3 December 2024

ASBEC welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Productivity Commission’s research into housing construction productivity. Our submission comprised both a letter and a 500 word summary based on recent advocacy by a coalition of industry, built environment, and social sector stakeholders to all Building Ministers calling for a reaffirmation of their commitment to the regular three-year review and update of the National Construction Code (NCC).

We urge the Productivity Commission to consider the critical importance of changing rules and regulations in relation to housing construction, not just for reasons of safety, but to ensure that the housing construction sector can achieve optimal productivity and innovation outcomes. The National Construction Code (NCC) serves as the national standard for building practices in Australia, encompassing critical areas such as fire safety, structural integrity, health, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability, including emerging issues like embodied carbon, resilience to our changing climate, and increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

Read the full letter here

Read the 500 word summary here

Canberra, Australian Parliament House, Monday 11 November 2024

As Australia’s Building Ministers convene at the industry dialogue today, a coalition of industry, built environment, and social sector stakeholders are calling for a reaffirmation of their commitment to the regular three-year review and update of the National Construction Code (NCC).

The stakeholders emphasise the importance of implementing the next revision of the NCC in 2025 as planned and increasing resources for the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) to better address future changes.

Read the media release here.

Read the joint statement here.

Australia’s infrastructure sector is uniting the accelerate its journey to net zero, tacking the challenge of decarbonising the multibillion-dollar industry.

The newly formed Infrastructure Net Zero taskforce – a collaboration of government and industry bodies – has launched a consultation to start a conversation about how we translate the global net zero definitions into practice for the infrastructure sector in Australia, through a paper authored by Mott Macdonald.

Nicole Lockwood, Chair of Infrastructure Net Zero, which is hosted by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, says there needs to be a clear focus on the big task at hand.

“When we created Infrastructure Net Zero last year, our vision was to enable an effective, efficient, and collaborative transition to net zero for infrastructure,” Ms Lockwood said.

“Today, we are excited to take the first step on this journey with the launch of a consultation process to learn from global infrastructure standards like PAS 2080, and to ensure we translate that into clear, industry-wide definitions for net zero infrastructure in Australia.”

The consultation invites stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed definitions to guide wide-scale adoption and action across the sector.

Read the media release.

Access the consultation paper.

Submit your feedback.

The Climate Change Authority has completed its review of the potential technology transition and emissions pathways that best support Australia’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

Commissioned by the Australian Parliament, the review considers the pathways for six sectors – agriculture and land; built environment; electricity and energy; industry and waste; transport and resources – to decarbonise. It identifies barriers and proposes strategies and actions to address them.

The review finds there are many pathways to achieving emissions reductions with existing, mature technologies, such as solar and wind for electricity generation and batteries for energy storage getting Australia much of the way to net zero. Opportunities also exist with the rapid development of emerging low emissions technologies, such as hydrogen and engineered carbon removals.

The authority’s review identifies 6 strategies that can be incorporated in the Net Zero Plan for addressing the challenges and enabling Australia’s transition to a prosperous, net zero economy. Suggested actions for the Australian Government include working with local, state and territory governments, businesses, communities and households to build on existing climate change policies, reform development approval processes and address mounting workforce shortages.

Read the media release here

Read the full Sector Pathways Review report here

Sector Pathways Review at a glance here

This study is an update of an earlier study prepared for the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) by Energy Efficient Strategies P/L in 2011 – 2013.

This report provides updated data sets at both household and jurisdictional level regarding:

• the potential scope for insulation-based upgrades.
• the potential costs of such upgrades; and
• the potential benefits of such upgrades (in their various forms)

ABS data analysed for this study indicates that Australian housing stock still has a significant number of dwellings with uninsulated or under insulated ceilings, walls and floors. This suggests a significant market failure of householders and governments to capitalise on the positive financial, environmental and health benefits associated with these insulation based retrofit options.

Read the full report here

In July 2024, the Energy Efficiency Council, funded by the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Solar Victoria within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), launched the Roadmap for Heat Pump Hot Water Systems in Australia.

Signed by a diverse cross-section of HPHWS industry stakeholders, the roadmap expresses a shared vision in which Australians save money and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions using high quality HPHWS products, underpinned by a modernised regulatory environment.

Signatories to the roadmap are committed to taking meaningful action to:

• Build industry leadership in Australia.
• Foster excellence through quality products and professional installation.
• Promote a sustainable industry for the long-term.
• Accelerate emissions reduction and support an equitable transition.

Read more here

19 July 2024

Energy Ministers released the Home Energy Ratings Disclosure Framework Version 1 on 19 July 2024. This is an initiative under the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

The Home Energy Ratings Disclosure Framework Version 1 sets out a national approach to assess the energy performance of homes and provide an energy performance rating and certificate to households at the point of sale or lease. It outlines policy parameters for disclosure schemes, which can be adapted and implemented by governments, and gives guidance on developing a supportive market environment.

The completion of the Home Energy Ratings Disclosure Framework Version 1 is the result of efforts by the Australian and state and territory governments, as well as industry stakeholders, working together over the past 18 months.

It is the first key step on the journey to implementing residential energy performance disclosure schemes and making Australian homes more energy efficient and comfortable to live in.

Read more here

15 July 2024

Later this week, Australian Energy Ministers will decide whether to implement proposed Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for lighting, including light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Introducing MEPS for LEDs alongside the phase out of halogens and incandescent lamps is crucial to ensure all consumers can access good quality LEDs at affordable prices.

Australia was once a leader in regulating for better lighting energy performance. In 2009, we were one of the first countries in the world to begin phasing-out inefficient incandescent and halogen lamps.

We are now lagging well behind. In Europe, MEPS for LEDs came into force in September 2021, and regulations also exist in China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Successive Australian governments have identified the need to phase out the inefficient incandescent bulbs and halogens that remain on the market and bring in MEPS for LEDs

Analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposed regulations was completed in 2018. This analysis showed MEPS would deliver a net benefit of $1.448 billion, saving consulters $1.396 billion in reduced energy costs by 2030.

In late 2022, an exposure draft of the new regulations was released, with consultation taking place over 2023.

Six years after approving the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement, Australian Energy Ministers are now meeting to decide whether to implement these standards.

There should be no further delay in implementing these standards.

The Australian Government has taken a significant step toward improving the energy performance of commercial buildings with the announcement of a public consultation on the expansion of the Commercial Building Disclosure Program, to include a broader scope of commercial buildings.

The CBD program, which requires the disclosure of energy efficiency information for large commercial office spaces, helps building owners and tenants understand and improve their environmental impact, driving greater energy efficiency and sustainability in the commercial property sector.

The commercial building sector is responsible for around 25% of electricity use and 10% of total emissions in Australia.

Expanding the CBD program will provide greater transparency and encourage more building owners and tenants to invest in energy-efficient technologies and practices. This will lead to reduced operational costs, enhanced asset values, and a more sustainable future for all Australians.

For more information about the consultation and how to participate, please visit the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change,  Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) website

Monday, 24 June 2024

Building Ministers have agreed to add climate resilience as an objective of the Australian Building Codes Board.

This responds to a recommendation from the 2020 National Natural Disaster Arrangements Royal Commission and paves the way for the Australian Building Codes Board to consider future standards which ensure buildings can better withstand more extreme weather.

This will mean fewer Australians and communities displaced by natural disasters, lower rebuilding costs, quicker recovery and more builders and tradespeople available to build the new homes Australia needs.

Ministers also agreed the Australian Building Codes Board will work with industry, government and community stakeholders to ensure that any future National Construction Code changes to improve climate resilience are cost effective, practical and fit-for-purpose.

Read the full media release here

The Australian Building Codes Board’s National Construction Code 2025 public comment draft is currently open for public consultation.

The National Construction Code (NCC) Public Comment Draft (PCD) is your opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes to be made in the next edition of the NCC.

The NCC is updated every 3 years, based on industry and public feedback and policy directions from governments between publishing cycles. In preparation for the next edition of the NCC, the ABCB seeks feedback from the public and industry on the NCC Public Comment Draft.

Submissions provided during the NCC Public Comment Draft process will inform the final version for regulatory consideration. Submissions for feedback to the next edition of the NCC Public Comment Draft will need to be made before 11:59pm AEST 1 July 2024..

Read more here

14 May 2024

The Affiliated Insulation Industry Coalition (AIIC) has today released its report, Insulation in Australia: 2024.

The report highlights insulation as a heavy hitter in the mix of energy efficiency technologies available to improve the lives of Australians now and into the future.

The AIIC includes a range of trade associations that came together following the 2021 release of the Roadmap for quality control and safety in insulation installation.

“Our organisations collaborated on the report because we believe that better insulating our building stock will be vital to accelerating the transition to net zero, futureproofing and enhancing the climate safety of Australian homes, and protecting Australians’ health,” says Jim Hall, Chair of the AIIC.

Given the foundational nature of insulation for the health of occupants and energy efficiency in buildings, the report calls for governments to act by leveraging policy and regulatory drivers to support the upgrade of Australia’s underperforming housing stock.

“Millions of properties need to be upgraded to a higher standard of thermal efficiency to adapt to the warming climate, protect the health and comfort of occupants, and to best manage demand through the energy transition.

“Failure to act will result in poor financial and health outcomes for millions of Australians,” says Mr Hall.

Read the full report here

Women make up only 12% of the construction industry in Australia. We’re looking to change this!

With support from the NSW Government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council is proud to launch the ASBEC Women in Construction Future Leaders Pilot.

Led by Global IQ Group, the pilot is focussed on the retention of women, as well as improving the leadership opportunities for women in the industry.

Applications are now open, and close 20 November 2023. Complete your application here.

Over 130 women helped to shape the pilot, by sharing their experiences in the construction industry, and how we can best support their career journey and expand their leadership opportunities. Read more about our survey findings here.

22 September 2023

As members of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) our Associations represent manufacturers of materials that play an integral role in improving the thermal building envelope and providing healthier commercial and residential building stock.

