Mark Vender
More than 100 organisations have signed a joint statement supporting the lifting of energy standards in the 2022 National Construction Code (NCC).
The document has been sent to federal and state and territory ministers ahead of a meeting in late August, where it is expected a final decision will be made on raising minimum energy efficiency standards for new buildings and major renovations from 6 to 7 NatHERS stars, and on introducing a whole-of home energy budget for fixed appliances, including those used for heating and cooling.
The signatories include ASBEC, the GBCA, the Property Council of Australia, the Energy Efficiency Council and AIRAH, as well as a host of other organisations across the consumer, social services, tenancy, energy, environment, health, construction and housing sectors.
“It has been over a decade since Australia meaningfully increased the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes in the National Construction Code,” reads the statement.
“In that time, we have fallen further behind international standards while the need to reduce emissions has grown even more urgent.
“As a result, new home buyers are now more exposed to the impacts of the current energy crisis and paying more than they should to keep their homes warm in winter and cool in summer.
“We call on Building Ministers to adopt proposed new energy performance requirements for residential buildings in the National Construction Code 2022 with a 12-month transition period to ensure time for industry training and education.”
The statement also offers some indicative benefits from raising the standards, such as lower energy bills for householders, reduced emissions, healthier and more resilient homes, better housing affordability, and reduced poverty and inequality.
ABC radio has covered the statement, and it can also be found in full here.
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