Cross-sector push for more energy efficient homes
10 August 2022 at 4:45 pm
More than 100 organisations are pushing for an update to Australia’s building code to improve energy efficiency, with hopes for a raft of benefits.
More than 100 property, community, health and environmental organisations have joined forces to pressure Australia’s building ministers to increase the energy efficiency of new homes.
Led by the Property Council of Australia, Renew, the Australian Council of Social Service, the Green Building Council of Australia, the Energy Efficiency Council, Energy Consumers Australia, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, and the Climate Council, the organisations have issued a joint statement to the building ministers calling for the adoption of 7-star energy performance requirements for new builds.
The statement was released two weeks ahead of a meeting of the nation’s building ministers, and urges the ministers to use the meeting to confirm changes to the National Construction Code which would increase the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from a 6-star rating to 7-stars.
The statement notes that not only could this slash energy bills for homeowners, but also contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions, and reduce poverty, inequality and poor health outcomes especially for those in social housing and private rentals.
Property Council Chief Executive Ken Morrison said despite a global efficiency push and major advances in technologies, energy standards for new homes haven’t been meaningfully updated in more than a decade.
“With housing and rental affordability at crisis point and inflation yet to peak, if our political leaders are serious about easing long term cost of living pressures, while also addressing climate change, then these amendments, which have been considered for quite some time, should be seen as a no-brainer,” he said.
Read the full statement here.