On 1 October, NSW will lead the rest of Australia by implementing the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 energy efficiency standards, bringing significant improvements to energy performance of people’s new homes.

We note that, while some state and territory governments have recently announced delays to their planned adoption of National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 energy efficiency standards, industry is ready to meet the Australia’s needs for better performing homes.

ASBEC’s manufacturing members have made significant investments to support the move to 7-star homes. Collectively we have well developed production processes, which stand ready to respond to the expected increased demand for insulation and glazing materials across Australia.

ASBEC’s Low Carbon, High Performance report demonstrates that improving the performance of new and existing housing stock is key to achieving State and Federal Governments’ emissions reduction targets, while also contributing to broader national efforts to manage cost of living pressures for households.

It has been over a decade since Australia meaningfully increased the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes in the National Construction Code. In that time, we have fallen further behind international standards while the need to reduce emissions has grown even more urgent.

While we wait for regulations to catch up, Australia’s manufacturers of energy efficient building materials are ready to help build the low-emissions, high performing homes Australia needs.

Download the ASBEC Communique here.

ASBEC is committed to improving gender equality across the construction industry. We also know that more women are needed to help achieve the clean energy transition our built environment needs.

The ASBEC Women in Construction Future Leaders Pilot aims to research the current participation rate of women in key member organisations, learn from existing women in construction programs and identify the key barriers to retaining women in construction.

ASBEC welcomes input from women who currently work or have previously worked in the Construction Industry. The Construction Industry encompasses the residential, commercial, or industrial building and construction; or civil and infrastructure construction. This includes building designers, engineers professionals, builders, developers, project managers, trades, certifiers, associations, administration and building product suppliers to the construction industry.

You can access the preliminary survey here.

ASBEC encourages respectful conversations on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament as part of our enduring commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We acknowledge the Uluru Statement from the Heart, its principals and sentiment. We recognise the Uluru Statement as an invitation to amend our Constitution to provide for the Voice.

ASBEC supports the principles of the Voice and the desire of First Nations people to have their position heard on legislation, policy and programs that impact them.

By enshrining the Voice in our Constitution, Australians have the chance to make a significant, permanent step toward genuine reconciliation.

Canberra, Thursday 1 December 2022: The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has appointed a new president, sustainability champion Tanya Cox, as celebrated architect Professor Ken Maher AO steps down after seven years in the role.

Ms Cox is a non-executive director of various ASX-listed and unlisted boards. She is the former chair of the Green Building Council of Australia and World Green Building Council and was chief operating officer of Dexus Property Group for 11 years.

The official appointment was made at ASBEC’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 1 December 2022 after a lengthy executive search.

“ASBEC plays a unique role as the peak collaborative forum for organisations that champion sustainable, productive and resilient buildings, communities and cities,” Ms Cox says.

“I am honoured to take on the position of chair as ASBEC pursues an ambitious agenda. Supporting the transition to an integrated, sustainable and climate resilient built environment, strengthening regulations and ensuring all Australians have healthy and comfortable homes, offices and buildings are big challenges.

“These challenges will only be achieved through collaboration, and ASBEC’s role has never been more central to Australia’s future as a low-emissions nation.”

Ms Cox pays tribute to the “extraordinary” work of outgoing president Professor Ken Maher, who was appointed to the role in February 2015.

“Ken has been a strong and steady voice for sustainability in the built environment. Under Ken’s wise council, ASBEC’s influence and impact has steadily grown,” Ms Cox says.

“Ken’s commitment to collaboration has expanded ASBEC’s membership into new areas, bringing together an array of industry sectors with community advocates to push for stronger building standards, champion net zero targets and lay the foundations for sustainable homes.”

Among ASBEC’s achievements during Professor Maher’s tenure are ground-breaking research and reports that strengthened the case for net zero buildings, including Low Carbon High Performance (2016), Built to Perform (2018) and Every Building Counts (2019).

Under Professor Maher’s guidance, ASBEC’s advocacy informed the national Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings and helped upgrade energy efficiency standards in the National Construction Code. He also forged a strong research partnership between ASBEC and the CRC for Low Carbon Living.

“Ken leaves ASBEC in a position of strength, with an engaged board of industry leaders, a growing network of members and a clear strategy as we drive change in the decade of decarbonisation,” Ms Cox concludes.

Download the ASBEC media release here.

ASBEC, in partnership with a broad coalition of over 100 building industry, community, health, environment and climate sector organisations has called on Building Ministers to adopt increased energy efficiency requirements for new homes at the Building Ministers’ Meeting.

Making homes more energy efficient will benefit all Australian households. It will lead to significant and ongoing energy bill savings for households, better health outcomes, better resilience to weather extremes, cuts to our emissions and less need to invest in expensive generation and network augmentation. It will help make the transition to renewable energy faster and cheaper. Delay will cost Australians and the economy billions of dollars. Increasing the minimum energy efficiency standards of new homes is needed as soon as possible.

It has been over a decade since Australia meaningfully increased the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes in the National Construction Code. In that time, we have fallen further behind international standards while the need to reduce emissions has grown even more urgent.

As a result, new home buyers are now more exposed to the impacts of the current energy crisis and paying more than they should to keep their homes warm in winter and cool in summer.

We call on Building Ministers to adopt 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.

The proposed energy provisions follow a collaborative 3-year process led by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), consistent with the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings agreed by all Commonwealth, state and territory energy Ministers in 2019. The ABCB’s proposals for new homes include raising the minimum thermal performance standard from 6 to 7 stars (NatHERS equivalent) and the introduction of a ‘whole -of-home’ energy budget for fixed appliances (heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, and pool and spa pumps).

Our organisations recognise and strongly support the intent of these proposed reforms – as Ministers noted after their meeting in March 2022, these improvements are part of a broader national effort to manage cost of living pressures for households, while making a strong positive contribution to decarbonising our economy.

Lifting energy performance standards will:

• Cut energy bills. The Australian Building Codes Board finds that households will be up to $576 a year better off compared to business as usual. Savings on energy bills will be larger than the home loan cost of upfront improvements.
• Cut emissions by up to 15 million tonnes to 2030, and 78 million tonnes to 2050 nationally. Make homes healthier and more resilient. Houses that are too cold contribute to 6% of deaths in Australia – double the rate in Sweden. There were
  36,000 deaths in Australia associated with the heat between 2006 and 2017, with heat waves predicted to worsen.
• Make energy more affordable for all by managing energy demand and reducing the cost of grid upgrades by up to $12.6 billion to 2050. Efficiency is a key measure to reduce the impact of volatile wholesale prices on households.
• Reduce poverty and inequality as people living in all new social housing and private rental will benefit from cheaper energy bills and better health outcomes.

All Australian homes should be safe, healthy, comfortable and affordable. Now is the time to lift energy performance standards for new homes.

Read the joint statement here

Read the media release here

After 2 years of development and consultation, Infrastructure Western Australia has tabled WA’s first State Infrastructure Strategy in Parliament, laying the foundations for infrastructure planning, delivery and management for the next 2 decades. 

Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow outlines the state’s significant infrastructure needs and priorities. It provides a long-term vision and infrastructure outlook underpinned by 6 strategic opportunities and 10 strategy objectives and is divided into broad infrastructure types categorised as 7 cross-cutting themes and 9 infrastructure sectors. It reaches across WA’s 10 regions, to identify both build and non-build solutions such as policy reforms and priority projects and programs.

The Strategy recommends that the WA Government embed a target of net zero emissions by 2050, as well as interim emissions reduction targets, in the activities of government and industry. 

Throughout the development of the Strategy and its consultation process, a number of core themes were identified that underpin Infrastructure WA’s (IWA) recommendations:

• Managing demand for infrastructure through prevention, early intervention and pricing
• Improving the quality and consistency of strategic infrastructure planning and processes
• Addressing climate change
• Implementing data sharing and other tools to support infrastructure planning and investment decision making 
• Optimising the existing infrastructure asset base
• Identifying major infrastructure project and programs.

More information here

The mandate of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has been expanded under new regulations introduced by the Australian Government.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency Amendment (Powering Australia) Regulations 2022 will allow the agency to support energy efficiency and electrification technologies. These new regulations replace the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Amendment (Clean Energy Technologies) Regulations 2022 introduced by the previous government.

The earlier regulations broadened ARENA’s power to support clean energy technologies including carbon capture and soil carbon, as well as blue hydrogen. ARENA is no longer able to support these negative emission technologies as a consequence of the new regulations.

More information here

A nationwide approach to urban growth and resilience is needed, confirms the latest State of the Environment Report. 

Produced every five years by the Federal Government, the report aims to help shape policy and action, influence behaviours, and assess our actions as stewards of the Australian environment.

The 2021 report includes an ‘Urban’ chapter, which explores the liveability, sustainability and resilience of Australian cities, towns and villages. Key findings include:

• Growing populations, resource demand and travel are the main pressures on our urban areas
• The COVID-19 pandemic affected our urban environments in both positive and negative ways
• Livability varies between different urban areas and within different parts of our cities and towns
• A nationwide approach to urban growth and resilience is needed

More information here

The International Energy Agency has released a discussion article on how to design awareness and behaviour change campaigns to motivate people to reduce their energy use. 

The article outlines how the choice of message, the tone, how the campaign is designed and the transmission channels, can all fundamentally affect the resulting impact on behaviour. It identifies four key concepts for success:

1. Getting the message right
2. Getting the message across
3. Combining information with behavioural insights
4. Campaigns for a crisis context

The article also highlights successful case studies from across the globe and includes links to additional resources. 

More information here

New research from the City of Melbourne has found that simple changes to ventilation systems can significantly decrease the transmission of COVID-19 and reduce energy consumption in office buildings.

The BREATH pilot tested and evaluated three different ventilation systems in a vacant CBD building over three months: displacement ventilation air conditioning, in-ceiling air filters and natural airflow through open windows. 

