Australian Glass Group joined a broad coalition of over 100 organisations that called on Building Ministers to adopt increased energy efficiency requirements for new homes at the Building Ministers’ Meeting.
In a joint statement sent to the Building Ministers ahead of their decision meeting this month, the coalition comprising of building industry, community, health, environment and climate sector organisations, sought the adoption of the proposed new energy performance requirements for residential buildings in the National Construction Code 2022, with a 12-month transition period to ensure time for industry training and education.
We have already experienced the positive effects on commercial new builds thanks to the past NCC 2019 improvements, which resulted in significantly higher performing glazing being required in commercial buildings. This improves the comfort and wellbeing of those working inside while dramatically decreasing the energy load demands to artificially heat and cool the interior spaces.
It is now the turn of residential new build homes to improve, and AGG supports the planned increase from minimum 6-Star NatHERS homes to 7 Stars. We forecast similar positive impacts of higher performing glazing that will also be influenced by the climate zones that the homes will be built in.
Standard glazing impacts the energy efficiency of homes by allowing too much unwanted heat inside (during warmer times of the year), and being one of the biggest contributors to heat loss (during colder times of the year). This means we are dependent on energy to constantly artificially heat and cool our interiors.
By improving our glazing’s performance, we can positively impact our homes by allowing more comfortable inside temperatures, all year round, while also reducing the energy required to heat and cool, and therefore, play a crucial role in decreasing the amount of our CO2-e emissions.
NCC Joint Statement August 2022
