Build Better Homes construction industry events

Build Better Homes is funded by the Victorian Government through Solar Victoria’s Electrification Skills Program, a $5 million investment in subsidised training initiatives over three years.

About Build Better Homes

Build Better Homes is delivered free of charge by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and Master Builders Association of Victoria (MBV) to people working in and connected with the construction industry.

Build Better Homes supports the residential construction industry to design and construct energy efficient homes that are more comfortable to live in, cost less to heat and cool, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Objectives of the free roadshows and industry events are to:

• support the construction industry to comply with new regulations, such as:
  • all-electric connections for new homes, effective from January 2024
  • National Construction Code 2022, especially 7-star and whole-of-home requirements (effective from May 2024)
  • new building electrification and minimum energy efficiency standards commencing in 2027 for new builds, rentals and water heater replacements
• build awareness of national progress towards ‘Zero energy (and carbon) ready buildings’ by 2028
• increase the skills and knowledge and build capacity to design and construct increasingly energy efficient homes
• build awareness of design and construction environmental sustainability trends, including the transition towards net zero homes, home electrification and on-site energy generation
• increase understanding of new and emerging technologies.

Who is eligible

Free roadshows and industry events are available to anyone working in the design and construction of energy efficient homes in Victoria. This includes:

• practitioners registered with the Plumbing and Building Commission: building inspectors, building surveyors, residential builders, draftspersons, project managers and quantity surveyors
• trades and professions related to the energy efficiency performance of homes, including site managers, construction managers, home energy assessors, architects, electricians, plumbers, front-of-house/client-facing workers (e.g. salespersons, designers, etc)
• owner-builders
• participants undertaking construction-related study (e.g. Cert IV in Building and Construction, Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), etc)
• fourth year apprentices in the construction industry
• others who play a role in the design and/ or construction of energy efficient homes and/ or improve the capacity of the industry to design and/ or construct energy efficient homes in Victoria.

You do not need to be a HIA or Master Builders Association of Victoria (MBV) member to book.

Supporting women in sustainable construction

As part of Build Better Homes, the HIA and MBV are delivering ‘Women in Sustainable Construction’ events to help address the under-representation of women in the building and construction industries. This builds on other initiatives we have funded to support women.

Presentations focus on regulatory changes centered on 7-star and the move to electrification and design and building solutions, and feature women working in the sustainable construction industry.

HIA and how to book

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is running roadshows and virtual workshops. The virual workshops on Wednesday 28 January and Thursday 26 February cover:

• passive solar design
• house Energy Rating Software
• whole of Home energy usage
• energy efficiency in existing buildings
• current v upcoming 7-star requirements – including case studies
• update to the trajectory for low energy buildings
• commercial and residential.

To confirm details and book, go to Beyond 7 Star Energy Efficiency.

Master Builders Victoria and how to book

Master Builders Association of Victoria (MBV) is delivering 'Women in Sustainable Construction' in-person workshops on:

• Wednesday 18 February - Traralgon
• Wednesday 25 February - Shepparton
• Thursday 12 March - Bendigo
• Wednesday 18 March - Geelong

A ‘Building High Performance Housing and Electrification’ in-person event will also run in Frankston on Wednesday 4 March.

To confirm details and book, go to MBV Events.

The videos can be viewed anytime at MBV and Solar Victoria Present: Air Tightness and Energy Saving for Less. They feature subject matter experts providing visual examples of:

• regulatory update and the move to all electric houses
• energy savings through air-tightness for less cost
• identifying leaks using the blower door test and thermal camera
• the all-electric house - designing from the ground up
• how to work best with solar installers during construction for maximum benefit.

More training resources

Also view our training resources if you would like to learn more about some of the topics covered in Build Better Homes.