Key findings include:

• All three ventilation systems reduced the potential transmission of airborne viruses when compared to standard ceiling-based air conditioning, improving safety for office workers. 
• Displacement ventilation air conditioning – which supplies air from floor level – was the most effective and energy efficient system tested, reducing COVID-19 transmission by 83%, while also reducing energy consumption by 20%. 
• Displacement ventilation is the most expensive to install, but there are no additional ongoing maintenance costs. 
• In-ceiling air filters reduced virus transmission by 49% but resulted in a minor increase in energy consumption. 
• Opening windows reduced virus transmission by 53% , but increased energy use by up to 20% with seasonal temperature variations.

The BREATH project was led by City of Melbourne and delivered in partnership with Cbus Property, University of Melbourne, AG Coombs, SEED Engineering and Westaflex, with peer review by AURECON.  

More information here

The Victorian Government has released its Gas Substitution Roadmap, which outlines how the state will use  energy efficiency, electrification, hydrogen and biogas to drive down bills and cut carbon emissions.

The release of the Roadmap is an important milestone on the path towards decarbonising the energy supply of our buildings. The Roadmap builds upon the $1.6 billion investment in Victoria’s clean energy future, committed in 2020, and is complemented by $331 million in the 2022-23 State Budget, to reduce emissions, secure Victoria’s energy grid and drive down energy prices. 

Particularly welcome is the removal of planning requirements for new homes to connect to gas, giving new home-owners the opportunity to go all-electric and save around $1,800 a year as well as avoid emissions from burning gas and improve indoor air quality. 

Priorities outlined in the Roadmap include:

• Transition Government’s own gas use
• Deliver more all‑electric precincts: Remove regulatory barriers in 2022
• All electric, efficient homes: Promote consumer choice, help households upgrade to efficient electric appliances, lower energy bills and improve efficiency of homes
• Industry: Continue to assist industry to improve efficiency, electrify and prepare to take up alternative gases
• Build skills and capability
• Unlock renewable gases and scale up hydrogen industry 
• Maintain gas reliability throughout transition: New investments from 2023, new market mechanisms from 2025

More information here

New analysis by the International Energy Agency has shown that stronger efficiency measures can reduce energy bills, fuel imports and greenhouse gas emissions quickly and significantly.

According to the new IEA analysis, The value of urgent action on energy efficiency, doubling the current global rate of energy intensity improvement to 4% a year has the potential to avoid 95 exajoules a year of final energy consumption by the end of this decade compared with a pathway based on today’s policy settings. That level of savings would reduce global CO2 emissions by an additional 5 billion tonnes a year by 2030, about a third of the total emissions reduction efforts needed this decade to move the world onto a pathway to net zero emissions by mid-century, as laid out in IEA’s Net Zero Roadmap.

The new IEA analysis shows the significant opportunities for rapid energy efficiency gains in all sectors of the global economy. Most of these opportunities involve readily available technologies and would fully pay for themselves through lower running costs. 

More information here

Australia has issued a joint statement with 25 other countries stressing the importance of energy efficiency for addressing energy supply issues, rising inflation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The statement was one of the major outcomes of the Global Conference on Energy Efficiency organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Sønderborg, Denmark. Signatories to the statement said they would seek opportunities for exchange and collaboration, welcoming an action plan that sets out key principles and best-practice policies for stronger energy-efficiency actions.

More information here

A broad coalition of peak bodies today called on the Wednesday crisis meeting of Australia’s energy ministers to work together both on immediate responses to calm chaos and on longer term measures to moderate energy prices and cut emissions by improving supply and lifting demand-side efficiency, energy management and fuel switching.

The coalition represents businesses of all sizes, consumer advocates, the community sector, environmental advocates, farmers, investors, the property sector, professional bodies, researchers and Australia’s energy and energy management sectors.

Wholesale electricity and gas prices and futures are soaring to unprecedented levels that threaten intense and lasting pain for households and businesses. This rapid rise is also causing chaos among smaller energy retailers, adding to immediate risks.

Recently announced increases to the electricity Default Market Offer are just the start of the energy price rises facing households. Meanwhile those businesses unable to pass on their costs fear mounting cost pressures will threaten their viability, and some with immediate exposure have already been forced to temporarily shut down operations as prices spike.

There are some short term causes at play, including the unavailability of ageing and unreliable coal generators and the onset of winter peak demand for heating. However, high international prices for coal and gas are the biggest factor and they are likely to be sustained for years to come.

We are encouraged by national Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s early push to bring his State and Territory counterparts together this week. The response they forge jointly should be collaborative, balanced and staged.

A collaborative response between the Commonwealth, States and energy stakeholders is needed because no one player holds all the powers, resources and information to resolve this crisis. Industry and community leaders can bring expertise, urgency and goodwill to the table and we ask energy ministers to work with us. Working together and being transparent will give us all the best chance of success.

A balanced response will address both the supply and the demand sides of this crisis. Energy supply is essential, including behind-the-meter solar and storage accessible to all. But final energy costs depend not just on the price of energy, but how much energy households and businesses have to use to meet their needs. A long-standing lack of investment in energy efficiency, energy management and fuel switching has left Australians more vulnerable both to high prices and to extreme weather. Demand-side investments don’t just pay off through lower individual bills. They deliver improved health and higher energy productivity, reduce the need for new supply-side investment, and help us reach our emissions goals.

A staged response is essential because this crisis includes both acute price pain and the likelihood of chronic high prices thereafter. Only a handful of measures are likely to help in the short term and they are unlikely to be sustainable. Accelerating our clean energy transition in a fair and inclusive way will ultimately deliver durable help, but while that requires immediate action it will largely impact the medium term. A faster buildout of large-scale renewables and transmission makes all the sense in the world, as does a speedier move from natural gas to alternatives from electrification (like efficient reverse cycle air conditioning in households) to biogas (like captured landfill gas running brick kilns) to hydrogen (like green hydrogen for essential chemical products) as appropriate in different contexts. Actually making this acceleration work will be complex, requiring reforms and coordination across multiple jurisdictions and both public and private investments.

While all short term options should be evaluated, financial support to the most vulnerable energy users appears essential. Priority should be given to:

• Low-income households, including through increasing income support payments and more adequate and responsive energy concessions; and
• Those businesses who are coming out of contract or exposed to spot energy prices; unable to pass increased costs on; and sufficiently energy intensive for these cost increases to threaten business continuity.

Broader reforms such as a lift in income support payments would reduce the need for emergency energy support payments.

Without urgent action, this winter will be a difficult one for energy users and the next few years may not be much easier. We are confident, however, that Australia’s governments can alleviate this pain and build a stronger, more affordable and clean future if they work together and draw on the expertise and goodwill around them.

Innes Willox, Chief Executive, Ai Group

Jarrod Leak, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP)

Emma Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, ACT Council of Social Service

Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Conservation Foundation

Cassandra Goldie, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Council of Social Service

Anna Crabb, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Energy Foundation

Anne Martinelli, Interim Executive Director, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council

Kane Thornton, Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council

Sarah Toohey, Chief Executive Officer, Community Housing Industry Association

Luke Menzel, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Efficiency Council

Michael Luddeni, Chief Executive Officer (Acting), Engineers Australia

Davina Rooney, Chief Executive Officer, Green Building Council of Australia

Nicholas Burt, Chief Executive, Facility Management Association of Australia

Dr Rowan Bedggood, Chair, Group of Energy Efficiency Researchers (GEER) Australia

Housing for Health Incubator

Rebecca Mikula-Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Investor Group on Climate Change

Tony Mahar, Chief Executive Officer, National Farmers’ Federation

Emma Greenhalgh, Chief Executive Officer, National Shelter

Joanna Quilty, Chief Executive Officer, New South Wales Council of Social Service

Douglas McCloskey, Program Director, Energy + Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program, Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Kate Doyle, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Renew

Dr Saul Griffith, Founder, Rewiring Australia

Ross Womersley, Chief Executive Officer, South Australian Council of Social Service

Gavin Dufty, General Manager – Policy and Research, St Vincent de Paul Society

Adrienne Picone, Chief Executive Officer, Tasmanian Council of Social Service

Ben Oquist, Executive Director, The Australia Institute

Emma King, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Council of Social Service

Louise Giolitto, Chief Executive Officer, Western Australian Council of Social Service

Australia’s first certified Green Star Home shows that comfortable, resilient, electrified homes are possible now. It is also the first home to demonstrate the benefits of combining Green Star Homes and Passive House certifications.

Located in Sydney’s north, the home belongs to former Australian Passive House Association Chair Chris Nunn and his family. It is designed using the IPCC’s Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario, which is based on approximately 4 degrees of global warming by 2100.

Key features of the home include:

• A 21-point resiliency plan covering measures from a green roof, roof shape, solar, and a solar battery.
• Passive House essentials including double glazing, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, plus fixed and automated external shading

The home demonstrates that the Green Star Homes standard and PassivHaus Certification are highly complementary. When combined, the PassivHaus Certification takes care of indoor air quality, thermal comfort and energy efficiency, then Green Star Homes adds the climate resilience, water efficiency, non-toxic materials, electrification and daylight criteria.

More information here

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released the first stage of the National Construction Code 2022 (NCC 2022).

This first stage release contains most of the amendments finalised for the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, including:

• New liveable housing features to assist people with disability and through more stages of life
• An improved volume and clause structure to improve consistency and useability, including a new ABCB Housing Provisions Standard
• New lead-free requirements for plumbing products to improve the quality and safety of drinking water
• New fire safety provisions for early childhood centres and primary schools in multi-storey buildings
• New bushfire protection measures in Class 9 buildings, and
• A range of improvements to the fire safety, weatherproofing, and waterproofing requirements.

The final version of energy efficiency and condensation mitigation amendments are being finalised for the second stage release of NCC 2022. ABCB expects to finalise these amendments by July 2022 following consideration by states and territories.

The second release of NCC 2022 will be a complete and final version of the next edition of the NCC, including these amendments, transitional arrangements, and state and territory variations.

Practitioners can expect to see the second release of NCC 2022 Stage 2 Preview in late August 2022.

More information here

The UK Green Building Council has released a guide to accelerate industry action on Commercial Retrofits.

