BCA 2010 – Energy Efficiency
In April 2009, as a first step to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings across Australia, through the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency (NSEE), the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the introduction of five key measures. The first measure involved the ABCB increasing the stringency of the energy efficiency provisions in the 2010 edition of the BCA.
In brief, COAG requested the ABCB to increase energy efficiency provisions so that the 2010 BCA required:
- A 6 star energy rating, or equivalent, for new residential buildings; and
- A significant increase in the energy efficiency requirements for all new commercial buildings.
These changes included energy efficiency requirements for heated water systems and lighting in new houses and apartments. The provisions were introduced in BCA 2010 and enacted in State and Territory legislation from 1 May, 2010.
Prior to the BCA 2010 energy efficiency provisions coming into effect, the ABCB produced information handbooks for its information seminars to assist BCA users about the new provisions. In addition, the ABCB has developed a series of Awareness Resource Kits to assist training providers. Modules 3 and 4 relate to the energy efficiency provisions in the BCA.
National Strategy on Energy Efficiency
In July 2009, COAG agreed to the final measures for the NSEE, which is designed to substantially improve the levels of energy efficiency across the Australian economy. A major section of the NSEE is devoted to improving the energy efficiency of Australia’s building stock. Measure 3.1.1 of the NSEE sets out the key elements of the outcomes-based national building energy standard-setting, assessment and rating framework (‘the Framework’) that jurisdictions have committed to developing.
The Framework has three key components:
- Providing a pathway, implemented primarily through the Building Code of Australia (BCA), for increasing the stringency of the minimum performance requirements for new buildings and renovations;
- Providing consistent, accurate and understandable methodologies for assessing and for publicly communicating the energy efficiency (and other sustainability elements over time) of new and existing buildings; and
- Enhancing governance arrangements for building energy assessments, ratings and standard setting.
It is expected that COAG will approve implementation of the Framework in 2012. If directed by Government, the ABCB will commence work to address possible incremental stringency increases under the NSEE.