Australian Homes Are Cold in Winter, but They Shouldn’t Be

Go online, and you’ll find many social media posts complaining about Australia’s cold houses in the winter. And it’s not just a trivial gripe either. The World Health Organisation reported that 81 percent of Australian houses have temperatures below the optimum 16 to 18 degrees Celsius (64 Fahrenheit) minimum. The cause lies in a mix of factors. RMIT University’s Nicola Willand from the School of Property said Australian homes tend to be uninsulated, draughty, and fitted with inefficient heating systems. “This means that warmth dissipates quickly once the heating is switched off. Air movement between heated areas and the colder walls and windows makes people feel uncomfortable, making heating very ineffective and expensive,” she said in a statement....