Delivering Net Zero: Key Considerations for Commercial Retrofits provides practical advice to support the significant efforts needed to achieve the UK’s net zero ambitions, based on established industry thinking and discussions with built environment professionals.

The guide summarises the fundamental considerations for retrofit projects to support the drive towards net zero carbon in the nation’s existing commercial building stock. It includes:  

• Definitions for light and deep retrofits   
• 10 key considerations for net zero carbon focused retrofits projects to support net zero pathways and goals 
• Real-world case studies, exemplifying the importance of these considerations and the benefits low carbon focused retrofits can have in the advancing net zero goals. 

This foundation guidance sets out to address the issue of establishing a level of consistency, but UKGBC will be producing further guidance to support the industry, focusing in more detail on the practical implications of achieving net zero focused commercial retrofits.

More information here

Making new Australian buildings more energy efficient will not only save homeowners hundreds of dollars every year in energy bills but would help cut emissions and address climate change, finds a recent report by Climate Council.

Tents to Castles: Building energy efficient, cost saving Aussie homes suggests that living in a 7-Star, all-electric house in any capital city in Australia would save occupants on average $450 per year on heating and cooling costs compared to the current building standard of 6-Stars.

The report calls for a strengthening of the National Construction Code to increase the 6-Star standard to 7-Stars, and stresses that any delay in doing so will lock in higher bills and emissions for many years.

Read more here

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has called for an urgent review of heatwave planning with the release of its Heat Smart Resilience Framework that outlines 25 recommendations for building resilience to extreme heat.

To build resilience to heatwaves, the Framework suggests that Australia must:

• Measure heat impacts: As identified by the NSW Treasury the impacts of heat are known to be significant but are not well measured. Understanding the scale and nature of the issue is critical to ensure we can address it appropriately.
• Reduce urban heat via the planning system: Reduce the severity of heatwaves by reducing emissions and mitigating urban heat islands via the state planning system. Urban design must go beyond urban greening to include measures such as orientation, cool materials, water, and airflow.
• Build homes and infrastructure to function in a hotter climate: Ensuring new housing is designed for future climates and can maintain survivable temperatures without air-conditioning as an important first step. It is also important to improve the heat-resilience of existing housing stock and critical infrastructure.
• Heatwave planning and preparedness campaigns: Annual campaigns to ensure local organisations and communities have the knowledge and tools to prepare for extreme heat events and adapt (their business operations and homes) to a hotter climate.
• Practical assistance for at-risk communities: Heat in Western Sydney can reach life-threatening levels in summer. It is important to support the community by providing free heat refuges, community transport, check-ins for vulnerable individuals, and energy rebates for those most at-risk.

More information here

The Green Building Council of Australia has released a roadmap to decarbonise Australia’s precincts – setting a net zero goal for new precincts by 2030, and existing precincts by 2050.

Climate Positive Roadmap for precincts defines the steps that need to be taken by all stakeholders to achieve the decarbonisation targets including:

• embedding climate positive pathways into all stages of planning
• committing to fossil-fuel-free precincts and ensure policy and planning processes support this ambition
• removing the barriers to low carbon precinct energy solutions
• driving lower upfront carbon in materials and construction activity
• committing to delivering low carbon buildings in all precincts.

The roadmap builds on significant industry consultation and feedback on the discussion paper released in October 2021. GBCA aims to update the roadmap every one to two years as new information is available, practices change, or with other areas of opportunity.

More information here

A new assessment released by Climate Action 100+, a global investor engagement initiative on climate change, has shown some corporate climate progress against key climate indicators, but finds much more action is urgently needed from focus companies to support global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.

The assessment is the second round of Net Zero Company Benchmarks to be released by Climate Action 100+ since March 2021. 166 companies on the initiative’s focus list were measured on their progress against the initiative’s three engagement goals and a set of key indicators related to business alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The assessments indicate overall year-on-year improvements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving climate governance, and strengthening climate-related financial disclosures Key findings include:

• Globally:
  • While 69% of focus companies have set commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, overall Benchmark finds companies have failed to show progress across key indicators, including disclosure of 1.5°C-aligned medium-term emissions targets and capex strategies.
  • Benchmark sets urgent engagement priorities for USD 68 trillion investor-led initiative ahead of U.S. and European proxy season and as it marks the final year of its first phase.
  • Investor signatories will give focus companies another chance to step up action in 2022, with another round of assessments planned for later in the year.
• Australasia:
  • As a group, Australian companies have performed relatively better on net zero targets for 2050 or earlier, governance, and disclosure of their target plans. This is important progress.
  • However, 12 of the 14 Australian focus companies’ emissions reduction targets are not aligned with limiting global heating to 1.5°. This is very alarming to investors in these companies.
  • Australian companies do very poorly on scope 3 emissions, and Australian and global companies all do extremely poorly on allocating capital expenditure in line with their climate targets or the goals of the Paris agreement. 

More information here

The ACT Government has launched its Home Energy Support Program – a $50 million commitment over four years to improve building efficiency and sustainability for social and public housing, low-income owner occupiers and low performing rental properties.

The $3.1 billion first stage of the program has commenced and will provide rebates of up to $2,500 to eligible lower income homeowners to install rooftop solar. By mid-2022, the program will expand to include an additional rebate of up to $2,500 for other energy efficient products, including heating and cooling systems, insulation, and hot water heat pumps.

More information here

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released a guide outlining the steps involved in delivering an all-electric new building and the types of technologies that can be used today to replace natural gas systems with electric solutions.

A Practical Guide to Electrification lays out the case for electrification and dispels the myths. It covers how to eliminate fossil fuels for space heating, hot water, and cooking in new buildings. A second guide will be published focusing on existing buildings. 

A Practical Guide to Electrification was developed in partnership with Cundall and supported by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and NSW Government. 

More information here

Bringing together all three levels of Government, the South East Queensland City Deal has been signed, launching a joint commitment to deliver $1.8 billion worth of infrastructure investment to the region. 

The City Deal is supported by a $667.77 million investment from the Commonwealth, $618.78 million from the state and $501.62 from the SEQ Council of Mayors, plus $75 million from industry. 

The SEQ City Deal will deliver 31 commitments to achieve four key objectives: 

1. Accelerating future jobs across SEQ
2. A faster, more connected SEQ region
3. A more liveable SEQ
4. Create thriving communities

Key projects in the City Deal include: 

• $450 million for the Gabba Brisbane Metro Station, to deliver enhanced transport connections and support the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games; 
• $285 million for the SEQ Liveability Fund to deliver projects of social and economic priority for the councils; 
• $150 million for the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund to support capital projects that promote and grow the region’s innovation economy; 
• $105 million for resource recovery infrastructure to develop a region-wide approach to managing waste and progress the region to a circular economy; 
• $70 million for digital connectivity projects to support place based telecommunications infrastructure and improved digital connectivity.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia has released a new report offering a national view of the diverse strengths and infrastructure gaps facing Australia’s regions in order to enable the identification of priority areas for future planning and analysis.

The Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps report provides government, industry, businesses and the community with a guide to support record migration and further growth, off the back of the 200 per cent increase in growth in Australia’s regional areas in 2019/2020. This regionalisation trend has continued with the first quarter of 2021 being the largest internal migration on record.

These region-specific reports provide a lens to highlight and understand opportunities and prioritise investment. The report also looks for commonalities to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing to enable proactive planning led by local communities.

Published alongside an interactive map, the report is a starting point for discussion between parties to inform further planning, policy and investment solutions. Further consultation is being encouraged with submissions open until 29 April 2022.

More information here

Despite the best of intentions, current approaches to achieving net-zero in the infrastructure sector will only get us so far. A new approach is required if we want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, finds a recent report by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and Mott MacDonald.

Place-based approach to net-zero calls for a systemic, networked approach to accelerating decarbonization focused on towns, cities and regions rather than just assets, sectors and materials.

The report calls for collaborative change across a number of areas including:

• For sustainability and climate action to be a core objective of the infrastructure reform and business case.
• Embedding of quadruple bottom line outcomes in infrastructure planning from earliest possible opportunity.
• Accelerating our transition to more collaborative ways of working through both contracts and culture and commit to putting people and places at the heart of what we do.
• Investing in capability, resources and systems to enable an accelerated transition to net-zero
• Leading with good governance that enables collaborative planning, delivery and decision-making across every town, city and region.

More information here

The Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources’ (DISER) has committed to delivering the inaugural Australian Energy Employment Report (AEER), which will constitute the nation’s first energy workforce survey. 

The AEER seeks to improve government and industry understanding of jobs in the energy sector as well as the people in those jobs and their skills. The Report will also forecast where and what these jobs will be in the future.

A coalition of leading industry groups have welcomed DISER’s commitment to delivering the report. In October 2021 the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) and UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), with the support of the Australian Power Institute (API), Clean Energy Council (CEC) and Ai Group, released a RACE for 2030 report on Developing the future energy workforce that recommended the biennial release of the AEER. 

More information here

The 2021-22 Budgets delivered by Australia’s Federal, State and Territory Governments have set yet another high watermark in infrastructure investments, finds Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s (IPA)  latest Australia Infrastructure Budget Monitor. 

IPA’s Budget Monitor found that in total, $248.0 billion was allocated in general government sector infrastructure funding over the four years to FY2024-25. This is $22.6 billion – or 10 per cent – higher than in the previous year’s Budgets.

NSW and VIC allocated the greatest share of their budgets towards infrastructure, with the two states combining for $175.8 billion in infrastructure funding over four years – over 70 per cent of the national total.

More information here

Climate change presents a grave and mounting threat to human wellbeing and a healthy planet, finds the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest Climate Report. 

Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability emphasises the need for urgent action, noting how actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks.

The report provides insights into nature’s potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people’s lives, highlighting how safeguarding and strengthening nature will be key to securing a liveable future. It also presents a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities. 

The report states that Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels, suggesting that there is a narrowing window for action. This key finding underlines the report’s emphasis on the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. 

