HOUSEHOLD CLASSIFICATION 55shy
Environmental behaviours Things done around the home 55shy
Attributes of current household Statements about occupantrsquos home 56shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in 57shy
13 MARKET SEGMENTATION 58shy
Market segmentation 58shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 59shy
26 of the total sample 59shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 60shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 61shy
What is comfort to the practicals 62shy
34 of the total sample 62shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 63shy
36 of the total sample 63shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 63shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyers 64shy
14 PAIRWISE COMPARISON SEGMENTS 65shy
Segment profile ndash Tribal cues 65shy
34 of the total sample 65shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 66shy
34 of the total sample 66shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 67shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 68shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 69shy
42 of the total sample 69shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 70shy
42 of the total sample 70shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyers 71shy
Comparison ndash energy efficiency 71shy
4 SR 105shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Executive summary
Previous consumer research found that 62 of NSW Households when buying a house take
into account whether the home was a comfortable one to live in when finally deciding which
property to buy
A significant number of households who had renovated or planned to renovate did so to lsquomake it
a more comfortable or attractive home to live inrsquo (48 who had conducted and 44 who plan to
conduct a renovation)
Comfort is the leading driver and motivator for households in the home purchase market and
home renovation market
The consumer research also found that lsquoComfort seekersrsquo are more likely to also be those that
would buy highly efficient and sustainable homes Comfort seekers are more likely to take the
following factors into account if they were to buy a home to live in
bull A property with low running costs
bull Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo)
bull Access to renewable energy or green power sources
bull Has solar panels installed
bull Well insulated roof and walls
bull Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system
bull Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water
bull Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows
bull Functional to live in and easy to maintain
bull Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting
bull Just feels like the right place
This study sought to understand how to link energy efficiency and comfort for future marketing
and program efforts
General overview ndash decision making process
Those surveyed had a wide range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes 31 had
owned just one home 37 2-3 homes and 31 had owned many homes
Even though the sample was collected on the basis of recent or potential home renovators or buyers
many had done or were about to do both activities Hence most of the reporting has looked at the
total sample
6
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
shy
SYDNEY LONDON CANBERRA
Level 1 420 Elizabeth 19 Devonshire Street 103 11 Trevillian Quay
Street Surry Hills London Kingston
NSW 2010 Australia W1G 7AH United Kingdom ACT 2604 Australia
+61 (2) 9283 2233 +44 (0) 203 355 4454 +61 (2) 123 0335
copy Copyright State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage
DISCLAIMER
This report was prepared by Instinct and Reason in good faith exercising all due care and attention but no
representation or warranty express or implied is made as to the relevance accuracy completeness or fitness
for purpose of this document in respect of any particular userrsquos circumstances Users of this document should
satisfy themselves concerning its application to and where necessary seek expert advice in respect of their
situation The views expressed within are not necessarily the views of the Office of Environment and Heritage
and may not represent OEH policy OEH does not accept responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete
information supplied by third parties No representation is made about the accuracy completeness or
suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose OEH shall not be liable for any
damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication
This document is subject to revision without notice and it is up to the reader to ensure that the latest version is
being used Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6shy
General overview ndash decision making process 6shy
Features and outcomes that create comfort 7shy
Understanding the meaning of comfort 8shy
Target audiences for strategy development 9shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 9shy
36 of the total sample 9shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 10shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 11shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 13shy
26 of the total sample 13shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 14shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers 15shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfort 17shy
Attitudes are right need to help them do it 17shy
Some attitudes need changing 19shy
Home buyers value energy efficiency information 19shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy efficiency messages for home buyers 21shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy efficiency messages fro renovators 21shy
2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 22shy
Research purpose 22shy
Research objectives 22shy
3 METHODOLOGYAPPROACH 23shy
4 HYPOTHESES ABOUT COMFORT 26shy
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions 26shy
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it asshy
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfortshy
At the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energyshy
What is comfort 27shy
which is all about indulgence 27shy
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiency 27shy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram 27shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiency 28shy
5 ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWS ALLOWED US TO SEE AND HEAR THE WAY PEOPLE TALK 29shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family 30shy
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible 30shy
Sarah ndash buyer with older family 30shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester 31shy
6 SURVEY FINDINGS WITH RECENT AND FUTURE RENOVATORS AND BUYERS 32shy
PROPERTIES OWNED EXPERIENCE IS HIGHLY VARIABLE 32shy
Factors taken into account when making final choices About renovating 33shy
7 WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF A COMFORTABLE HOME - PAIRWISE COMPARISON 34shy
Pairwise comparisons 34shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region 36shy
8 ATTITUDES TO COMFORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 37shy
What is a comfortable home 37shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary 38shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10 39shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11 40shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home 41shy
Attitudes to their home 42shy
Attitudes to the environment 43shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency 44shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2) 45shy
9 VIEWS ON VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE 46shy
Information affecting buying decisions 46shy
10 SITUATIONAL FACTORS THAT MIGHT LINK ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH COMFORT 48shy
11 HOW CAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAP INTO THE CAREGIVER ARCHETYPE 51shy
Caregiving 51shy
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-image 51shy
When does information about energy efficiency 52shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or choosing a home 53shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuade 54shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 HOUSEHOLD CLASSIFICATION 55shy
Environmental behaviours Things done around the home 55shy
Attributes of current household Statements about occupantrsquos home 56shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in 57shy
13 MARKET SEGMENTATION 58shy
Market segmentation 58shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 59shy
26 of the total sample 59shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 60shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 61shy
What is comfort to the practicals 62shy
34 of the total sample 62shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 63shy
36 of the total sample 63shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 63shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyers 64shy
14 PAIRWISE COMPARISON SEGMENTS 65shy
Segment profile ndash Tribal cues 65shy
34 of the total sample 65shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 66shy
34 of the total sample 66shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 67shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 68shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 69shy
42 of the total sample 69shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 70shy
42 of the total sample 70shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyers 71shy
Comparison ndash energy efficiency 71shy
4 SR 105shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Executive summary
Previous consumer research found that 62 of NSW Households when buying a house take
into account whether the home was a comfortable one to live in when finally deciding which
property to buy
A significant number of households who had renovated or planned to renovate did so to lsquomake it
a more comfortable or attractive home to live inrsquo (48 who had conducted and 44 who plan to
conduct a renovation)
Comfort is the leading driver and motivator for households in the home purchase market and
home renovation market
The consumer research also found that lsquoComfort seekersrsquo are more likely to also be those that
would buy highly efficient and sustainable homes Comfort seekers are more likely to take the
following factors into account if they were to buy a home to live in
bull A property with low running costs
bull Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo)
bull Access to renewable energy or green power sources
bull Has solar panels installed
bull Well insulated roof and walls
bull Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system
bull Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water
bull Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows
bull Functional to live in and easy to maintain
bull Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting
bull Just feels like the right place
This study sought to understand how to link energy efficiency and comfort for future marketing
and program efforts
General overview ndash decision making process
Those surveyed had a wide range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes 31 had
owned just one home 37 2-3 homes and 31 had owned many homes
Even though the sample was collected on the basis of recent or potential home renovators or buyers
many had done or were about to do both activities Hence most of the reporting has looked at the
total sample
6
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6shy
General overview ndash decision making process 6shy
Features and outcomes that create comfort 7shy
Understanding the meaning of comfort 8shy
Target audiences for strategy development 9shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 9shy
36 of the total sample 9shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 10shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 11shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 13shy
26 of the total sample 13shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 14shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers 15shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfort 17shy
Attitudes are right need to help them do it 17shy
Some attitudes need changing 19shy
Home buyers value energy efficiency information 19shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy efficiency messages for home buyers 21shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy efficiency messages fro renovators 21shy
2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 22shy
Research purpose 22shy
Research objectives 22shy
3 METHODOLOGYAPPROACH 23shy
4 HYPOTHESES ABOUT COMFORT 26shy
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions 26shy
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it asshy
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfortshy
At the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energyshy
What is comfort 27shy
which is all about indulgence 27shy
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiency 27shy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram 27shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiency 28shy
5 ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWS ALLOWED US TO SEE AND HEAR THE WAY PEOPLE TALK 29shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family 30shy
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible 30shy
Sarah ndash buyer with older family 30shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester 31shy
6 SURVEY FINDINGS WITH RECENT AND FUTURE RENOVATORS AND BUYERS 32shy
PROPERTIES OWNED EXPERIENCE IS HIGHLY VARIABLE 32shy
Factors taken into account when making final choices About renovating 33shy
7 WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF A COMFORTABLE HOME - PAIRWISE COMPARISON 34shy
Pairwise comparisons 34shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region 36shy
