National Energy Efficient Building Project (NEEBP): Phase 2 findings

Following the NEEBP’s 2014 report into points of non-compliance with the energy efficiency requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC), Phase 2 project findings have been released.

Of 59 class 1 homes inspected during construction, a number of non-compliance issues related to roof colour, insulation, lighting and glazing, were identified as detailed below:
• Roof colour not as specified
• Insulation not as specified
• Insulation not included under flooring (where specified)
• Insulation not installed in accordance with the NCC
• Alternate lighting installed by owner not as specified
• Glazing not as specified
• Inadequate sealing of glass/windows.
(See Pilot Findings – A Summary)

The pilot project highlighted that an integrated approach to NCC compliance is needed, from design documentation through to approval and construction stages. The study found that none of the participating councils are currently collecting all of the energy performance-related documentation required in the NCC.

Pilot tools developed during NEEBP phase two: the Residential Energy Efficiency Compliance Inspection Checklist and Electronic Building Passport (EBP) tool will remain available for voluntary trialling by industry and regulators during 2016.

Next steps of the NEEBP will focus on:
• design non-compliance
• material substitution
• skill and/or knowledge deficiencies.

For further reading:
Australian buildings still failing on energy efficiency, ArchitectureAU, Jan 13 2016

A national rating framework for housing sustainability

ASBEC’s National Framework for Residential Ratings – Discussion Paper calls for a new nationally consistent rating framework for housing sustainability.

The framework proposes three key elements:
– Minimum regulatory performance standards for new homes
– Benchmarking best practice sustainability performance
– Communicating the value of sustainability features to renovators and homebuyers.

Incoming National President, and President of Australia Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), Ken Maher released the paper in January, noting that with housing being responsible for 13 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, improving the sustainability of our housing stock is crucial to meeting Australia’s targets for emissions reduction.

The policy platform points out that right now, there is no coherent national framework for rating housing sustainability. Instead, a plethora of ratings and measurement tools make things complex for industry professionals and incomprehensible to consumers. The platform calls for governments to work with the building industry to implement a nationally harmonised sustainability ratings framework for houses. For further information, please go to the ASBEC website http://www.asbec.asn.au/research/