More information here

Melbourne families could save $700 per year on energy bills by choosing a new home that doesn’t have a gas connection and opting for all-electric appliances instead, finds recent research from Renew and Environment Victoria.

The report, Creating Victoria’s First Gas-Free Suburbs, finds:

• For a 6-Star rated home without solar, choosing to be all-electric without a gas connection saves $735 per year on energy bills
• For a 7-Star rated home with solar and more efficient appliances, choosing to be all-electric without a gas connection saves $753 per year
• Victorian regulations are forcing many new homes to connect to the gas network, increasing household energy bills and emissions
• As a result, the Victorian gas network is expanding, tipping money into gas pipes that are likely to become stranded assets and creating pressure for environmentally destructive new gas supply projects

More information here

A legacy project of the CRC for Low Carbon Living, the Race to Net Zero Carbon guide brings together science based evidence on how the built environment can navigate urgently towards a net zero carbon future.

Race to Net Zero Carbon: A climate emergency guide for new and existing buildings in Australia builds on past work on strategies for sustainable low carbon design, the increasing cost effectiveness of both onsite and off-site renewable energy and places it in the context of ‘climate emergency’ thinking to engage built environment professionals in easy to use guidance towards net zero.

It takes a whole of life approach and includes both operational and embodied carbon in its guidance. It draws on Australian climate data and those from local tool managers like the widely recognised NABERS tool in establishing its benchmarks, targets and tools to deliver on its goals.

This guide is kept simple to be easily read and used and is a partner document to the accompanying book being published early 2022.

More information here

AIRAH has released the inaugural version of its AIRAH Resilience Checklist.

A resource aimed at improving the resilience of the built environment, the checklist provides considerable information on how buildings can be made more resilient in order to survive a world impacted by climate change.

Developed by the AIRAH Resilience Special Technical Group (STG), the checklist was produced through research and industry consultation. The aim was to encourage a greater focus on resilience in the built environment.

The AIRAH Resilience Checklist includes an eight-step process for developing a resilience action plan. The steps cover defining a resilience strategy, understanding the future climate, and understanding key risks to buildings. Other steps relate to how to design, engineer, install and manage for resilience.

The checklist also explores the concept of “Build Back Better”.

This new approach to resilience focuses on implementing positive social change and improving the community capacity by viewing resilience not merely as an outcome but also as a process in itself.

Rather than merely coping with or responding to potential extreme events or changing environments, resilience is viewed as continuous learning and growth, allowing us to make better, more informed decisions to improve the built environment.

More information here

Embodied carbon emissions in materials used in Australia’s building and construction sector are the next frontier to significantly reduce carbon emissions, according to a new report released by the CEFC.

The report, Australian buildings and infrastructure: Opportunities for cutting embodied carbon, was developed in collaboration with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) and provides practical guidance on how the building sector can reduce its carbon footprint through innovative approaches to new manufacturing materials and cutting-edge design.

It also helps quantify the decarbonisation challenges in the sector and identifies the solutions and opportunities for the sector to reduce its carbon footprint. Importantly, it outlines material and design initiatives that can reduce embodied carbon in the built environment.

The report finds that cost effective solutions can be implemented now to significantly reduce embodied carbon. This means that Australian developers and builders don’t have to choose between sustainability and saving on costs. The research shows that it is possible to achieve as much as 18% reduction in embodied carbon and save as much as a 3% reduction in material costs for typical building and infrastructure projects.

More information here

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment has released the findings of its Public Spaces during COVID-19 survey research, finding that people’s appreciation for public spaces didn’t fade when the restrictions were eased, with 45% of people responding that they spent more time in public spaces than before COVID-19.

The results were drawn from close to 4,000 responses across two surveys: May-August 2020 (approx. 1,850 responses) and November 2020-March 2021 (approx. 2,150 responses).

Local parks, walking tracks, beaches and foreshores were the most popular locations for those surveyed. More people were also discovering public spaces through the digital services provided by museums, libraries and galleries.

The research returned seven key insights:

1. Even as restrictions eased, people’s love for public spaces remained strong.
2. People want high-quality public space that’s easy to access.
3. People were walking and cycling more than before COVID-19.
4. More people felt less safe in public spaces, especially because of crowding.
5. More people discovered online services provided by public facilities during COVID-19.
6. People were socialising more in public spaces into the second year of the pandemic.
7. People’s use of local high streets has increased since the start of COVID-19.

More information here

The NSW Government has committed $4.8 million to the Accelerating Net Zero Buildings program – an initiative to boost the transition of non-residential buildings towards net-zero emissions.

Under this initiative, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) will investigate and develop a world-leading framework for measuring, benchmarking, and certifying emissions from construction and building materials.

Accelerating Net Zero Buildings will also include NABERS initiatives to drive new buildings towards high energy performance and reduce emissions in existing buildings.

The Accelerating Net Zero Buildings initiative has three different workstreams to help reduce carbon emissions in buildings across NSW: embodied carbon, energy starters, and new buildings.

This is a two-year program, scheduled to be completed by June 2023.

More information here

Green-rated office buildings in Sydney and Melbourne enjoy a premium on sales prices depending on their NABERS rating, a new report by real estate services firm Knight Frank has found.

Knight Frank’s new Active Capital report found that office buildings in Australia’s two largest cities with a NABERS Energy rating of up to 4.5 stars benefited from an 8% premium on sales price compared to unrated buildings, while those with higher ratings of 5, 5.5 or 6 stars saw a 18% increase.

In addition to green ratings, the model also reflected building attributes such as size, height, age, building grade, lease term and locational factors. Year of sale was also included to capture cyclical and other time-specific impacts on sales price.

Prime Central London office buildings were also analysed in the report, which found that buildings with a BREEAM Excellent rating enjoy a 10.5% premium on sales price compared to equivalent unrated buildings, while those with a BREEAM Very Good rating enjoy a 10.1% premium.

The high sales prices achieved by green office buildings across the globe and in different sized markets suggest a strong, global pattern between sustainability and value.

More information here

COP26, the UN’s global climate change conference, is due to be held in Glasgow in early November 2021. Many believe the event to be the world’s last best chance for climate action; 190 world leaders will discuss what needs to be done on top of the Paris Climate Agreement reached at COP21 in 2015.

Buildings account for over 50% of electricity use in Australia and almost a quarter of its emissions. The built environment presents some of the lowest cost – and largely untapped – emissions reduction opportunities.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), as the peak body of key organisations committed to a sustainable, productive, resilient built environment in Australia, urges the federal government to seize the unique opportunity the built environment offers to dramatically reduce carbon emissions in highly cost-effective ways that will also stimulate the economy.

In this policy platform for COP26, ASBEC recommends five practical policies across residential, commercial and public buildings that should be implemented by federal government to drive emissions reduction:

1. Give households the energy performance information they need to achieve
   healthy, affordable, comfortable homes
2. Demonstrate government leadership through high performing government
   buildings
3. Position Australia as a global leader in high performance building products and
   technologies
4. Provide economic stimulus by incentivising building upgrades
5. Deliver a Net Zero Carbon Ready building code and pathways to decarbonise
   building operations

ASBEC and its members call upon the Australian Government to adopt these practical recommendations. We look forward to working collaboratively with all spheres of government, towards facilitating the transition of Australia’s building sector towards an economy for the future. This will be critical in improving and sustaining the future liveability, productivity and sustainability of our communities and cities and pave the way for Australia to make a meaningful and successful contribution to COP26 discussions.

Download Five ways the built environment can help Australia transition to a net zero future here

In the lead up to COP26, the World Green Building Council published a report, Beyond Buildings, that argues for systemic and integrated infrastructure solutions to improve sustainability outcomes.

In Beyond Buildings: Why an integrated approach to buildings and infrastructure is essential for climate action and sustainability, the WorldGBC presents the interconnection between buildings and infrastructure, and argues that systemic and integrated solutions will unlock improved sustainability outcomes. They will also accelerate the change in trajectory of GHG emissions from the built environment.

Through presenting the roles that both the private and public sectors must play in terms of investment, policy and procurement, WorldGBC’s work identifies that a global framework of principles is necessary to accelerate sustainability performance across infrastructure.

WorldGBC calls for collaboration amongst all actors in the development of a framework of principles, noting that these principles should be adapted and verified at a local level in order to align with the 1.5° emissions trajectory and the United Nations´ SDGs, and be applicable to all asset types, to be co-created, agreed, and universally pursued.

Beyond Buildings is a call to action for the built environment industry and policy makers to respond to the climate crisis with both the building and infrastructure sectors acting together.

More information here

If Australia is to reach net zero emissions, a transformation of how companies set and act on net zero commitments is needed, finds a recent report from ClimateWorks – Corporate action for 1.5 degrees: Best practice for Australian company net zero commitments

After tracking net zero commitments of Australian companies for two years, ClimateWorks has found the majority of these commitments are not yet ambitious enough for Australia to meet international obligations, or play its part in limiting global temperature rise.

Analysis finds that:

• In their net zero commitments, companies consistently underestimate how significant organisational change needs to be from 2025 onwards if they are to be in line with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees
• Current net zero commitments are overwhelmingly focused on reducing emissions from everyday operations – but value chain, customer and financed emissions are often more significant
• Many net zero commitments are not backed by sufficient action
• Some commitments lack clarity on what emissions are included (and which aren’t), including how they are measuring reductions and against what
• Net zero commitments that rely heavily on offsets won’t be able to sustain net zero in the long term.

ClimateWorks also find that there are four principles to creating a ‘best practice’ net zero commitment aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius:

• A long-term net zero commitment by or before 2050
• At least one medium term target, that is appropriate and ambitious
• Addressing operational, value chain, customer and financed emissions
• Demonstrable, tangible near-term actions.

The report uses illustrative examples from the corporate sector to show that better quality commitments are possible, and that it matters now more than ever – while ambition is rising – to get net zero commitments right.

