Heat stress within energy efficient dwellings in Australia

Improving building energy efficiency is a cost-effective response to global warming. It can result in the reduction in energy consumption and related carbon emissions of buildings. At the same time, it is normally effective in reducing heat/cold risk in non-air-conditioned buildings. This study investigated the potential heat stress risks in non-air-conditioned dwellings during the heatwaves, such as those occurred in Brisbane in 2004 and Melbourne in 2009. Using building simulations, it was demonstrated that maladaptation by over-emphasizing building energy efficiency alone could expose occupants to greater health risks during heatwaves. In general, measures that can further reduce both the space cooling load and the total space heating and cooling (H/C) load, instead of the total H/C load only, are effective both in improving the energy performance and in reducing occupant exposure to heat stress risks.

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