8 ATTITUDES TO COMFORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 37shy
What is a comfortable home 37shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary 38shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10 39shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11 40shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home 41shy
Attitudes to their home 42shy
Attitudes to the environment 43shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency 44shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2) 45shy
9 VIEWS ON VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE 46shy
Information affecting buying decisions 46shy
10 SITUATIONAL FACTORS THAT MIGHT LINK ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH COMFORT 48shy
11 HOW CAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAP INTO THE CAREGIVER ARCHETYPE 51shy
Caregiving 51shy
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-image 51shy
When does information about energy efficiency 52shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or choosing a home 53shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuade 54shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 HOUSEHOLD CLASSIFICATION 55shy
Environmental behaviours Things done around the home 55shy
Attributes of current household Statements about occupantrsquos home 56shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in 57shy
13 MARKET SEGMENTATION 58shy
Market segmentation 58shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 59shy
26 of the total sample 59shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 60shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 61shy
What is comfort to the practicals 62shy
34 of the total sample 62shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 63shy
36 of the total sample 63shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 63shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyers 64shy
14 PAIRWISE COMPARISON SEGMENTS 65shy
Segment profile ndash Tribal cues 65shy
34 of the total sample 65shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 66shy
34 of the total sample 66shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 67shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 68shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 69shy
42 of the total sample 69shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 70shy
42 of the total sample 70shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyers 71shy
Comparison ndash energy efficiency 71shy
4 SR 105shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Executive summary
Previous consumer research found that 62 of NSW Households when buying a house take
into account whether the home was a comfortable one to live in when finally deciding which
property to buy
A significant number of households who had renovated or planned to renovate did so to lsquomake it
a more comfortable or attractive home to live inrsquo (48 who had conducted and 44 who plan to
conduct a renovation)
Comfort is the leading driver and motivator for households in the home purchase market and
home renovation market
The consumer research also found that lsquoComfort seekersrsquo are more likely to also be those that
would buy highly efficient and sustainable homes Comfort seekers are more likely to take the
following factors into account if they were to buy a home to live in
bull A property with low running costs
bull Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo)
bull Access to renewable energy or green power sources
bull Has solar panels installed
bull Well insulated roof and walls
bull Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system
bull Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water
bull Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows
bull Functional to live in and easy to maintain
bull Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting
bull Just feels like the right place
This study sought to understand how to link energy efficiency and comfort for future marketing
and program efforts
General overview ndash decision making process
Those surveyed had a wide range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes 31 had
owned just one home 37 2-3 homes and 31 had owned many homes
Even though the sample was collected on the basis of recent or potential home renovators or buyers
many had done or were about to do both activities Hence most of the reporting has looked at the
total sample
6
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiency 28shy
5 ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWS ALLOWED US TO SEE AND HEAR THE WAY PEOPLE TALK 29shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family 30shy
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible 30shy
Sarah ndash buyer with older family 30shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester 31shy
6 SURVEY FINDINGS WITH RECENT AND FUTURE RENOVATORS AND BUYERS 32shy
PROPERTIES OWNED EXPERIENCE IS HIGHLY VARIABLE 32shy
Factors taken into account when making final choices About renovating 33shy
7 WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF A COMFORTABLE HOME - PAIRWISE COMPARISON 34shy
Pairwise comparisons 34shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region 36shy
8 ATTITUDES TO COMFORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 37shy
What is a comfortable home 37shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary 38shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10 39shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11 40shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home 41shy
Attitudes to their home 42shy
Attitudes to the environment 43shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency 44shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2) 45shy
9 VIEWS ON VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE 46shy
Information affecting buying decisions 46shy
10 SITUATIONAL FACTORS THAT MIGHT LINK ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH COMFORT 48shy
11 HOW CAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAP INTO THE CAREGIVER ARCHETYPE 51shy
Caregiving 51shy
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-image 51shy
When does information about energy efficiency 52shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or choosing a home 53shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuade 54shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 HOUSEHOLD CLASSIFICATION 55shy
Environmental behaviours Things done around the home 55shy
Attributes of current household Statements about occupantrsquos home 56shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in 57shy
13 MARKET SEGMENTATION 58shy
Market segmentation 58shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 59shy
26 of the total sample 59shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 60shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 61shy
What is comfort to the practicals 62shy
34 of the total sample 62shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 63shy
36 of the total sample 63shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 63shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyers 64shy
14 PAIRWISE COMPARISON SEGMENTS 65shy
Segment profile ndash Tribal cues 65shy
34 of the total sample 65shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 66shy
34 of the total sample 66shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 67shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 68shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 69shy
42 of the total sample 69shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 70shy
42 of the total sample 70shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyers 71shy
Comparison ndash energy efficiency 71shy
4 SR 105shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Executive summary
Previous consumer research found that 62 of NSW Households when buying a house take
into account whether the home was a comfortable one to live in when finally deciding which
property to buy
A significant number of households who had renovated or planned to renovate did so to lsquomake it
a more comfortable or attractive home to live inrsquo (48 who had conducted and 44 who plan to
conduct a renovation)
Comfort is the leading driver and motivator for households in the home purchase market and
home renovation market
The consumer research also found that lsquoComfort seekersrsquo are more likely to also be those that
would buy highly efficient and sustainable homes Comfort seekers are more likely to take the
following factors into account if they were to buy a home to live in
bull A property with low running costs
bull Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo)
bull Access to renewable energy or green power sources
bull Has solar panels installed
bull Well insulated roof and walls
bull Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system
bull Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water
bull Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows
bull Functional to live in and easy to maintain
bull Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting
bull Just feels like the right place
This study sought to understand how to link energy efficiency and comfort for future marketing
and program efforts
General overview ndash decision making process
Those surveyed had a wide range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes 31 had
owned just one home 37 2-3 homes and 31 had owned many homes
Even though the sample was collected on the basis of recent or potential home renovators or buyers
many had done or were about to do both activities Hence most of the reporting has looked at the
total sample
6
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 HOUSEHOLD CLASSIFICATION 55shy
Environmental behaviours Things done around the home 55shy
Attributes of current household Statements about occupantrsquos home 56shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in 57shy
13 MARKET SEGMENTATION 58shy
Market segmentation 58shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 59shy
26 of the total sample 59shy
What is comfort to the environmentally driven 60shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals 61shy
What is comfort to the practicals 62shy
34 of the total sample 62shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 63shy
36 of the total sample 63shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focused 63shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyers 64shy
14 PAIRWISE COMPARISON SEGMENTS 65shy
Segment profile ndash Tribal cues 65shy
34 of the total sample 65shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 66shy
34 of the total sample 66shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 67shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflectshyyou personally -20 of the total sample 68shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 69shy
42 of the total sample 69shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer 70shy
42 of the total sample 70shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyers 71shy
Comparison ndash energy efficiency 71shy
4 SR 105shy
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Executive summary
Previous consumer research found that 62 of NSW Households when buying a house take
into account whether the home was a comfortable one to live in when finally deciding which
property to buy
A significant number of households who had renovated or planned to renovate did so to lsquomake it
a more comfortable or attractive home to live inrsquo (48 who had conducted and 44 who plan to
conduct a renovation)
Comfort is the leading driver and motivator for households in the home purchase market and
home renovation market
The consumer research also found that lsquoComfort seekersrsquo are more likely to also be those that
would buy highly efficient and sustainable homes Comfort seekers are more likely to take the
following factors into account if they were to buy a home to live in
bull A property with low running costs
bull Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo)
bull Access to renewable energy or green power sources
bull Has solar panels installed
bull Well insulated roof and walls
bull Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system
bull Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water
bull Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows
bull Functional to live in and easy to maintain
bull Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting
bull Just feels like the right place
This study sought to understand how to link energy efficiency and comfort for future marketing
and program efforts
General overview ndash decision making process
Those surveyed had a wide range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes 31 had
owned just one home 37 2-3 homes and 31 had owned many homes
Even though the sample was collected on the basis of recent or potential home renovators or buyers
many had done or were about to do both activities Hence most of the reporting has looked at the
total sample
6
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Executive summary
Previous consumer research found that 62 of NSW Households when buying a house take
into account whether the home was a comfortable one to live in when finally deciding which
property to buy
A significant number of households who had renovated or planned to renovate did so to lsquomake it
a more comfortable or attractive home to live inrsquo (48 who had conducted and 44 who plan to
conduct a renovation)
Comfort is the leading driver and motivator for households in the home purchase market and
home renovation market
The consumer research also found that lsquoComfort seekersrsquo are more likely to also be those that
would buy highly efficient and sustainable homes Comfort seekers are more likely to take the
following factors into account if they were to buy a home to live in