More information here

A recent report from ClimateWorks Australia shows that current state and territory interim targets combined translate to an estimated 37-42% reduction 2005 emissions Australia-wide by 2030. While this is short of what is needed, it is higher than Australia’s Paris commitment for 2030 of 26-28%  below 2005 levels.

State and territory climate action: Leading policies and programs in Australia details analysis of Australia’s state and territory climate targets, policies and programs that have been announced since the start of 2020.

Analysis finds that States and territories have allocated billions of dollars of funding to emissions reduction measures, and have also made significant and inventive regulatory and legislative changes. Some examples of targets and policies that directly target emissions reductions include:

• In buildings, Australia is leading the world on solar uptake, with increased action in energy efficiency and electrification. Modeling also showed a 44-49% improvement in residential building energy performance this decade to align with the Paris Agreement.
• In electricity, state and territory targets translate to a 55% renewable energy target Australia-wide by 2030 and governments are taking substantial action to ensure their implementation. As of July 2021, renewable electricity projects in the pipeline equate to over 10,000 MW of new generation and 1,400 MW of new storage.
• In transport, the two most populous states have targeted 50% of new car sales being electric by 2030, which translates to an estimated 30% of new car sales Australia-wide. Multiple jurisdictions are also addressing public transport emissions, powering rail with renewable electricity and transitioning bus fleets to electric vehicles.
• In industry, and agriculture and land – the harder-to-abate sectors – governments are beginning to address emissions and institute policies that will drive the changes needed this decade.

The report shows that different state and territory actions are stronger in different policy areas. Governments – in Australia and around the world – have an opportunity to learn from and build on the progress of their counterparts, and collaborate to address the emissions reductions and economic transformations needed to achieve net zero emissions.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has announced the appointment of Alison Scotland as the organisation’s new Executive Director, effective from 1 November.

ASBEC President, Ken Maher, welcomed Alison’s appointment, saying it marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organisation.

“The Board is delighted to have secured a leader of Alison’s calibre to lead ASBEC into the 2020s.”

“Alison brings a wealth of experience in strategic engagement, a strong grasp of policy and advocacy, and a track record of delivering transformational programs of work for both public and private organisations.

“Alison’s previous position – in a senior management role at Standards Australia – gave her the opportunity to engage deeply right across the Australian built environment sector,” he said.

“The ASBEC Board is excited Alison will be channelling her passion for our industry, and her talent for engagement, coalition building and advocacy, into advancing ASBEC’s strategic priorities over coming years.”

The incoming ASBEC Executive Director, Alison Scotland, said she is honoured to take on the role.

“Having the privilege of being ASBEC’s Interim Executive Director for the past four months, I am thrilled to continue supporting ASBEC’s members to ensure the built environment achieves great things for Australia’s ongoing sustainability, economic prosperity and resilience.

“Collaboration is at the heart of what ASBEC does, bringing industry together with a broad cross-section of allies to drive change in the environmental performance of Australia’s built environment sector and successfully engage politicians and advisors at all levels to gain traction for ASBEC’s policy agenda,” Alison Scotland said.

“With the need for ambitious action on emissions reduction clearer than ever, the built environment sector presents some of the greatest opportunities for positive change. Leveraging the power of our collective voice has already achieved so much influence and impact, it is critical that we work together to build on this momentum.”

ASBEC President, Ken Maher, agreed.

“Our new Executive Director will be working with an engaged Board of industry leaders and a committed and growing network of members to execute our plan for continued positive impact in this critical period for the built environment sector.”

Download the media release here

Australia can capitalise on state and territory net zero momentum to keep the global 1.5 degree goal in play, suggests a recent report from ClimateWorks Australia.

But the State and territory climate action: Leading policies and programs report also shows Australia’s governments have developed different levels of expertise, and must now learn from each other – and work together – to deliver the coordinated action needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

The State and territory climate action report focuses on what subnational governments are doing and can do to drive emissions reductions across the economy. It assesses their policies and programs against net zero pathways and benchmarks that represent the scale of action needed.

To meet the Paris goals, ClimateWorks benchmarks see Australia reduce total emissions by 48-74 per cent below 2005 levels; renewables generating 70-79 per cent of the country’s electricity; and electric vehicles reaching 50-76 per cent of new car sales.

More information here

AIRAH has unveiled the new, improved and updated FairAir website.

Developed by AIRAH, FairAir is designed to offer independent, substantial, and helpful information and advice to assist consumers and professionals make informed decisions about the appropriate air conditioning for their homes.

Based on input from users relating to their home heating and cooling requirements, FairAir can provide advice about the appropriate type, size and energy-efficiency rating for residential air conditioning.

The site also includes helpful tips on reducing a room’s cooling load, and on the energy efficiency, installation and maintenance of equipment.

More information here

ASBEC is among a coalition of leading industry groups and universities calling on governments to support the proposed Australian Energy and Employment Report, to ensure Australia is positioned to capture an energy jobs boom.

Yesterday, the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre published a report showing that the potential to grow Australian energy jobs is vast. Indeed, by some counts, up to 200,000 jobs could be created by 2030, with much of this growth fuelled by export opportunities for new energy products and services.

However, the report also found that current data around Australia’s energy workforce is poor, and a major new study is needed so that industry, government and education providers can avoid skills shortages and capture this economic opportunity as the energy sector continues to grow over the coming decade.

This finding from RACE for 2030 is timely, and action from government to commission the proposed Australian Energy and Employment Report is urgent. It will demonstrate the size and composition of Australia’s energy workforce, allowing industry, government and education providers to properly understand the current state of energy sector employment, consider future needs in this rapidly transforming sector, and ensure that we have the information we need to develop an appropriately sized and skilled energy work force for the 2020s and beyond.

This effort would represent global leadership, making Australia the first country to adopt the United States’ gold standard methodology for counting energy sector jobs, which many international experts believe should become the de facto standard for such studies around the world.

It will also take a holistic view of energy jobs in both SMEs and big business, providing granular detail on employment in established areas such as fuels, generation and networks, as well as emerging areas like storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, hydrogen and energy management, which are all playing an increasingly crucial role in Australia’s energy sector.

With Australia emerging from its first recession in 30 years, there is no time to waste. Prompt action from government will ensure that we have the information we need to capture this huge economic opportunity in our energy sector, for the benefit of all Australians.

Joint statement made by the:

• Australian Council of Trade Unions
• Australian Energy Council
• Australian Industry Group
• Australian Power Institute
• Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council
• Clean Energy Council
• Energy Efficiency Council
• Electric Vehicle Council
• Facility Management Association of Australia
• Green Building Council of Australia
• UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures

/ENDS

For further information contact:

Holly Taylor
Head of Projects
Energy Efficiency Council

0481 346 145
holly.taylor@eec.org.au

The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has released an updated edition of Your Home, an independent guide to designing, building or renovating homes to ensure they are energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and adaptable for the future.

The 6^th edition Your Home guide has undergone major technical and editorial updates, with DISER coordinating a team of building experts, scientific editors and graphic designers to update both the Your Home book and website.

The 71-chapter print edition contains new and updated content on:

• building in bushfire-prone areas
• passive house standards
• renewable energy systems and batteries
• condensation and airtightness
• energy-efficiency in apartments and common-area upgrades
• making homes resilient to a changing climate

The Your Home book includes 4 case studies, with additional case studies available online.

More information here

A coalition of nine industry peak bodies has called for the development of credible, government-endorsed, public information regarding the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the importance of indoor air quality.

A letter addressed to federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, has been signed by the Association of Consulting Architects; the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH); the Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors Association of Australia (AMCA Australia); the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE Australia & New Zealand); the Facilities Management Association of Australia (FMA); the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA); the Indoor Air Quality Association Australia (IAQAA); Master Plumbers; and Standards Australia.

The organisations, which participated in the COVID and Ventilation Roundtable in early September, have expressed the collective view that more substantial guidance on airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the importance of indoor air quality – endorsed by both government and industry – is vital for Australians to return to workplaces and other buildings confidently, safely, and sustainably.

As well as highlighting the issue’s importance, the group has offered to work with the government to develop advice around ventilation and COVID-19.

More information here

A new lifestyle TV show, Renovate or Rebuild, aims to crack open sustainable building options to a broad audience. It combines reality-TV with behavioural science by encouraging Australian homeowners to choose healthier and more energy efficient homes.

Renovate or Rebuild is a 60-minute lifestyle show where two teams compete to convince a family that they have the best solution to providing more space, comfort and reduced energy bills.

Team Renovate believe the family should renovate their existing home, while Team Rebuild think the family should knock down and rebuild.

In each episode viewers are taken on a journey through the design process as the teams juggle the challenges of meeting the clients brief and budget whilst aiming to create an amazing design for a home that is stylish, healthy, comfortable but also an energy efficient home.

Along the way they visit amazing homes to get some inspiration before pitching their design to the family.

The two solutions are judged by an expert panel on style, sustainability, and cost but ultimately the decision will come down to the family – will they renovate or rebuild?

The show features an all star cast of former contestants from Channel 9’s ‘The Block’ (Australia’s most popular reality TV show) and has all the hallmarks of compelling reality TV: it’s fun, with big, bold characters and a healthy dose of competition. What makes it different is its objective, to generate demand for energy efficient, healthy and comfortable homes.

According to the creator and Executive Producer of the show James McGregor, “if the Melbourne comedy festival and your favourite architectural design show had a baby with your all-time favourite contestants from ‘The Block’ it would look like Renovate or Rebuild!”

“The show is designed to teach you about important features of an energy efficient home, give you some amazing home design ideas and leave you with a big smile on your face at the end of every episode” James explains.

The show takes an edutainment approach to teach viewers about important concepts like passive solar design, insulation, energy efficiency and solar energy systems.

“We want people to get excited about things like insulation and high NatHERS ratings the same way they would get excited about a new kitchen benchtop”.

Renovate or Rebuild builds-on research undertaken in the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) in partnership with the NSW Government and the CSIRO.

“Key findings from the CRCLCL’s social research show that sustainability needs to be communicated in a mainstream way for it to be effective. Our goal with this TV show is to demystify the process of building or renovating an energy efficient home by communicating it in an engaging and entertaining format,” James McGregor said.

