Strengthen home energy efficiency: Renew
Renew, formerly the Alternative Technology Association, has called for more to be done to make Australian homes energy efficient.
In a submission on draft changes to the National Construction Code, the ATA says the code needs to be strengthened and a clear trajectory set by the Australian Building Codes Board for net-zero housing before 2050.
“The need is now urgent and the opportunity significant for Australia to improve the energy performance of new and existing houses,” Donna Luckman, ATA CEO, said. “And the ATA sees the National Construction Code as an increasingly important policy lever for achieving this.”
“Australia has fallen behind international standards for residential energy efficiency. In Europe and the UK basic quality‐control safeguards already exist to protect consumers from poor building performance,
including mandatory tests for building envelope air leakage.
“The 6‐Star residential rating has not been strengthened since it was adopted in 2010, yet there is mounting evidence to show Australia’s housing stock is not fit for purpose in a changing climate.”
Ms Luckman said a move to better-designed and built housing had overwhelmingly positive benefits: supporting Australia’s carbon reduction targets, improving people’s health and cost of living, and reducing energy network investment.
As part of the ATA’s push for more environmental housing, the organisation has also made a submission to the Australian Building Codes Board to strengthen the code on heating and cooling load limits.
Heating and cooling load limits need to be incorporated in the NatHERS house energy rating scheme to exclude the worst 10 per cent of home designs.
The ATA is a not‐for‐profit organisation that inspires, enables and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities. The ATA provides households, government, business and industry with expert, independent advice on home sustainability.
Click here to read the ATA’s submission on the National Custruction Code (2019).
Click here for the ATA’s submission on heating and cooling load limits.
Click here to learn more about the ATA’s advocacy work.