bull A property with low running costs
bull Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo)
bull Access to renewable energy or green power sources
bull Has solar panels installed
bull Well insulated roof and walls
bull Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system
bull Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water
bull Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows
bull Functional to live in and easy to maintain
bull Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting
bull Just feels like the right place
This study sought to understand how to link energy efficiency and comfort for future marketing
and program efforts
General overview ndash decision making process
Those surveyed had a wide range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes 31 had
owned just one home 37 2-3 homes and 31 had owned many homes
Even though the sample was collected on the basis of recent or potential home renovators or buyers
many had done or were about to do both activities Hence most of the reporting has looked at the
total sample
6
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Home Buyers
For those who have recently purchased a home when searching to buy a home identified privacy
(51) and the layout of the home (49) as the most important factors considered For those
planning to buy a home but are in the search stage the number one factor was a lsquokitchen that works
without major adjustmentrsquo (43)
When comparing homes the most important factor (for both those planning to purchase a home
and those who have already purchased) was how much work and money it will take to change it to
the way they want (49)
When making the final choice those who had recently bought a home said the factor that clinched
their decision was lsquodid it fit with the future needs of the familyrsquo (53) However those who are
planning to purchase a home thought they would choose on the basis of its lsquoability to build value
over timersquo (59)
Renovators
The most popular work done in the last 12 months was lsquoextensive work to the garden paths or area
around propertyrsquo (51) The most popular work planned in the next 12 months is lsquomajor internal
renovation or improvement workrsquo (46)
The foremost factor taken into account in the early stages of renovating was lsquocostrsquo for both groups
(those who had renovated in the last year (68) and those planning to renovate (74)
The main factors taken into account when weighing up various approaches to renovating was again
cost for those who had renovated (70) and also for those planning to renovate (72)
Factors taken into account when making the final choices about renovating was lsquowhat I can actually
get done (based on the availability of materials and labour)rsquo For those who have recently renovated
this was the main factor for (83) and for those planning to renovate it was true for (81)
Features and outcomes that create comfort
The top four features of a comfortable home identified by the sample are (1) garage or somewhere
to park the car (84) (2) the size and layout of the property (84) (3) well insulated roof and walls
(83) and (4) where the sun is in relation to the house and shade (81)
It is promising that two of the top four features of a comfortable house are directly related to energy
efficiency We now know there are direct and easy connections to be made between a well-insulated
house and its aspectshade and both comfort and energy efficiency
The top five attributes or outcomes of a comfortable house is (1) a place that is easy to maintain
(89) (2) a place that is functional to live in for me or for a family (88) (3) a place that has good
ventilation and air flow (87) a place that is full of natural light (87) and (5) a place that is
naturally cool in summer and warm in winter (85)
Again as people describe a comfortable house it is clear that often the attributes of that dwelling are
closely linked to energy efficiency Again there are direct and easy connections to be made between
a well-designed house and energy efficiency
7
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The community are divided on whether energy efficiency in their home is a high priority for them or
not One third of the sample disagree (33) and for this third the idea of energy efficient appears to
be closely linked to the comfort that almost everyone seeks for their home However the challenge is
to reach to the remainder of the community where almost three in ten (29) are neutral on whether
energy efficiency of their home is a priority for them and almost four in ten (38) are clearly of the
view that the energy efficiency of their home is not a priority for them
Many agree that there are not enough choices of energy efficient products (38) A further 39 are
neutral reflecting the lower interest level in the products while only 18 disagree with the
statement
There is also some inertia to improving the comfort of the home as 83 of people say their home is
alredat very comfortable (yes always + usually)
The underlying motivations for renovation and purchase is to make the life they live better and 79
say they see the little things they can do to make a house more comfortable Energy efficiency has to
be positioned in this space (making the life they live better) rather than the space of sacrifice and
abstinence
Understanding the meaning of comfort
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home Using pairwise comparisons respondents were forced to choose which aspect
they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home This tells us what ideas are most
prevalent and the order of importance
8
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Target audiences for strategy development
While the forced trade-offs revealed the widespread lsquotruthslsquo that exist with regard to a comfortable
home they did not provide the basis for a market segmentation as the individuals identified by the
pair-wise comparisons were not different in any significant sense from each other
Cluster analysis which is a technique that identifies individual respondents on the basis of who
answers a range of questions in a similar way provided three very distinct groups of renovators and
buyers The three segment solution showed the following three lsquomind setsrsquo regarding renovating and
buying new homes
Segment profile ndashshort term focused
36 of the total sample
Being short term cost focused means that this group is heavily influenced by cost and short term
thinking They want to move into a house and do as little renovation as possible they want their
house to already work with their lifestyle without the need for them to make any major
adjustments They are not influenced by energy efficiency or the environment their main focus is
cost To them a home is comfortable and liveable when it is functional aesthetically pleasing
spacious relaxing and safe and secure
There are no demographic differences of note with this segment
9
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
10
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
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108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicals
34 of the total sample
There is a skew in this group towards an older demographic aged over 60 years
However being practical means they are strongly influenced by cost maintenance issues durability
of materials and attractiveness when buying a home and when renovating They look at things
longer term and want low maintenance and long lasting outcomes of their renovation and home
purchase
Nevertheless they still want their home to be comfortable ndash safe cosy attractive spacious and
relaxing The environment plays little role with this group
11
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven
26 of the total sample
These people are educated with 58 of the segment holding a university degree and strongly
believe in being energy efficient they are environmentally driven and care about their effects on the
environment ndash so much so that it plays a large role in their decision on how to renovate or which
property to buy They value space but appear to know it comes with an environmental cost They
want to put their stamp on the property but this stamp has an environmental flavour They are
proud to have used clever design to make a home that is environmentally friendly Liveability has a
longer perspective that includes maintenance running costs and how long-lasting their work will be
Materials that limit environmental noise and deliver peace and quiet are tied to the idea of comfort
13
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy
14
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Reaching the renovators and buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
Changing behaviours in the long term means doing both the big investment items when renovating
and buying wisely but also the small (but still energy efficient strategic) things everyday It is not
enough to wait to influrnce people until they do a renovation or buy
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquopracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the short termers it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the short termers taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as though
the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware store
rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the little
things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
15
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A more direct question revealed that 42 of the New South Wales home renovator and buyer
market were prepared to act in the interests of the environment even if it means giving up
comfort Such behaviour to make a house more energy efficient will actually contribute to a
comfortable home nevertheless this attitude suggests an openness to change based on
environmental needs
With the attitudes to change appropriately aligned what needs to happen is to change the
behaviours The right strategy for this group is to facilitate the right choice in their renovations
and house purchases through a facilitation process by simply making it easier for the right
behaviours to be adopted These people are
bull Willing to act (to both buy and renovate) in the interests of the environment even if it means
giving up comfort
bull In need of educationinformation that informs them on the product performance for
renovations and on the energy efficiency of the houses they might buy They report they
often canrsquot get the information they need
bull In need of communications that rather than using only the language of energy efficiency also
uses the language of healthy living where the home and itrsquos place in the environment is
linked to making the life they live better Tying living better to comfort and to energy
efficiency
bull In need of being informed about manageable actions they can take as they are of the view
that every bit helps itrsquos worth doing They want to get involved doing the little things as well
as the big things It makes them feel they are taking action
minus In contrast the other 58 of renovators and home buyers wonrsquot put anything in front of comfort
This part of the market needs to be both confronted about their position on some things and
persuaded on others They are
bull NOT willing to act in the interests of the environment if it means giving up comfort
bull Some think their home is energy efficient while others donrsquot care
bull The strategy needs to be a dual one of confrontation ndash your home is NOT energy efficient
And of persuasion ndash you can reduce the way you waste resources your energy bills and your
lifetime running costs and also that energy efficiency is not opposed to comfort but is an
integral part of comfort The end goal should be that people understand that an energy
efficient home is a comfortable home
It needs the language of energy efficiency and sacrifice to change to the language of win-win
where smart design and choosing wisely reduce waste and cost and as well you live better -
this results in a comfortable house
16
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Linking energy efficiency with comfortshyThe strategy options are described below
Attitudes are right need to help them do it
Renovators will be assisted to make the best choices with product performance information
education at the right time along with small things they can do to make a difference Key messages
will be about ventilation natural light and having the temperature managed naturally
17
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Buyers will be facilitated to make the best environmental choices
bull With information about the performance of environmental products as this is the main
reason for choice for three quarters of buyers (74 agree)
bull With access to a list of energy efficiency features already present in the house (67 agree)
bull By getting an estimated natural indoor temperature for each season (66 agree)
bull By being able to find out about the energy efficiency of a home Many claim this would
impact on the way they value the home (39) and it will affect their decision to buy or not
18
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Some attitudes need changing
Some people wonrsquot make good environmental decisions just for the environment The attitudes that
will need to change are outlined below
Home buyers value energy efficiency informationshyJust as the survey results show most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were buying
bull was of great value to them when thinking of buying a house
bull especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home The study
has found that all the energy efficiency information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on
the choices made by people and its disclosure would have a positive impact on the desire to buy
homes that are more energy efficient It is clear that facilitating the disclosure of reliable and
trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of sale would encourage energy efficiency
innovations by
19
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
buyers
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various opportunities suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the renovating decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency choices when buying homes by
Are there other opportunities to share energy efficiency information with
renovators
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
bull In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of renovators
bull And a little for a further 41 to 54 of renovators
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the way renovations are done
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in renovation by
20
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages for home buyers
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalistsrsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey
When is it timely to intervene with energy
efficiency messages fro renovators
To reach the lsquoshort termersrsquo lsquopracticalsrsquo and lsquoenvironmentalists lsquo the following messages are needed
along the decision making journey for renovating
21
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
2 Research Objectivesshy
Research purpose
Research objectivesshy
22
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
3 MethodologyApproachshy
The study involved a number of steps as follows
The sample was collected using a research only online panel It was collected in two ways Some
were respondents that were involved in the householder study conducted early in 2014 and who
had self-identified as being comfort seekers In order to get the numbers required fresh sample was
also sourced
The study took place between 9th of December and 16th of December 2014
23
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Sample profile
The following charts provide details on the survey sample collected
24
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
25
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
4 Hypotheses about comfort The hypotheses about what comfort means to people when buying and renovating houses and how
it could be linked to energy efficiency and sustainability was developed in two focus group
discussions conducted with recent and intending homebuyers and renovators
The focus groups revealed that there were a number of key dimensions to the meaning of comfort
Each implies a route that could be used to connect comfort and sustainability on housing
The following were the main dimensions identified
To recap - what is comfort Key dimensions
26
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort
Overall there were three territories that people used to describe comfort and these major themes
were all heavily emotional and less functional in nature Tying comfort to sustainabilityenergy
efficiency needs to make use ofwork with the emotional underpinning to have the greatest chance
of success
In the past energy efficiency has delivered its messages in a way that most people now see it as
being a sacrifice By being perceived as a sacrifice this sets itself against the notion of comfort which
is all about indulgence
Tensions around comfort and energy efficiencyshyAt the present time there is a fundamental misalignment of motivations between energy
efficiencysustainability and comfort as is illustrated in the following diagram
27
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A way to connect comfort to energy efficiencyshyThe focus groups suggested that the link was in the idea of starting with a good home design that
has the right aspect had used good building materials has natural light and is well insulated with
shady trees These things are seen as being essential ingredients of a comfortable home and are
energy efficient
28
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
5 Ethnographic interviews allowed us
to see and hear the way people talk The six ethnographic interviews provided the opportunity to test the hypotheses that were
developed in the focus groups about the dimensions of comfort and how they might relate to energy
efficiency
Three of these interviews were able to be developed into a detailed profile of how each of the
segments live
Our people
29
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Beck ndash buyerrenovator with young family
Comfort is what I can get with as little effort as possible
She exchanges sustainability comfort for style comfort knowing that she will be able to entertain
friends and family in an environment that reflects her aspirational self
Whilst heating issues emerged after moving in they remained a lesser priority to changing the
appearance of the dwelling
Being socially accepted because of renovation design made it possible to tolerate hot and cold
discomfort
Invisible heating and cooling solutions currently have preference over any other
She relied on word of mouth and some online research to decide on specific heating and cooling
solutions
Upfront cost and saving money on energy bills were the main priorities in selecting these
solutions
The relationship between comfort and energy efficiency is not immediately obvious
ldquoVoluntary disclosurerdquo needs to offer money saving potential in the immediate term however
she cannot see the value of a ldquoComfort ratingrdquo when selling a property
Sarah ndash buyer with older family
Comfort is sacrificed for location and knowing you belong to a community
Recently moved into a larger terrace house to accommodate growing kids Despite this she is
currently experiencing significant discomfort with respect to shared work and recreation spaces
in the home where kids interrupt her work The layout also makes it difficult to maintain the
house in terms of cleanliness causing her deep anxiety as she unable to effectively control the
domestic aspect of her role She has traded practical living for more space and to live in a
location that meets her needs in terms of local services and community
She mitigates current unsustainable heating and cooling aspects of the house through everyday
practices (turning off lights) and only uses air-con and heaters when she absolutely needs She is
proud of her environmental responsibility by not having a car walking everywhere and using
public transport
In her current circumstances being more comfortable means being less responsible ndash in this
respect being uncomfortable makes her feel morally comfortable or vindicated a form of self-
flagellation Energy efficiency is therefore largely a moral comfort only which still does not
exceed location and community as a priority
Comfort is understood as a subjective lived experience whereas energy efficiency is measurable
ldquoVoluntary Disclosurerdquo has merit for her from a buying perspective but only in terms of energy
efficiency not in terms of comfort
30
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Adriane ndash renovator and empty nester
Comfort is the way your environment makes you feel mentally and spiritually
For Adriane a beautiful aesthetic environment provides comfort in a stressful world Comfort is
also achieved by belonging to a great community and having access to great services nearby
Comfort is knowing that something is cared for and will be cared for in the future and is the lived
experience of space which allows the soul to breathe and revive Comfort is practical and gives
you control over your environment and therefore yourself
Shared discomforts (such as noise pollution) are an acceptable discomfort because everyone
has to endure them Heating and cooling discomforts are tolerated and other sustainable
investments (water tank solar) forsaken because ideal solutions seem financially out of reach
Being truly sustainable is associated with expense and so are everyday sustainable behaviours
and practices (turning lights off) and cheap solutions (light vent) are used to justify not making
these investments
Information and knowledge on sustainable living and energy efficiency is acquired ad hoc and
incidentally not proactively sought and she expects more awareness generation from local
government
Rating ldquocomfortrdquo feels threatening and invasive with the potential to humiliate people and so
voluntary disclosure must offer financial benefits as well as moral ones only then can a link
between comfort and sustainability be made
These interviews have been edited into approximately 10 minute detailed behavioural profiles using
the footage collected during the two hour ethnographic interviews
31
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
6 Survey findings with recent andshyfuture renovators and buyersshy
Properties owned Experience is highly variable
The sample consisted of people with a range of experiences in renovation and in buying new homes
31 had owned just one home and 37 2-3 homes However 31 had owned many homes
This profile highlights the range of levels of experience that the energy efficiency program needs to
deal with However the group discussions reveal that it is only the most experienced that really have
a good idea For the majority of people home renovations and home purchase does not happen
often enough to make anyone an expert
The feedback was that access to information and education about energy efficiency and
sustainability is crucial at the time they are in the buying and renovation planning cycle
32
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Factors taken into account when making final
choices About renovating
33
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
7 What are the priorities of a
comfortable home - Pairwise
comparison People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home and it was thought that a
pairwise comparisons approach would be the best way to identify which aspects were most
important to buyers and renovators Pairwise comparisons forced respondents to the survey to
choose which aspect they thought is the main ingredient of a comfortable home Respondents were
asked to make a choice between all possible combinations ndash there were 10 in all See question D2b
This tells us what ideas are most prevalent and the order of importance of them
Pairwise comparisons
34
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
People hold different ideas about the definition of a comfortable home but there are five main ways
that NSW renovators and buyers conceptualise a comfortable home It is clear that the natural
temperature of a home and how that connects to lifestyle are the two all-pervading truths about a
comfortable home
The most important aspect of a comfortable home is highly functional Namely a home that is warm
in winter and cool in summer came up as the most important attribute with 42 of the sample of
buyers and renovators About one third (34) said that making the home suit their lifestyle was the
most important aspect of making their home comfortable Just over one in ten (11) say that
making the home reflect the things that matter is most important while 9 percent wanted the home
to reflect them personally to others and saw this as most important as the home was a way to
project their social image Only a small number (3) said that the most important thing to making a
home comfortable was that it was an entertainment venue
Clearly all these things matter but the pairwise comparisons provides an indication of the relative
importance of each attribute of comfort
There were no significant differences in this regard between those living in Sydney or in rural New
South Wales
35
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Priorities for a comfortable home By region
There were few differences between the four types of respondents in the survey on this series of
questions
36
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
8 Attitudes to comfort energy
efficiency and the environment
What is a comfortable home
A range of views were expressed in peoplersquos own words about what having a comfortable home
means to them
The themes suggest that having a comfortable home is all about living a better life which will be
discussed in more detail later It certainly includes the creation of a sense of security and lsquococooningrsquo
from the outside world which is often perceived as being challenging
The home is the place of escape
37
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The features of a comfortable home Summary
The detailed analysis of the open-ended question reveals four important aspects of what it means to
buyers and renovators to have a comfortable home
38
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home Top 10
The features of a comfortable house are many and varied They donrsquot just relate to energy efficiency
or to whether a house is warm in winter and cool in summer
A comfortable house needs a garage or at least somewhere to park a car with 84 of buyers and
renovators agreeing The size and design also play crucial roles in defining comfort (84) and then
how well insulated the place is (83) There is a clear link between good insulation and comfort
Most renovators and buyers also see the link between the right aspect and its contribution to
making a comfortable home (81)
39
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Features of a comfortable home ndash next 11shyFewer renovators and buyers connect solar panels (58) and double glazing (54) to contributing to
making a comfortable house
40
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Outcomes that lead to a comfortable home
The study attempted to differentiate between the features of a home (the way the home is) and the
outcomes that might make it contribute to making a home comfortable
The most important outcomes that contribute to a making a comfortable home were functional a
home that is easy to maintain (89 agree) and is functional for the lifestyle the people living in the
house need (88)