The show premieres on Channel 9Life, 4th October 2021.

More information here

The Green Building Council of Australia have released a paper on resilience in the built environment.

Future Focus: Resilience in the built environment explains the role of resilience as a response to the shocks and stresses impacting the built environment, outlines the key frameworks that are driving discussion and resilience thinking, and discusses the actions GBCA is taking to further grow industry’s understanding. It examines international and domestic frameworks driving resilience and discusses the actions that need to be taken today.

More information here

Ahead of COP26, a group of leading businesses and government networks have united as the #BuildingToCOP26 consortium to accelerate climate action and shape the agenda of the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day.

#BuildingToCOP26 is working together to halve the built environment’s emissions by 2030 and establish the built environment as a major solution provider to the climate crisis.  To do so, they have defined three outcomes for the sector:

1. All countries include full building decarbonisation targets, concrete policies and measures and related implementation mechanisms in their NDCs.
2. 1,000 cities and at least 20% of the largest built environment businesses by revenue committed to the UN’s Race to Zero.
3. The sector’s stakeholders unite behind a single voice and ambition towards shared goals: By 2030, 100% of new buildings must be net-zero carbon in operation and embodied carbon must be reduced by at least 40%, and by 2050, all new and existing assets must be net zero across the whole life cycle (see UNFCCC Human Settlements Pathway)

The Coalition is led by the World Green Building Council, the Resilience Shift, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, C40 Cities, and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC).

More information here

Households are better off with higher energy standards, finds a recent report by Renew.

With the National Construction Code set to be updated in 2022, Renew modelled the energy use, energy bills and upfront costs of homes to test the impact of better energy performance.

Modelling was conducted using business-as-usual homes with a range of scenarios that are under consideration for the 2022 NCC, as well as other efficient options such as all-electric homes. Analysis was undertaken for a typical medium-large sized detached home in four locations: Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.

The findings, contained in the new report Households Better Off: Lowering energy bills with the 2022 National Construction Code include:

• In all scenarios, improvements to energy efficiency meant lower bills and lower carbon emissions.
• In nearly all scenarios, improving standards meant more money in residents’ pockets on a monthly basis because energy savings were higher than increased mortgage repayment costs.
• Households choosing to use the savings of better home energy performance to pay off their mortgage faster can cut years off the life of their home loan.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia has released the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan, which provides a 15-year roadmap for infrastructure reform and investment.

The Plan aims to deliver infrastructure for a stronger Australia, and support national recovery from the still-unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, as well as bushfires, drought, floods and cyber-attacks that have tested the nation’s resilience in recent years.

It outlines specific reform priorities across the social infrastructure, water, transport, energy, waste and telecommunications sectors. Key themes in the 2021 Plan are:

• Adapting to change and uncertainty
• Harnessing transformative technology and digitalisation
• Delivering public value
• Embracing a diverse geography
• Providing minimum service levels that support quality of life for all
• Empowering customers and leveraging data

The Plan also recognises the opportunity of leveraging Australia’s built environment sector to support Australia’s transition to net zero. It proposes a range of practical measures aimed at encouraging building energy efficiency.

More information here

NatHERS has launched the new National Scorecard Initiative, which offers householders access to voluntary assessments on the energy performance of their homes.

The Initiative builds on the Victorian Government’s Residential Efficiency Scorecard Program, and is part of a joint initiative with the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

The new voluntary energy assessment will help Australian householders better understand their home’s energy performance, identify cost-effective upgrades to improve the comfort of their home, and help to reduce their energy bills.

Assessments consider the comfort of the home in hot and cold weather extremes, and the energy used by major fixed appliances such as air conditioners, heaters and hot water systems.

More information here

Today the Australian Building Codes Board released draft National Construction Code provisions on energy efficient residential buildings for public consultation. The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the release of the public consultation draft as an important step change towards more healthy and comfortable homes for Australian families.

Minimum energy efficiency standards for housing haven’t shifted substantially for over a decade. The proposed update is to ensure the National Construction Code meets the targets set out in the Australian Government’s Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

“More energy efficient houses provide a win-win-win opportunity in terms of jobs, energy savings and emission reduction and are essential as we progress towards a zero carbon future.” said ASBEC’s President, Professor Ken Maher AO.  “Australia’s homeowners and tenants need certainty that they are gaining the health, comfort, efficiency and environmental benefits that they could reasonably expect.”

“Low energy homes can provide great outcomes in terms of reducing energy bills and emissions, whilst also delivering much more,” said Professor Tony Arnel, Chair of ASBEC’s Building Quality Taskforce. “More energy efficient buildings offer more resilience to extreme weather, better comfort and reduce stress on the electricity grid.”

“At a time when bill savings and consumer empowerment are more important than ever, we welcome the Australian Building Codes Board’s actions to facilitate improved home energy for NCC 2022,” concluded Professor Arnel.

The research in ASBEC’s publication, Built to Perform, shows that delaying cost-effective changes to the Code by just three years (for example, implementing changes in the 2025 Code instead of 2022) could cost $2 billion in household energy bills between now and 2030. The delay would also lock in 9 million tonnes of emissions to 2030 and 22 million tonnes to 2050.

“If we are serious about reducing emissions, saving money and increasing resilience of our buildings, we need to continue the momentum towards stronger energy performance – and this 2022 step change for residential buildings is an important part of the process,” said ASBEC’s Interim Executive Director, Alison Scotland.

“Buildings offer one of the most cost-effective, jobs-rich opportunities for energy savings and emissions abatement, with broader benefits that we can’t afford to ignore.” said Prof Maher. “The Government’s commitment to energy productivity for households is the right priority right now and there is a big opportunity to do much more in coming years.”

Download the full ASBEC media release here

A recent report produced by Deakin University provides a picture of the circular economy landscape in Australia, with primary focus on the architecture, engineering and construction industry.

The Circular Economy in the Australian Built Environment: The State of Play and a Research Agenda is structured in five sections:

1. Overview of the architecture, engineering and construction industry in Australia in terms of its size, performance, environmental impact, and contribution to the Australian economy
2. Exploration of the characteristics of a circular economy
3. Description of the environment of circular economy application
4. Analysis of the Australian research and development ecosystem
5. Introduction of several potential research directions

The Report provides an up to date assessment of what research needs to be done and how industry might respond.

More information here

Without action, the share of Australia’s overall greenhouse gas emissions caused by embodied carbon in buildings could rise by over 50 percent between 2019 and 2050, finds a joint report by thinkstep-anz and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

Embodied Carbon & Embodied Energy in Australia’s Buildings highlights the increasing significance of embodied carbon and embodied energy in the building sector’s carbon footprint. The report compares the 2019 baseline year to a 2050 business-as-usual scenario to show what could happen without deliberate action on embodied emissions.

It finds that embodied carbon will replace operational carbon as the dominant source of building emissions as Australia’s electricity grid decarbonises.

The report outlines a range of supply side and demand side strategies to reduce embodied carbon and embodied energy. Both strategies are recognised as often complementary.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia has outlined practical steps to deliver infrastructure that is more resilient to threats such as bushfires, droughts, floods, global pandemic, and cyber-attacks, in new advisory papers, A Pathway to Infrastructure Resilience.

A Pathway to Infrastructure Resilience recommends a whole-of-system, all-hazards approach to resilience planning that focuses on strengthening an infrastructure asset, network and sector, as well as the place, precinct, city, and region that the infrastructure operates within.

It aims to create resilient communities that can resist, absorb, accommodate, recover, transform and thrive in response to the effects of shocks and stresses in a timely, efficient manner to enable sustainable economic, social, environmental and governance outcomes.

The steps proposed to improve resilience in response to all hazards and across sectors are informed by the latest thinking from over 600 experts. The recommendations are informed by The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangement, The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, the independent NSW Bushfire Inquiry and a series of 16 stakeholder workshops.

A Pathway to Infrastructure Resilience consists of two advisory papers:

• Advisory Paper 1: Opportunities for systemic change – identifies 10 directions for transformational and systemic change in infrastructure planning to achieve infrastructure for resilience.
• Advisory Paper 2: Guidance for asset owners and operators in the short term – identifies a series of short-term actions for asset owners and operators as the first steps towards this change.

More information here

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its latest report, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, which provides a comprehensive assessment of the physical science of climate change.

This report from the IPCC is Working Group I’s (WGI) contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (6AR). Working Group I assesses the physical scientific basis of climate change. Among other things it covers humans’ influence on the climate system, extreme weather, and the current and future state of our climate.

Key takeaways from the report include:

• Faster warming:
  • Unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C will be beyond reach.
  • Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1°C of warming since 1850-1900, and finds that averaged over the next 20 years, global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5°C of warming.
• Every region facing increasing changes
  • In the coming decades climate changes will increase in all regions. For 1.5°C of global warming, there will be increasing heat waves, longer warm seasons and shorter cold seasons. At 2°C of global warming, heat extremes would more often reach critical tolerance thresholds for agriculture and health, the report shows.
  • Climate change is intensifying the water cycle and affecting rainfall patterns
  • Coastal areas will see continued sea level rise throughout the 21st century, contributing to more frequent and severe coastal flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion.
  • For cities, some aspects of climate change may be amplified, including heat (since urban areas are usually warmer than their surroundings), flooding from heavy precipitation events and sea level rise in coastal cities.
• Human influence on the past and future climate
  • The report also shows that human actions still have the potential to determine the future course of climate.

IPCC has provided regional factsheets outlining the impacts of climate change specific to regions. View Australasia’s regional fact sheet here

More information here

A recent report from the Rocky Mountain Institute has highlighted low-cost and no-cost solutions for reducing embodied carbon in buildings during a project’s design and construction phases.

The report, Reducing Embodied Carbon in Buildings: Low-Cost, High-Value Opportunities, demonstrates how applying these solutions could deliver an embodied carbon savings potential of 24% – 46% at cost premiums of less than 1% in case studies of three common building types.

