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The report was undertaken as part of a PhD research, funded by the CRC for LowCarbon Living Ltd. supported by the Cooperative Research Centres program, anAustralian Government initiative and a research student scholarship granted from theAustralian Building Codes Board.The results showed that a higher star rating does not necessarily coincide with a decrease in either cooling energy consumption, demand or overheating. The traditional uninsulated, double brick scenario required significantly more heating, however was able to outperform many high star rated homes during summer.Consequently, the integration of heat stress resistance in the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme would be a valued addition to the existing regulations to avoid building new homes with potentially lower coping capacity and increased dependence on air-conditioning. To address the problem, a new overheating analysis is proposed that can be implemented in the AccuRate.

As the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are growing, strategies to improve our resilience are becoming more vital. Policies to increase heat stress resilience are mostly isolated across different disciplines and government departments. A holistic approach would be necessary that mitigates the numerous negative impacts of heatwaves on public health, urban infrastructure and services through adaptation to heatwaves in the realm of public health, building and construction industry, and urban planning and infrastructure. This paper reviews the research on heat stress adaptation measures, before presenting recommendations for a range of integrated policy measures to increase the heat stress resilience of urban populations in Australian cities. The recommended policy measures include information dissemination, incentives and disincentives, promotion, demonstration and regulations. The paper concludes by identifying directions for further research and reinforcing the multiple benefits that can result from the implementation of heat stress resilience policies and strategies. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

In Australia, heatwaves are the deadliest natural hazard and a major driver of peak electricity demand. The disproportionately high peak demand increases electricity prices, causes occasional blackouts and exacerbates energy poverty, all of which limit one's ability to use air conditioning. Meanwhile, increased energy efficiency of dwellings may decrease their heat stress resistance. This paper challenges whether the current Australian Nationwide Energy Rating Scheme encourages heat stress resistance. Cooling consumption, peak cooling demand and the risk of indoor overheating were assessed for a typical single-storey home in Adelaide and Sydney. Design options between 6 and 8 stars, plus two traditional, energy-inefficient homes were simulated with the AccuRate energy simulation program. This paper demonstrates that the NatHERS does not directly encourage heat stress resistance in new homes and can even deliver buildings with worse heat resistance and increased reliance on air conditioning than traditional, energy-inefficient buildings. This overreliance on air conditioning can present a public health hazard, consequently, the integration of heat stress resistance in the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme is recommended. Recommendations for the analysis and assessment of heat stress resistance are provided. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Heatwaves have been subject to significant attention in Australia and globally due to their negative impacts on the ecosystem, infrastructure, human health and social life. Measures to increase resilience to heatwaves, however, are mostly isolated in different disciplines. This paper proposes a framework integrating urban and infrastructure planning, building design, public health and social research to comprehensively assess heat stress resilience. The proposed framework can assist decision makers in the evaluation of different policy changes addressing heat stress resilience and contribute to more comprehensive and effective heatwave management. An online survey was undertaken with a representative sample (N = 393) from Adelaide, South Australia, to explore heat stress resistance of the built environment, adaptation and heat-related, self-reported health problems. The study established the magnitudes of the secondary negative impacts of heatwaves on public health and daily routines. The findings identify a low level of resistance to heat stress by the built environment. It was concluded that community education along with focused building and planning regulations has the potential to significantly increase heat stress resilience. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Although heatwave-related excess mortality and morbidity have been widely studied, results are not comparable spatially and often longitudinally because of different heatwave definitions applied. The excess heat factor (EHF) quantifies heatwave intensity relative to the local climate, enabling cross-regional comparisons. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between EHFs and daily mortality during severe heatwaves. An extensive study about the relationship between EHFs and daily morbidity compared to the currently applied heatwave thresholds in Adelaide has not yet been undertaken. This paper analyzes the association of EHFs with daily morbidity between 2008 and 2014 in the Adelaide metropolitan region, South Australia, and probes three different approaches to calculate the EHF. The EHF is found to differentiate days with heatwave-related excess morbidity significantly better than other widely used weather parameters, resulting in fewer days per year with heatwave alerts than using previously proposed methods. The volume of excess morbidity can be predicted by the EHF more reliably with a model proposed for the SA Ambulance Service to support their heatwave preparation plan. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

As the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are growing in Australia, strategies to combat heat are becoming more vital. Cities are exposed to urban heat islands (UHIs) due to excess urbanisation. In this study, a definition of urban heatwave (UHW) is conceptualised to investigate the combined impacts of heatwaves and UHIs. To quantify the negative impacts of UHW, indicators-such as excess morbidity, electricity and water consumption-are considered. The intensity of UHWs is calculated using the unit of excess heat factor (EHF), developed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. EHF enables the comparability of UHWs in different geographical locations. Using the indicators and the intensity of UHWs, a calculation method to quantify heatwave resilience at a precincts scale is proposed. The study summarises the assumed influential factors of precinct heatwave resilience based on the existing literature and propose a "cool retrofitting toolkit" (CRT). CRT creates the framework to assess the adaptation to and mitigation of UHWs available to retrofit existing precincts, and to evaluate potential retrofitting strategies in terms of energy and carbon efficiency, financial affordability and perceived acceptability by population. This study illuminates the importance of climate, function, built environment and population characteristics-conscious retrofitting. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Thesis (PhD(Mathematics))--University of South Australia, 2017. Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-314) Heatwaves are responsible for more deaths in Australia than all other natural hazards combined. As the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are growing, strategies to improve our resilience are becoming more vital. The different impacts of heatwaves, such as excess morbidity, electricity demand and water consumption, have previously been investigated in isolation. The various elements of heat stress resilience, including adaptation, vulnerability and the built environment, have not been explored together in connection with the associated negative impacts. A comprehensive assessment of the relationship between the negative impacts and the elements of heat stress resilience could increase our resilience against heatwaves. This research devised a novel framework for the assessment of heat stress risk and resilience, explored the drivers for and barriers to resilience, and analysed the differences between heat stress-resistant and energy-efficient building design.

