I Bought a TV!
Last year, I bought a TV.
I was in the TV department within The Good Guys looking at all the TV’s and, after a bit of browsing, a salesman came to me to ask what I was looking for.
“I am looking for a TV, that’s 4K, has multiple HDMI ports, a 65” screen, is smart, internet-enabled, can connect to my phone and laptop via screencast and is delightful to look at!”
“Oh, and also, I love Samsung products, so if you have something that ticks those boxes and comes with a Samsung logo then that’ll be even better!”
He simply said, “No worries, I got you”.
Then he led me over to this beautiful, crystal-clear Samsung 65” 4K TV with all the bells and whistles I was looking for.
And you know what was even better, I could get $200 off the TV.
I was sold.
Within 5 minutes, I had decided to buy it and was now embarking on the sales process.
Unfortunately, it didn’t fit in my car (poor planning) so I had to have it delivered. My inner child wanted it today, but I had to remain patient…
Anyway, it came a few days later and it has been a fantastic purchase.
Now, you are probably thinking, “Ben, why are you telling me about your TV purchase?”.
Well, there is a story here because, when it got delivered, I noticed something.
Something incredible.
On the box it stated an energy efficiency rating of 6-stars…
I was blown away, not because of its energy efficiency rating, but because during the entire sales process, not once did I, *ahem* an Energy Efficiency Consultant, ask about the energy efficiency of the TV. In fairness, the Salesperson didn’t even mention it as a selling point either!
This got me thinking, that a star rating is not exclusive to the features that we seek.
What does a star rating for a TV mean or entail?
Well, it means it uses a lot less energy than a 2-star TV for example, but the TV that I chose, was also miles apart in every other feature and selling point that mattered to me as the consumer. Its energy efficiency rating wasn’t something I explicitly stated in my initial parameters.
However, a 7-star TV could in fact be lacking the feature set that I was seeking…
The point I am making is, as we navigate a myriad of measurement options (NatHERS, Passive House, Greenstar etc), code changes, building and process improvements and innovations (automation, AI, blockchain etc), we must not forget what the real “selling points” are.
These are features like:
A home that stays cool during summer heat.
A home that stays warm during winter cold.
A home that stays dust and allergen free year-round.
A home that allows sunlight in but can be controlled when it becomes an issue.
But again, these features often leave us wondering, “OK, but what about me and my family”.
And this brings us to the human-centred outcomes. The health and comfort of the homeowner and their family.
Your body stays comfortable and stable, reducing potential heat-related illnesses.
Your body stays comfortable and stable, reducing potential cold-related illnesses.
Your body can breathe fresh air continuously while allergies and other illnesses are kept at bay, you wake up feeling refreshed.
Your body can be activated from access to morning sunlight and be ready to rest by minimising harsh afternoon sun.
Your body is nourished by the sun throughout the year instead of having to shut it out because it causes discomfort.
These are the real selling points.
These are the selling points that can help us move from where we are today, towards the goals that we have as a society in the future, think 2030 and 2050.
Design and energy efficiency is an intricate process and it’s through the navigation of design limitations, code requirements and client desires that beautiful architecture is created.
Homeowners need to know how their home performs, operates, and will feel when they live in it.
Will they need to use more heating than cooling?
Will they need to consider solar gain when designing access to the beautiful views to their west?
Where are the most advantageous ventilation pathways through their home and how do they access them?
For each family, a home that is uniquely optimised and balanced for them is enough.
An optimised 7.0-Star Energy Efficient home is great for the family living in the home…
An optimised 8.0-Star Energy Efficient home is great for the family living in the home…
An optimised 9.0-Star Energy Efficient home is great for the family living in the home…
Finding and striking a balance for each homeowner and their lifestyle is a great sustainable outcome for them.
… In the end, they just need to know, what is in it for them?