The reason the insulation requirement in Europe is much higher is due to their colder weather and much longer cold periods . While we can benefit from using some of their ideas it would be unrealistic to build a house that way in most areas in Australia . The extra cost simply isn't justified , particularly because of our lower energy costs and milder weather .
Australia has the star rating system . Victoria is now 6 star minimum . While it's a bit of a blunt tool , it is helping make houses more efficient generally .
It would be incorrect to say that is the standard across all of Europe . What is standard in the Scandinavian countries would be quite different to the mediterranean just as Central Australia would be to the Victorian high country .
While geothermal heating is quite common in North America and Europe , it was quite expensive in Australia and in a lot of cases impractical . I am saying this from some experience as I am currently investigating this for a new build of mine .
