GBCA welcomes national action on zero energy buildings
19 February 2019
Energy ministers have endorsed a path to
zero-energy and zero-carbon
buildings under a significant national agreement, a milestone
welcomed by the
Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
Following sustained advocacy from the GBCA, the
Australian Sustainable
Built
Environment Council and a broad coalition of industry stakeholders,
the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council has formally
agreed to a Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.
GBCA Head of Public Affairs & Membership Jonathan Cartledge said
acceptance of the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings was an excellent
step towards realising the potential of the built environment to assist
the transition to a low
emissions future.
“We welcome the national commitment signalled by this Trajectory to the
delivery of more sustainable buildings across Australia,” he said.
“It is great to see governments joining industryto support more energy
efficient, sustainable buildings as a way to cut costs for consumers and
businesses, reduce Australia’s overall carbon emissions, and create
healthier, better spaces in which to live and work.”
The Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings outlines a staged approach to
strengthening the carbon and
energy-efficiency requirements of the
National Construction Code, both for new and existing commercial and
residential buildings.
It calls for “substantial” updates to energy efficiency provisions in
the NCC in 2022 and 2025 before increasingly stringent requirements
every three years to keep pace with better
technology and changing energy prices.
The detail of the requirements will now be considered by the
Commonwealth, State and Territory Building Ministers at the Building
Ministers’ Forum. Its twice-yearly meeting will take place in Hobart
this Friday.
“We call on Building Ministers to support the delivery of this
trajectory through a commitment to the regulatory measures necessary to
provide certainty for the construction industry while lowering
emissions, saving money, and delivering healthier, more comfortable
buildings for all of us.”
Mr Cartledge said GBCA continues to collaborate with industry and
government to prepare for a low emissions future. “Internationally
Australian industry leads the world in our commitments to a low
emissions future through the World Green Building Council Global
Commitment to Net Zero Carbon Buildings. In Australia we have been proud
to continue these commitments with the actions outlined in the GBCA’s
own Carbon Positive Roadmap.”
“The support for a Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings helps continue
this leadership, and should realise the enormous potential across the
built environment to continue to reduce emissions, see significant
efficiency and productivity benefits, and provide ongoing certainty for
business.”
Modelling within the Trajectory found potential improvements under the
proposed NCC 2022 could save residents $650 a year in hot and cold
climates – including
Canberra,
Townsville and
Darwin – and about $170 annually in more temperate areas of
Sydney,
Melbourne and
Adelaide. Changes to commercial buildings could generate a net
benefit of $25bn by 2050.
--ENDS--
Source: Green Building Council of Australia - www.gbca.org.au
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