Increased energy eciency measures are on the agenda for the Building Code of Australia, including changes for residential buildings. Story: Simon Croft building code changes The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) the National Construction Code’s (NCC) has recently released the proposed changes energy efficiency provisions for residential and to the 2019 edition of the Building Code of commercial buildings. Australia (BCA) for both Volume 1 and 2. However, in developing this measure, it was The draft changes came out for comment in recognised that there is a need to gather more March this year and a large number relate to energy evidence on the effectiveness of the existing efficiency, along with more general changes to each provisions, particularly for residential buildings. of the parts of Volume 2 for housing. On this basis, for NCC 2019 the ABCB was The substantive changes to the code are instructed to focus on increasing the stringency proposed for the energy provisions. These changes of the energy efficiency provisions for commercial will affect both residential buildings and commercial buildings. buildings, with commercial buildings subject to For residential buildings, the proposed significant stringency increases beyond the current changes for NCC 2019 involve improved requirements. interpretation and compliance with the current For residential buildings, the changes are not as provisions, in preparation for possible increased significant, but there are numerous changes that stringency in the future. will collectively impact house designs in many parts of Australia. Commercial buildings By way of background on the proposed changes, The draft of BCA Volume 1 Section J contains in 2015 the Council of Australian Governments proposals to increase the stringency of the (COAG) developed a National Energy Productivity energy efficiency provisions for commercial Plan (NEPP), which contained a package of buildings. Commercial buildings in this respect measures aiming to improve Australia’s energy include Class 3 buildings (hotels and motels) productivity by 40 per cent by 2030. and Class 5 to 9 buildings. The changes also Simon Croft: HIA Executive Director Measure 31 of the NEPP forecast productivity affect the common areas of Class 2 buildings - Building Policy, Policy & Lobbying and emission reduction benefits from revising (apartments and units). MAY 2018 HOUSING 39 IN FOCUS • ENERGY EFFICIENCY