Households in dwellings two years old or less were more likely to have the energy and water efficiency elements they needed to reach government building standards, but beyond these measures they were quite similar to households in older dwellings, according to a report released Friday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

A greater percentage of households in newer dwellings utilize solar hot water systems, wall insulation and rainwater tanks.

ABS has found households in older and newer dwellings differed in their reasons for installing insulation. Nearly one-half of households in newer dwellings cited building regulations and standards, compared to less than one-tenth of households in older dwellings.

A little over one-third of households in newer dwellings stated comfort as their main reason, as did over half of households in older dwellings.

Nearly 70 per cent of households in newer dwellings had insulation installed in the walls, compared to 30 per cent in older dwellings, ABS said.

A total 25 per cent of households in newer dwellings had a rainwater tank plumbed into their dwelling, while only 12 per cent of households in older dwellings had the same.

ABS data revealed 18 per cent of households in newer dwellings had a solar energy system, compared to 3.8 per cent of households in older dwellings.