Heatwaves are the most dangerous natural hazard to health in Australia. The frequency and intensity of heatwaves will increase due to climate change and urban heat island effects in cities, aggravating the negative impacts of heatwaves. Two approaches exist to develop population heat stress resilience. Firstly, the most vulnerable social groups can be identified and public health services can prepare for the increased morbidity. Secondly, the population level of adaptation and the heat stress resistance of the built environment can be increased. The evaluation of these measures and their efficiencies has been fragmented across research disciplines. This study explored the relationships between the elements of heat stress resilience and their potential demographic and housing drivers and barriers. The responses of a representative online survey (N=393) about heat stress resilience at home and work from Adelaide, South Australia were analysed. The empirical findings demonstrate that heat stress resistant buildings increased adaptation capacity and decreased the number of health problems. Air-conditioning increased dependence upon it, limited passive adaptation and only people living in homes with whole-house air-conditioning had less health problems during heatwaves. Tenants and respondents with pre-existing health conditions were the most vulnerable, particularly as those with health conditions were not aware of their vulnerability. The introduction of an Energy Performance Certificate is proposed and discussed as an effective incentive to increase the heat stress resistance of and the general knowledge about the built environment. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Heatwaves are Australia’s most deadly natural hazard and the principle driver of peak electricity demand, resulting from the dramatic increase in air-conditioning use. Increased peak demand has been causing occasional blackouts and a substantial increase in electricity prices to the community over the last decade. The escalating prices constrict the ability of energy poor population to adequately cool their homes during heatwaves. Meanwhile, the desire for more energy efficient homes will decrease overall electricity consumption but may not reduce peak demand. As a result, the heat stress resistance of buildings may not be enhanced by the current regulation. This paper investigates whether the current Australian Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme encourages heat stress resistance. Cooling energy consumption, peak demand and the risk of indoor overheating were assessed for a typical single-storey home in Adelaide, South Australia, and Sydney, New South Wales. Design scenarios between 6 and 8 stars, plus a traditional, uninsulated double brick and an uninsulated brick veneer building structures were simulated with the AccuRate building thermal simulation program. The results showed that a higher star rating does not necessarily coincide with a decrease in either cooling energy consumption, demand or overheating. The traditional uninsulated, double brick scenario required significantly more heating, however was able to outperform many high star rated homes during summer. Consequently, the integration of heat stress resistance in the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme would be a valued addition to the existing regulations to avoid building new homes with potentially lower coping capacity and increased dependence on air-conditioning. To address the problem, a new overheating analysis is proposed that can be implemented in the AccuRate.

The frequency and intensity of urban heatwaves (UHWs) have been growing worldwide due to climate change and the exacerbating effects of urban heat islands (UHIEs). UHWs have many negative impacts, including excess negative health outcomes (e.g.morbidity), energy (consumption and peak demand) and water consumption. Most studies have evaluated these impacts separately even though there is an interplay between them. The study assessed the daily excess morbidity, energy demand and consumption,and water supply in the Adelaide metropolitan region during heatwaves, between January 2008 and March 2014. The assessment quantifies the thresholds and the increase in each impact relative to temperature increase. The demonstrated negative impacts on public health, and energy and water resources, potentially exacerbated by UHIEs, justify the importance of interdisciplinary research and integrated policy changes on the mitigation of and adaptation to heatwaves. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Heatwaves are Australia’s most deadly natural hazard and the principle driver of peak electricity demand in South Australia. The disproportionately high peak demand increases electricity prices, causes occasional blackouts and exacerbates energy poverty, all of which limit the use of air-conditioning.Meanwhile, the desire for more energy efficient homes may decrease their heat stress resistance. This paper challenges whether the current Australian Nationwide Energy Rating Scheme encourages heat stress resistance.Cooling consumption, peak demand and the risk of indoor overheating were assessed for a typical single storey home in Adelaide. Design scenarios between 6 and 8 stars, plus two additional, traditional building structures were simulated with the AccuRate building thermal simulation program. A new overheating analysis is proposed based on the combination of the Excess Heat Factor and the Adaptive Comfort Model. Although the uninsulated, double brick scenario required significantly more heating, that configuration also outperformed many scenarios with higher star ratings during summer. A higher star rating did not necessarily coincide with a decrease in cooling consumption, demand and overheating. Consequently, the integration of heat stress resistance in the Nationwide Energy Rating Scheme would be advantageous to avoid building new homes with potentially lower coping capacity and increased dependence on airconditioning. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Heatwaves have a mounted interest in the last decade due to their negative impacts oninfrastructure, the ecosystem and public health. Population exposure to heat stress is substantially influenced by the resilience of the built environment as people spend the majority of their time indoors. Retrofitting the existing building stock could profoundly improve heatwave resilience, however, the current knowledge of the population’s heatwave-resilient retrofitting willingness is limited. An online survey about population perception of, adaptation to and retrofitting against heatwaves was conducted with a representative sample from the Adelaide metropolitan region in March 2015. The survey results about the retrofitting relevant questions presented in this paper suggest that the perceived financial limitations and missing tenant/landlord incentives represent the key barriers to domestic retrofitting. Beyond air-conditioning, the improvement of shadings was the most prevalent retrofitting measure. The number of known and applied retrofitting measures, nevertheless, were limited. Solutions, such as taking advantage of increased garden vegetation or changing the roof colour were underrepresented. Special attention should be paid to older population since they are not only more vulnerable to heatwaves but also less willing to retrofit their homes. Refereed/Peer-reviewed