The next attributes start to connect with energy efficiency and sustainability good ventilation and
air flow (87 agree) filled with natural light (87) and a place that is naturally cool in summer and
warm in winter (85)
An interesting and potentially useful attribute that is seen as important is a home that provides a
health living environment which relates to materials and the availability of fresh air not air-
conditioned air This may be a point to leverage in the programs communications
41
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to their home
Some more general attitudes to a home were also measured in the survey They reveal that a sense
of openness and access to natural light feature strongly in what people are looking for in a home It
drives purchase and renovation goals These attitudes also show that space again is crucial
Energy efficiency messaging probably needs to work with these basic perceptions of comfort and to
advise on how to achieve the most energy efficient outcomes within this constraint Perhaps getting
people to consider how they can zone houses for better energy efficiency outcomes would be a
strategy that could be employed Zoning allows people to act in small ways to achieve environmental
outcomes
42
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to the environment
Three quarters of buyers and renovators (74) say that product performance is the main reason for
their choice of products when renovating The role of price as the main consideration in the choice
of products polarises the sample with 56 agreeing it is while 30 are unsure and 14 disagree
Similarly the seeking out of environmental benefits splits with 56 saying they do look for
environmental benefits while 31 are unsure and 12 disagree
Importantly 50 of buyers and sellers agree they want to consider environmental benefits but donrsquot
have the information In addition 45 would prefer to buy products with environmental benefits but
they canrsquot understand them Both information and education is being called for by buyers and
renovators
43
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency
Two thirds of renovators and home buyers (67) think that every bit counts when it comes to being
energy efficient and only 3 disagree Most people claim they have a very good understanding of
what it means to be energy efficient (64) Six in ten (60) believe they have improved the energy
efficiency of their home in the last two years
One barrier appears to be that the payback period for investing in energy efficiency is too long and
clearer messaging around this (detailing the actual payback periods) will positively impact on the
lsquoshort termersrsquo For others the contribution towards future generations is a reason to act and should
be considered in the messaging It will be a key reinforcing message
44
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attitudes to energy efficiency (2)
Almost four in ten (38) state unambiguously that energy efficiency is not a high priority for them
and 36 think being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things they are not willing to do The
challenge remains to engage with this significant segment
The identical proportion of renovators and buyers (38) bemoan the fact there are insufficient
choices of energy efficient products indicating they are still purchasing products that are less
efficient than they should be So encouraging more energy efficient products as well as more
information and education about energy efficient products is needed and should be a goal of the
program in some form
One third of renovators and buyers advocate that local council should dictate the products and
approaches needed so citizens donrsquot have to worry about it
45
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
9 Views on voluntary disclosure
Information affecting buying decisions
Both renovators and buyers were very open to receiving information about the energy efficiency of a
home they were buying In fact they believe a great range of information would be valuable and
could impact on the buying decision
Around three in ten said that all these forms of information would very much impact on their
decision A further third to four in ten said it would have quite an impact There was little
differentiation between the various forms of energy efficiency information
Just fewer than three in ten were neutral about the information and a small proportion said it would
have no impact at all
As with the surveyed sample most of those interviewed in the ethnographical interviews and the
two focus groups also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the home they were
buying
46
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull was of great value when thinking of buying
bull Especially if they were down to choosing between two homes that met their cost and
practical needs for their lifestyle
Most also agreed that they wouldnrsquot want to provide it as a seller of their current home This is
where the challenge lies for policy makers with self-interest dictating a desire for the benefits but a
preference for avoiding the downside when it comes to a major asset like a house
All the energy efficient information suggested in the survey would weigh heavily on the choices
made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the outcome by encouraging the
purchase of homes which are more energy efficient
By facilitating the disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the point of
sale there will be greater demand for homes with greater energy efficiency because it will be
47
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
10 Situational factors that might link
Energy Efficiency with comfort
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect buying decisions
Almost eight in ten renovators and buyers (79 of the sample) indicated that receiving information
about the energy efficiency of the home as part of the home valuation would provide the most
impact on their decision to buy
Other ways of receiving the information were also seen as valuable such as in the building inspection
(76) getting home insurance (74) and when checking real estate ads (72)
These results are clear people in the buying situation do want to know about the energy efficiency
of the home and how this will impact on maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and on the
running costs
Most of those interviewed in the survey also agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were buying at all the various points suggested would be influential
48
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
bull In fact it would affect the buying decisions a lot for 35-41 of the sample
bull And a little for a further 29 to 40 of the sample
All the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on the
choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the purchase outcome
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at the all these
points will encourage energy efficiency innovation in renovations by
Information at a particular moment in time that would affect renovation
decisions
Timely information about energy efficiency when renovating is also thought to have a likely impact
on the choices that need to be made
It was acknowledged that when your energy bills are high you look for ways to reduce energy use
Consumers are also used to receiving information about energy use at retail stores when buying
materials products and appliances This is a timely intervention that is known to make a difference
Again renovators and buyers pointed to the role of council in the planning process as a way of
making sure wise energy efficiency decisions are taken (82 said this would influence decisions)
Again all other options provided in the survey were supported as being potential agents of ensuring
better decisions and again there was significant support for all of them
49
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Most of those interviewed in the survey agreed that information on the energy efficiency of the
home they were renovating at all the various points suggested would be influential
In fact it would affect the buying decision a lot for 28-43 of buyer and a little for a further 41 to
54 of buyers
In fact all the energy efficient information suggested at these points in time would weigh heavily on
the choices made and the disclosure of it would have a positive impact on the renovation choices
Facilitating disclosure of reliable and trustworthy energy efficiency information at all these points
will encourage energy efficiency innovations in the renovation choices of consmers by
50
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
11 How can energy efficiency tap into
the Caregiver archetype
Caregiving Comfort is connected to caregiving
At its core comfort is the term that people in their role as caregivers use to describe the home they
want to provide for themselves and their closest others
Buying or renovating a house lsquoactivatesrsquo the caregiver archetype that exists in us all to lesser and
greater extents This basic human motivation is driven on the positive side by altruism compassion
generosity and a desire to help and nurture others
On the negative side comfort seeking is also a reaction against fears of insecurity instability
difficulty or austerity
To make energy efficiency a positive motivator it needs to be repositioned emotionally as something
that holds the promise of naturalness gentleness wholesomeness (in doing so they will reflect the
qualities of the caregiving relationship (empathy communication consistency trust etc)
Energy efficiencysustainability needs to be the way buildersrenovators home buyers reconcile the
desire to be generous and caring with the economic and time pressures of modern life and in turn
become respected as the provider of home security and continuity
Conclusions Caregiving is highly connected to self-imageshy
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure
As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their personal values
Any attempt to leverage energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic
and leverage it
Energy efficiency needs come to mean a way of providing a natural more wholesome environment
free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a social statement about onersquos
ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed to nurturing the world
51
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
If environmental awareness and a desire to act is part of their make-up then energy
efficiencysustainability is part of the renovationbuildpurchase and if it is not present it isnrsquot
This is the current divide that was observed
When does information about energy efficiency
affect renovations
Caregiving and caregivers derive a lot of their personal meaning from creating the lsquohomersquo which is
comfortable and secure As such it is an integral part of who they are and an expression of their
personal values
Leveraging energy efficiency as part of comfort will need to be aware of this dynamic and leverage it
Energy efficiency in a symbolic sense needs to come to mean a way of providing a natural more
wholesome environment free from the need to waste resources on energy It needs to become a
social statement about onersquos ability to both and to leave a long lasting legacy of having contributed
to nurturing the world The survey showed it is about wanting to make the life we live better (81)
Energy efficiency needs to be shifted to beyond the practical cost saving and functional benefits and
associations made with aspirational social outcomes ndash more like those associated with sustainability
It could start with the little things that can be done to make the house more (and energy efficient)
comfortable (79)
52
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Feelings that emerge when renovating or
choosing a home
The following feelings emerged when renovating or choosing a home to buy It was dominated by
the goal of finding a way through the process of buying to make the life we live better
The opportunity exists to tie this to energy efficiency which contributes towards a more
comfortable indoor environment at a much lower cost ndash both in the short and longer terms
53
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Positioning by the segments we need to persuadeshyTo reach the lsquoShort termersrsquo and lsquopracticalsrsquo sustainabilityenergy efficiency needs to be positioned
as being a way to make the life you live better For lsquopracticalsrsquo it is the same but they want to go
about it by making little changes all the time
When looking at the three mind sets or segments we see that the way to reach the lsquoPracticalsrsquo must
be through the offer of making the life you live better along with the little things they can do to
make a home more comfortable It is small steps for the lsquoPracticalsrsquo that they can trial
To reach out to the lsquoShort termersrsquo it will also be necessary to involve the promise of making the life
you live better as well as starting them on the journey by getting them to take very small steps If the
goal is to see the lsquoShort termersrsquo taking the big steps when renovating and buying it seems as
though the beginning will have to be the small steps that start in their regular visits to the hardware
store rather than when they are making the very large choices With 79 saying they want to do the
little things that make their home more comfortable
Interestingly the lsquoEnvironmentalsrsquo also want to do the little things that make a difference to energy
efficiency so none of the efforts in this area would be wasted
54
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
12 Household classification
Environmental behaviours Things done around
the home
Many renovators and buyers are already engaged in positive behaviours regarding energy efficiency
Only a few donrsquot dry their clothes outside (11) already and buy more energy efficient appliances
