Zero emission housing: Policy development in Australia and comparisons with the EU, UK, USA and California

• We examine zero emission housing standards from Australia, the EU, UK, USA and California against a sociotechnical transitions framework.
• This analysis finds that there is some alignment with socio-technical transitions from the policies.
• However there are still elements that are absent or problematic.
• Five key elements are identified as missing or limited in the Australian policy context.
• These could foster a facilitated transition to zero emission housing standards.

A change to a zero emission housing future requires significant innovation in both policy and practice, as described by socio-technical transitions theory. This paper examines emerging policies towards zero emission housing standards from the EU, UK, USA, California and Australia to determine alignment with socio-technical transitions criteria. This analysis is then positioned within the Australian context, which is characterised by a lack of policy innovation. The limitations of existing regulatory approaches are identified. The analysis finds that a number of key socio-technical transitions elements are addressed in the case studies, but there are also elements that are absent or inadequately dealt with. Five key transitions elements are identified as being developed only to a limited extent in the Australian context, namely long-term goals, pathways, links to wider policies, financial innovation, and the inclusion of wider social elements. Consideration of these elements in future minimum energy performance standards could facilitate a transition to zero emission housing.