Delaying improved energy requirements in the Building Code has real household impacts.

The National Construction Code influences the energy efficiency of new buildings and major renovations. Improved building energy efficiency presents a win-win-win solution. It can deliver lower bills and reduced burden on the electricity grid and greater resilience to temperature extremes. It can also deliver healthier, more comfortable spaces for people to live and work.

New construction adds up fast: More than half of the buildings expected to be standing in 2050 will be built after the next update of the Code in 2019.

The Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory Project is an industry-led initiative seeking improvements to the energy requirements in the Code. This Interim Report presents preliminary results, focusing on short-term improvements to residential requirements.

It found that just three years’ delay could lock in an estimated $1.1 billion in unnecessary energy bills for the projected half a million homes that will be built in the meantime, and 3 million tonnes of additional emissions to 2050.

The interim report was released by project partners ASBEC and Climateworks Australia in February 2018.