(14)
Interestingly the negative behaviours that linger the most relate to the idea of indulgencecomfort
having very hot water in the hot water system and having a second fridge full of cold drinks that are
probably rarely accessed
55
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Attributes of current household Statements
about occupantrsquos home
Renovators and home buyers generally believe they have created a home that is very comfortable
(93 agree) In fact on all the measures there is widespread agreement that they have achieved
what they wanted regarding the main issues identified as being related to comfort
What they may not have achieved is having done it in an energy efficient manner
56
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
How energy efficient is the home you live in
Despite the evidence to the contrary almost two thirds of renovators and home buyers believe they
have a very energy efficient home (20) a somewhat energy efficient home (42)
One important message for the program will be to challenge the belief that their homes are energy
efficient and to help renovators and home builders imagine their new or renovated home as being
more energy efficient
57
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
13 Market segmentation
Market segmentation
Looking at the market as a whole it is not one homogenous entity rather there are different
mindsets that people have when they renovate and buy
The research used two approaches to segment the renovator and buyer market
The best solution was achieved using cluster analysis which produced three segments as follows
Those who are environmentally driven ndash 26shy
Those who are practical ndash 34shy
Those who are short term cost focused ndash 36shy
Pairwise comparisons were used but the solution showed little differentiation While it confirmed
the general truths about the meaning of comfort as a goal of renovators and buyers
making the home suit my lifestyle ndash 20shy
making the home reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you personally ndash 34shy
home thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer ndash 42shy
Between the two segmentation solutions the cluster analysis proved to be a more powerful market
segmentation as there were more significances found than in the pairwise comparison
58
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash environmentally driven 26 of the total sample
59
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the environmentally drivenshy26 of the total sample
60
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
61
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort to the practicalsshy
34 of the total sample
62
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndashshort term focused 36 of the total sample
What is comfort to the short term cost focusedshy
63
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment comparisons ndash renovatorshome buyersshy
64
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
14 Pairwise comparison segmentsshySegment profile ndash Tribal cues
34 of the total sample
65
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Tribal cues 34 of the total sample
66
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
67
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Lifestylers - making the home
reflect the things that matter to you + reflect you
personally -20 of the total sample
68
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Segment profile ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
69
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
What is comfort ndash Thermo-regulators - home
thatrsquos warm in winter and cool in summer
42 of the total sample
70
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Comparison ndash renovatorshome buyersshyThe figure shows no important differences by recent or planned activity
Comparison ndash energy efficiency
Making a home suit my lifestyle becomes much more important when you are actually buying a
home compared to when you are thinking about buying a home This is a highly situational element
71
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Appendix ndash Surveyshy
2072 ndash OEH Comfort Survey
ONLINE SURVEY ndash 12 MINUTES
VERSION (V6)
Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this online survey
It takes around 12 minutes to complete on average
All instinct and reasonrsquos research is conducted under the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles which
ensures confidentiality of your information The results will be aggregated your individual information will not
be able to be identified
Please ensure that you read all instructions carefully for each question before selecting your answer At the
end of the survey please ensure that you click lsquosubmitrsquo to ensure your responses are collected
If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey please email enquiriesinstinctandreasoncom
Please click lsquocontinuersquo to start the survey
Please Check the following Quotas
Sample is n=230 renovators and home buyers with soft quotas applied to the following
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
72
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section A - Screeners
A1a Are you a homeowner
SR
TERMINATE No I rent somewhere to live and donrsquot own a property ocirc1
TERMINATE No I live in a home owned by someone else (eg employer parents other family
member)
ocirc2
Yes I own a property (including with a home loan or mortgage) ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
A1b Please indicate which of the following you have done in the past 12 months
MR
Purchased a property to live in ocirc1
Renovated part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99
A1c Please indicate which of the following you plan to do in the next 12 months
MR
Purchase a property to live in ocirc1
Renovate part or all of the home you live in ocirc2
None of these ocirc99 TERMINATE IF DIDNrdquoT TICK
CODE 1 or 2 in EITHER A1b
OR A1c
73
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
TERMINATE IF CODES 1 OR 2 NOT SELECTED AT A1b OR A1c
RESPONDENT TO BE ASSIGNED TO 1 OF THE GROUPS BELOW CHECK QUOTAS
N= 230
180 Sydney
50 Rural
Property
Purchased in past
12 months
Planning to
purchase a
property in past
12 months
Completed home
renovations in
past 12 months
Planned Home
renovation in past
12 months
Online survey 65 65 50 50
NOTE Due to length of survey respondents will be assigned to only one lsquorolersquo and asked questions
pertaining to that role
74
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK IF OWN PROPERTY A1a CODE 3]
A2 Which of these applies to you
Please choose all that apply
MR
I own the property I live in and own it outright no home loan or mortgage ocirc1
I own the property I live in with a home loan or mortgage ocirc2
I rent the property I live in but I also own a property ocirc3
I own a property I rent out and donrsquot live there myself ocirc4
I own a property I sometimes live in and sometimes rent out (eg holiday let) ocirc5
I own a property used for other purposes (eg used by children at university) ocirc6
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out but not live there myself ocirc7
I have recently bought a property I intend to rent out and also live there myself ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
TERMINATE-----Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
A3 If you were renovating your home or a property you own who would be the main decision maker on
what work was done who did the work what materials were used which appliances you boughthellip
SR
I would be the main decision maker ocirc1
I would be one of the joint decision makers ocirc2
TERMINATE----I wouldnrsquot be involved in those kinds of decisions ocirc3
TERMINATE-----Donrsquot knowunsure ocirc4
75
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
A4 What age are you [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
TERMINATE-----18-24 ocirc1
25-34 ocirc2
35-44 ocirc3
45-54 ocirc4
55-59 ocirc5
60-64 ocirc6
65-69 ocirc7
50-74 ocirc8
TERMINATE-----75+ ocirc9
[ASK ALL]shy
A5 Are youhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
Male ocirc1
Female ocirc2
[ASK RENOVATORS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 2 or A1c CODE 2 OTHERS GO TO A5b]
A5a Thinking about the renovation or improvement work you have had done on your home in the past 12
months or intend to do in the next 12 months which of these factors have been will be important in your
decision to go ahead with the renovation or improvement work
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
76
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE 3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK BUYERS LAST OR NEXT 12 MONTHS A1b CODE 1 or A1c CODE1 OTHERSGO TO A6]
A5b Thinking about the home you bought in the last 12 months or the one you intend to buy in the next
12 months which of these factors have been important in your decision to buy a home
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THAT APPLY
RANDOMISE ORDER MR
A house where I can increase the value of the property for when Iwe sell it
(though not planning to sell it for a while)
ocirc1
A house that has low running costs ocirc2
A house I can make comfortable to live in ocirc3 MUST TICK CODE3
OR TERMINATE
[ASK ALL]shy
A6 Is the property you live inhellip [CHECK QUOTAS]shy
SR
An apartmentflatunittownhouse ocirc1
A detached house ocirc2
A semi-detached house or terrace ocirc3
Other (please tell us more) ocirc4
[ASK ALL]
77
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
A7 How long have you lived therehellip
SR
Less than a year ocirc1
1-2 years ocirc2
3-4 years ocirc3
5-10 years ocirc4
11-15 years ocirc5
16-20 years ocirc6
More than 20 years ocirc7
78
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section B ndash Past and current behaviours
[ASK ALL]
B1 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you owned in your lifetime
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
None ndash I have never owned a property ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
B2 Including homes to live in houses or apartments to rent holiday lets investment properties etc how
many properties in total have you renovated part or all of
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Just one ocirc1
2-3 ocirc2
4-5 ocirc3
6-10 ocirc4
More than 10 ocirc5
Canrsquot remember ocirc98
79
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
None ndash I have never renovated a property ocirc99
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B5 B6 B7 B8]
B3 What work have you done on your home in the past 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK B10 B11 B12 B13]
80
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
B4 What work do you plan to have done on your home in the next 12 months
Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER FOR CODES 1-10 MR
Major external renovation or improvement work (eg extension re-roofing new windows
infrastructure into the property)
ocirc1
Major internal renovation or improvement work (eg new bathroom new kitchen new floor re-
wiring structural changes)
ocirc2
Insulation in roofceiling andor wallsfloors ocirc3
Extensive work to the garden paths or area around your property ocirc4
Installed new heatingair-conditioning system ocirc5
Installed new lighting system or upgraded existing lighting system ocirc6
Installed a new water system eg for recycling or dual water supply ocirc7
Converted the energy system (eg to use renewable energy) ocirc8
Installed double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc9
Replaced swimming pool pump with energy-efficient system ocirc10
Only done minor renovation or improvement work (eg painting replacing fittings new light
bulbs)
ocirc11
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years as property didnrsquot need it
(eg done previously or good condition when bought)
ocirc12
Not done any renovation or improvement work in the past 3 years even though it really needs
it
ocirc13
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
81
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section C ndash The Decision Making Processshy
[PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C1 C2 C3]
C1 When you started off searching to buy your new home to live in which of the following factors were you
looking for in a property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
The amount of natural light ocirc19
82
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C2 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you were comparing 2 or
more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
83
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
C3 When you were buying a new home to live in what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
84
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[RENOVATED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS GROUP ndash ASK C4 C5 C6]
C4 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors influenced what work you might do to
your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C4
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C5 When you had decided to renovate your property what factors came into play when you were weighing
up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
85
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access
to outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C6 When you had decided to get work done what factors came into play when you made the final choice
about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C6
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
86
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLANNING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IN NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C7 C8 C9]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to purchase a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about the
start the process
C7 When searching to buy a new home to live in which of the following factors were would be looking for in a
property Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C1
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing) ocirc1
Kitchen over-looking the living room (to be able to see what going on) ocirc2
Storage space ocirc3
Potential for indooroutdoor entertaining ocirc4
High ceilings ocirc5
Privacy (from neighbours) ocirc6
Security (street visibility security features etc) ocirc7
Established treesgarden ocirc8
Parking off (street) ocirc9
Layout of the home (suits your lifestyle) ocirc10
Front garden ocirc11
Enough space in the laundry ocirc12
Kitchen that works for your lifestyle without major adjustment ocirc13
Free wall space ocirc14
Natural ability of the house to be warm in winter and cool in summer ocirc15
Structural materials used (which one is soundermore solid) ocirc16
Built in wardrobes ocirc17
Number of bathrooms ocirc18
87
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The amount of natural light ocirc19
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C8 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you get to comparing 2
or more properties against each other Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C2
MR
Aspect (eg North East or North East facing ocirc1
What you want to changecan change ocirc2
How much work $ will it take to change it to the way you want ocirc3
Are the costs of changes realistic (will it over capitalise) ocirc4
Which changes would you have to do first ocirc5
How does the house fit with your life stage ocirc6
How much will it cost to heat cool ocirc7
Age of the property ocirc8
Is it a hot or cold house (energy efficiency) ocirc9
Which one is more structurally sound ocirc10
ocirc11
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C9 If you were buying a new home to live in what factors would come into play when you come to making
the final choice about which property to buy Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C3
TOP 3
Does it fit with your current stage of life ocirc1
Does it fit with the future needs of the family ocirc2
The cost of reconfiguring it to make it your own ocirc3
88
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
The time it will take to reconfigure to make it your own ocirc4
Maintenance cost ocirc5
Liveability (as it is without changes) ocirc6
Ability to build its value over time ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
89
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[PLAN TO RENOVATE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS ndash ASK C10 C11 C12]
You indicated earlier that you are looking to renovate a property in the next 12 months As we do not know
what stage you are up to in the process for the next few questions please imagine you are just about to
start the process
C10 During the early stages of planning which of the following factors do you think would influence what
work you might do to your home Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C10
MR
Council rules ocirc1
Design ideas ocirc2
Professional advice ocirc3
What materials to use ocirc4
Durability of materials ocirc5
Maintenance issues ocirc6
What will work from a project management point of view ocirc7
What could be done to make the home different or unique ocirc8
Whatrsquos practical to use ocirc9
Aesthetically pleasing ocirc10
Style ocirc11
Cost ocirc12
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C11 Assuming you have now decided to renovate your property what factors might come into play when you
were weighing up the different ways to renovate Please choose all that apply
RANDOMISE ORDER C5
MR
What the council saysdictates ocirc1
Cost ocirc2
90
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Australian made ocirc3
Whatrsquos most important to me ocirc4
Availability of materials tradespeople ocirc5
Sequencing of the project ocirc6
Do the solutions fit the purpose of your renovation (entertainment comfort more access to
outside etc)
ocirc7
Will the investment be an over-capitalisation ocirc8
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
C12 Assuming had decided to get work done what factors would come into play when making the final
choice about what to do Please choose the top 3 only
RANDOMISE ORDER C12
TOP 3
Council dictates ocirc1
To keep to the project plan ocirc2
To keep momentum ocirc3
Budgets get blown here trying to keep the project moving ocirc4
What can I actually do (availability of materials and labour) ocirc5
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Section D ndash Attitudes to Comfort Energy Efficiency and the Environment
D1 In your own words please describe what having a comfortable home means to you What makes your
home comfortable as opposed to uncomfortable
Please write your response in the text box below
Open Ended
[ASK ALL]shyD2a We are going to think about different priorities for making your home comfortable and would like toshy
know which of them is more important to you You will get to make 10 of these choicesshy
91
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
D2b Whatrsquos the difference in importance to you between these 2 ways of making your home comfortable ndash is
it a small difference in importance a moderate difference in importance or a large difference in importance
D2a Which are your priorities D2b Level of difference
in importance
Small Mode Large
1 Making the home suit my lifestyle - a
layout that works for the family
needs indooroutdoor space that
suit your lifestyle etc)
ocirc1 Making the home an
entertainment venue
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
2 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
3 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
4 Making the home suit my lifestyle ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
5 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see
yourself there)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
6 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
7 Making the home an entertainment
venue
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
8 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
there)
ocirc1 Making the home reflect the
things that matter to you (it
might be connection to the
community letting children
play outside security etc)
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
9 Making the home reflect me
personally (you can see yourself
ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter
and cool in summer
ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
92
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
there)
1 Making the home reflect the things ocirc1 A home that is warm in winter ocirc2 ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3
0 that matter to you (it might be and cool in summer
connection to the community letting
children play outside security etc)
[ASK ALL]shyD3 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following features contributes to making a home comfortableshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
Gourmet kitchen with granite benches and modern appliance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A well-size and inviting entertaining area ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Designer bathrooms ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Deluxe flooring material ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Underfloor heating ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Spacious open plan living ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Low maintenance and easy care courtyard or garden ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Abundant storage ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A good view eg of the ocean or green space ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A local market with fresh fruit and vegetables ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has the highest environmental standards (a top lsquogreen ratingrsquo) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Access to renewable energy or green power sources ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has solar panels installed ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Well insulated roof and walls ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has an efficient and effective heatingair conditioning system ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has rainwater tanks and a system for minimising use of water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Has double glazing or thermal-efficient windows ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
93
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Top quality materials finish or appliances so itrsquos long-lasting ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The size and layout of the property (including garden) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Where the sun is in relation to the property and shade ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Garage or somewhere to park the car ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
94
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shyD4 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshymuch you think each of the following outcomes contributes to making a home comfortable for youshy
Please select one answer per row
RANDOMISE ORDER Strongly
disagree
Neutral Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
A property with low energy and water bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is functional to live in for my (or my family) lifestyle ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Just feels like the right place ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Doesnrsquot need any work doing to it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I donrsquot care what it costs I donrsquot want my family to be uncomfortable ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
That I can reflect my personality in it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where my friends family and I can enjoy it ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Easy to maintain ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is filled with the natural light ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that is cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal need for
mechanical coolingheating appliances
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that has good ventilation and air flow ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that does not use too much energy or water ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place that reflects my personal style (give example) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A healthy living environmental (eg no harmful material fresh air etc) ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A environmentally friendly place with minimal impact to the environment ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A place where I can entertain our friends ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
95
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
(Attitudes to Comfort)
[ASK ALL]shyD5 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neut
ral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
It is very important that my home has plenty of space for my family ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is very important that my home feels open with plenty of natural
light
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I like to entertain friends and family and my home always needs to
cater for that
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
My home is a reflection of how successful I am ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is important that my home reflects me and my personal style ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Itrsquos crucial that my family and friends feel relaxed and comfortable in
my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Running costs (eg energy and water bills) are not a key factor in the
way I run my house hold
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I make a serious effort to reduce the running costs of my home (eg
energy and water bills) even if it means lsquogoing withoutrsquo at times
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I am willing to sacrifice comfort in my home if it means reducing my
impact on the environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel better knowing that my home is environmentally friendly ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
(Attitudes to Energy Efficiency)
[ASK ALL]shyD6 On a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate howshyyou feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I have a very good understanding of what it means to be energy
efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The impact my home has on the environment plays a key role when
making decisions about my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The only benefit of being energy efficient is the money I can save ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
96
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Future generations will benefit from the actions I take now when it
comes to being energy efficient
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Every bit counts when it comes to being energy efficient ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Being energy efficient means having to sacrifice things that I am not
willing to do
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too expensive to buyinstall energy efficient appliancesproducts ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Attitudes to the Environment)
[ASK ALL]shyD7 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagreeshyand five is strongly agree hellip please indicate how you feel about the following statementshellipshy
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I always look for environmental benefits in the
products I use
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Product performance is the main reason for my
choices
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to consider environmental benefits but I
donrsquot always have the information
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I prefer products with environmental benefits but I
canrsquot always understand them
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The appearance of the product is the main reason
for my choice
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The environment plays no part in my decision
making for home renovation or garden products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Saving money on household bills is the main
reason for my choices when buying or renovating
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price in the main consideration for my choice of
electrical appliance
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Price is the main consideration for my choice of
products for renovation
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I take the cheaper price and donrsquot worry as much
about the ongoing costs
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
It is too difficult to find a tradesperson that
recommends energy efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving the energy efficiency of my home is
too much of a hassle
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
There are not enough choices of energy
efficient products
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
97
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
I donrsquot know how to improve the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
In the past 2 years I have improved the energy
efficiency of my home
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Energy efficiency of my home is not a high
priority for me
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The payback period for making energy
efficiency improvements is too long
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I do not want to sacrifice my current lifestyle
choices for energy efficiency
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The council or government already have rules
for energy efficiency for homes so I do not
need to do more in this area
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Improving energy efficiency of my home will
not improve the value of my property
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
98
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section E ndash Voluntary Disclosure
[ASK ALL HOME BUYERS]shyE1 How much do you think the following information would affect your decision about purchasingshyyour home if these information are available to you when you are making the decisionshy
RANDOMISE ORDER Not at
all
Very
much
so
NOT
SURE
Comparison of the home energy costs with other houses of similar size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Comparison of the home environmental impact with other houses of similar
size
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The estimated indoor temperature for each season ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on house features ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption based on your family size ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Estimated daily energy consumption per person ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the use of a range of home appliances affects your energy bills ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
The energy rating of the house similar to the star rating for appliances ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency features already present with the house ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
A list of energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the house with
the likely improvement costs and energy cost savings
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
99
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section F ndash Situational factors that might link EE with Comfort
[ASK ALL BUYERS OTHERS GO TO F2]shyF1 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to buyrenovate whenhellip
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A You are checking home salesrental advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B Itrsquos part of home salesrental inspection ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C Itrsquos part of building inspection report ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D Itrsquos part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E Itrsquos part of the mortgage applicationapproval ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F Itrsquos part of the home valuation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
[ASK ALL RENOVATORS OTHERS GO TO G1]shyF2 Would information about the energy efficiency of a home and how it impacts on a comfortable indoorshyenvironment and the running cost (energy and water bills) affect your decision to renovate hellipshy
ROTATE CODES [A-F] YES a
lot
Yes a
little
Not at
all
NA
A When included as part of appliancesother products
advertisements ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
B If displayed with appliances at retail stores ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
C If included in the quotes from professionals for
upgradinginstalling home products ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
D If part of buildersarchitects renovationbuilding plans ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
E If part of the process of getting home insurance ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
F If part of the planning for your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
G If part of the finalisation of your renovation ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
H If your energy bills are high ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
I If included in local Council approval process ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4
100
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash Value placed on information about energy efficient related
comfort attribute
G1 Using a scale from 1 to 5 where 1 means not at all important and 5 means very importantrsquo how
important is to you that the following information about home products is available to you when you make a
decision on the products you purchaseuse
RANDOMISE ORDER Not
important
at all
Neutral Very
important
NOT
SURE
How the product affects the indoor temperature ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much the product reduces noise from outside ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much it costs to install the product ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much energy would the product help you save over 12
months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much money would the product help you save in your
energy bills over 12 months
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the manufacturing of the product has impacted the
environment
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How much value the product would add to the property ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the natural light level in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
How the product will affect the airflow or ventilation in the
house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
101
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section H ndash Caregiver archetype
[ASK ALL]
H1 When it comes to renovating or buying a home on a scale of one to five where one is strongly disagree
and five is strongly agree hellip please indicate whether these feelings are ones that you havehellip
ROTATE STATEMENTS
Strongly
disagree
Neu
tral
Strongly
agree
NOT
SURE
I feel positive about the things I can do to make
the house more liveable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I see the little things I can do to make the house
more comfortable
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
Irsquom passionate about finding ways to make the
house healthy for everyone who will live in it
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I feel this is a way I can use my talents to help
those who live in the house
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want to make the life we live better ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I get great pleasure in knowing Irsquom making a place
where people want to be
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
I want my home to be a place friends want to
come to
ocirc1 ocirc2 ocirc3 ocirc4 ocirc5 ocirc99
102
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
Section G ndash DemographicsHousehold Classification
[ASK ALL]shy
Finally a few questions about you to make sure wersquove got a good mix of people in our surveyshy
G1 What is your occupation and positionshy
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Looking after the home full-time ocirc1
Manager or administrative ocirc2
Professional (eg doctor architect solicitor etc) ocirc3
Para-professional (eg police nurse technician) ocirc4
Tradesperson (eg plumber carpenter electrician) ocirc5
Clericalsecretarial ocirc6
Sales repstore salespersonpersonal services (eg waiter) ocirc7
Machine operatordriver ocirc8
Labourerstorepersonunskilled ocirc9
Small business ownerpartner ocirc10
Unemployed and seeking work ocirc11
Unable to work due to illness or disability ocirc12
Retired ocirc13
Student ocirc14
Other (please specify) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
103
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G2 What is the highest level of education you have completed
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
No formal schooling ocirc1
Primary school ocirc2
Some secondary school ocirc3
Completed secondary school ocirc4
Trade or technical qualification ocirc5
University diploma or degree ocirc6
Postgraduate studyqualification ocirc7
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
104
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G3 What is your relationship status
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) SR
Marriedlong term partner ocirc1
Divorcedseparated ocirc2
Widowed ocirc3
Single ocirc4
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
G4 Which of these best describes your household
ROTATE ORDER ndash TOP TO BOTTOM BOTTOM TO TOP (EXC OTHERPNTS) 4
Single under 30 years ocirc1
Single 30 years and over ocirc2
Share accommodation ocirc3
Couple without children ocirc4
Family with most children under 16 years ocirc5
Family with most children 16 years and over ocirc6
Other (please tell us more) ocirc98
Prefer not to say ocirc99
[ASK ALL]
G5 Which of the following have you ever installed at your home By installed we mean you did the
installation yourself or paid someone to do it This can be the home you are currently living in or a home that
you have lived in previously Have youhellip
105
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
SR
Installed insulation ocirc1
Double glazed the windows ocirc2
Sealed drafts and gaps around doors and windows ocirc3
Installed a solar heat pump or gas hot water system ocirc4
Installed solar panels ocirc5
Installed a smart electricity meter that allows you to control your electrical appliances
remotely
ocirc6
Installed energy efficient lights ocirc7
Insulated the water heater to reduce heat loss ocirc8
Installed low flow showerheads to use less hot water ocirc9
Other ocirc98
None of the above ocirc99
106
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
[ASK ALL]shy
G6 Which of the following do you do at your homeshy
Yes No I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Turn appliances off at the switch 1 2 9
Check fridge temperature and seals 1 2 9
Get rid of oldsecond fridge 1 2 9
Only wash clothes in full loads 1 2 9
Only use dishwasher when itrsquos full 1 2 9
Reduce the temperature of the hot water system 1 2 9
Buy energy efficient appliances 1 2 9
Dry clothes outsidereduce use of dryer 1 2 9
Monitor air-con temperature so you are not
over-working the motor
1 2 9
G7 About the home you live in are the following statements true or false (in addition to the options here we
should perhaps add in the same frames on comfort from the qualitative findings (ie lifestyle entertainment
values etc)
Yes
always
Yes
usually
No its
not
I do not have
this appliance
Does not apply
Home is cool in summer 1 2 9
Home is warm in winter 1 2 9
Home has plenty of natural light 1 2 9
Home has good airflowventilation 1 2 9
Home is quiet (ie no external noise) 1 2 9
Home is very comfortable 1 2 9
107
[Connecting comfort to energy efficiency]shy
G8 Is the home you live in hellip
DO NOT ROTATE SR
Very energy efficient ocirc5
Somewhat energy efficient ocirc4
Neither energy efficient or inefficient ocirc3
Not really energy efficient ocirc2
Not at all energy efficient ocirc1
Donrsquot know not applicable ocirc9
G9 And finally we will want to re-contact some of those who have completed this survey to make sure
we fully understand the results and to invite a small number to take part in online discussion forums around
the issues raised Would you be ok with us re-contacting you if we need to
DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMISE ORDER SR
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers or invite me to take part in an online forum on
home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc1
Ok to re-contact me to clarify my answers but donrsquot want to be invited to take part in any
online forums on home renovations buying houses energy efficiency GreenPower etc
ocirc2
Donrsquot want to be re-contacted ocirc3
Thank you very much for your time today
Please click lsquosubmitrsquo to send your responses to us (and if recruited from a panel to collect your rewards)
108