The report also explores how embodied carbon reductions can often:

• reduce material use and project costs,
• reduce energy consumption in raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation,
• help to meet green building certification requirements, and
• better position building owners for future code or policy changes that incentivize or require low embodied carbon.

The report provides specific recommendations to help architects, contractors, building owners, engineers, and others to reduce embodied carbon significantly at little to no additional up-front cost, using strategies and materials available today. The report also points to next-generation solutions that could drive even greater reductions.

More information here

In the wake of major NSW legislative and regulatory reforms to improve building quality and safety, three peak bodies have released a guide for design practitioners and engineers.

Consult Australia, Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects have joined forces to develop the Guide for design practitioners and engineers to help their members tackle the recent NSW Building Confidence reforms.

There are multiple new obligations on design practitioners, engineers and building practitioners throughout the life of a building under the NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (the D&BP Act) and the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021 (the D&BP Regulation).

The three peak bodies have worked closely with the NSW Government and authorities on the reforms which aim to ensure better compliance with the Building Code of Australia underpinned by higher quality design documentation in a positive step towards rectifying issues that have had significant negative impacts on consumers and building industry practitioners.

More information here

The International Energy Agency has released the report Empowering Cities for a Net Zero Future: Unlocking resilient, smart, sustainable urban energy systems.

Through more than 100 examples and case studies, the report illustrates the wide range of opportunities, challenges and policy solutions that can help city-level governments capture the significant value of efficient and smart digital energy systems. It provides actionable guidance on ways national governments can help cities overcome barriers to progress and accelerate clean energy transitions using digitalisation.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia has published new guidelines for the development and assessment of major infrastructure proposals. The 2021 Assessment Framework is a contemporary approach to guide infrastructure decision-making in Australia. It provides instructions on how to develop strong business cases and aims to streamline approval processes.

Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework sets out the criteria for assessing proposals for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List (Priority List), the national pipeline of investment priorities. The 2021 edition of the Assessment Framework was developed over an 18-month period in close consultation with key stakeholders, including a Reference Group made up of experts from federal, state and territory governments.

The 2021 edition includes broadened Assessment Criteria to allow for more holistic review of a proposal’s potential benefits, in addition to those that can be monetised through traditional cost–benefit analysis.

Key updates to the Assessment Framework include:

• New guidance on how to demonstrate strategic merit, quality-of-life impacts, meaningful stakeholder engagement activities, sustainability and resilience.
• A simpler, four-stage process that aligns with state and territory frameworks.
• A pragmatic approach for defining a base case.
• Recommending but not requiring at least two options and a base case in a business case.
• An updated CBA methodology.
• Four new technical guidelines to provide greater detail on: risk and uncertainty analysis; program appraisal; multi-criteria analysis and economic appraisal.

Stage 1 submissions are expected to adopt the new guidance immediately. Stage 2 and Stage 3 submissions are expected to align with the new guidance from 1 January 2022.

More information here

The NSW Government has announced a collaboration with KPMG to develop a construction assurance tool to help determine quality and trustworthiness of NSW residential buildings.

The Building Assurance Solution (BAS) will bring together the products and designs certificates of compliance for each building to create a digital DNA that will establish a trustworthy rating for individual buildings, so they can be compared like-for-like.

The tool aims to allow insurers to easily compare buildings so they can better price insurance for buildings and the practitioners who design and construct them.

The BAS tool will be implemented as part of the NSW Project Remediate program to create a single source of truth for replacement façade systems. Concurrently, KPMG will work with private sector companies to demonstrate the application of the BAS tool to their new projects.

More information here

A new national service that aims to support better planning and preparedness for climate and natural hazards, and better response and recovery to disasters has launched.

Established by the Australian Government in 2021, the Australian Climate Service’s work is guided by recommendations in the Royal Commission on National Natural Disaster Arrangements. The service is a partnership, made up of world leading science, information and expertise from the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The ACS will connect and leverage the Commonwealth’s extensive climate and natural hazard information into a single national view. It will work with customers to provide data and intelligence to support each phase of the national disaster continuum; Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Relief and Resilience.

More information here

As we move into the critical decade for climate action, the ambition of local governments across Australia towards significant emissions reduction in their communities make them the perfect partner to deliver a national net zero target well before 2050, suggests a new report from ICLEI and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy.

The report, State of play: Local governments and city networks accelerating climate action in Australia, finds planned large scale emission reduction schemes across 60 Australian LGAs have the potential to eliminate 88 million tonnes of CO2e. This local effort is almost the same as the 92 million tonnes in emission reductions envisaged by the federal government to meet its 2030 goal.

The top five emissions reduction projects for Australian Councils were identified as:

• Facilitating the planning and construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure by working with developers, owners of charging infrastructure and distribution businesses to remove the barrier of network availability.
• Deliver and facilitate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) across council and broader municipality, borrowing from models already successfully completed in most Australian states.
• Work with state government to ensure strict sustainability criteria is factored into planning processes accelerated by working regionally and through alliances or local government associations
• Work with waste management stakeholders to ensure organic waste diversion at municipal level
• Facilitate mode shift from private vehicles to alternative transport modes through installation of bike paths or public transit, incorporating education campaigns targeting key barriers to up take

ICLEI and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy call on the Prime Minister to work with Mayors to design a national cities emission reduction program, and calls upon Environment and Energy Ministers to invest into the local government sector in the areas of emissions reduction and climate adaptation.

More information here

New research from the Energy Efficiency Council, German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and adelphi has found that Germany and Australia have the opportunity to work together to ramp up the rate of improvement in the energy performance of existing buildings.

The report – Further, faster, together: Opportunities for collaboration between Germany and Australia on energy efficiency in buildings – was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

It found that Germany and Australia have complementary strengths on buildings policy and performance. Germany has an impressive track record on providing finance to support energy efficiency upgrades of homes through its KfW Bank. And Australia’s world leading National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) has helped drive significant improvements in the energy performance of the nation’s commercial buildings.

More information here

The South Australian Government has announced $5.5 million over four years for expanding the Greener Neighbourhoods program, which provides grants to local councils to improve the number and quality of urban street trees, trees in parks, and trees and shrubs contributing towards urban cooling and habitat creation.

The expanded program will also allow regional cities with a population of more than 10,000 to apply.

More information here

The World Green Building Council has released the Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2021 which highlights leadership action from Green Building Councils and the building and construction sector towards achieving total sector decarbonisation.

The report showcases action from the Green Building Council network including the 27 GBCs participating in WorldGBC’s global Advancing Net Zero project, as well as signatories to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

The report includes:

• Examples of leading GBC action, including a world map showing participation in the project and a timeline of milestones such as release dates for schemes and reports for the past year
• Net Zero trends & innovation on legislative and technological levels, and a myth buster section that addresses common misconceptions about net zero buildings.
• Success stories highlighting how Commitment signatories are embedding net zero buildings into their operations.
• A list of all current Commitment signatories, and a summary of highlights from the year.
• An update on WorldGBC global advocacy efforts in relation to COP26 climate action agenda, contributions to deliver COP26 programme, and how the building and construction sector can join the Race to Zero.
• Editorials from three GBCs on leadership in their markets: Hong Kong, Norway, and New Zealand.
• Thought pieces and examples of initiatives, projects and programmes from WorldGBC partners covering the increasing value proposition for net zero.

More information here

Australian property-hunters are increasingly valuing energy efficient homes, with close to three quarters of recent buyers saying an energy rating was important to them, according to a recent report by REA Group

REA Insights Energy Efficiency Housing Report analyses data from the 12 million Australians who visit realestate.com.au each month alongside data from the realestate.com.au April Residential Consumer Omnibus Survey (n= 1,353), to understand the supply and demand of energy efficient homes in Australia. The Report seeks to identify meaningful trends in sustainable and energy efficient homes to help customers, consumers and the broader industry make the most informed property decisions.

Key findings include:

• Energy efficient ratings and energy saving features are important to property seekers looking to buy, rent or build
• Solar power, energy efficient lighting, insulation quality and air flow are of high importance to those looking for a property
• Energy efficient appliances, position of the property relative to the sun, and rainwater tanks are also important to consumers.
• High development areas are the most energy efficient suburbs

More information here

Australia has received a mixed scorecard on infrastructure reform, according to recent analysis commissioned by Infrastructure Australia.

Infrastructure Australia commissioned EY to examine the progress of infrastructure reform since the release of the 2016 Australian Infrastructure Plan. The report finds that governments across Australia are at varying stages of progress against the reform recommendations in the 2016 Plan.

Of the 25 recommendations which were ranked as either high or moderate priority in the 2016 Plan, EY’s analysis found that:

• Progress has been ‘sporadic’ on implementation of eight recommendations
• Progress has been ‘mixed’ regarding implementation of sixteen recommendations
• No progress had been made on the recommendation 5.6 that the Australian Government continue providing incentives for state and territory governments to improve the efficiency of their balance sheets by recycling appropriate publicly owned assets.

More information here

The International Energy Agency has launched Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector, which offers a comprehensive study of how to transition to a net zero energy system by 2050 while ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies, providing universal energy access, and enabling robust economic growth.

The report sets out a cost-effective and economically productive pathway, resulting in a clean, dynamic and resilient energy economy dominated by renewables like solar and wind instead of fossil fuels. It identifies key pillars of decarbonisation, including energy efficiency, electrification, and renewables; and addresses sectoral pathways to net zero emissions by 2050, including the buildings sector.

More information here

A broad coalition of insulation, building and energy efficiency organisations released a joint Roadmap for quality control and safety in insulation installation to ensure that insulation is installed following best practice processes for quality control and safety. The roadmap sets out a series of actions to ensure that insulation is installed following best practice processes for quality control and safety.

Insulation is an essential component of a healthy, comfortable building. Adequate insulation can increase thermal comfort, lower heating and cooling bills, and reduce the prevalence of illness and death. Insulation needs to be properly installed in order to deliver its full value in both existing and new buildings.

The almost 40 organisations that developed and signed this roadmap are committed to working with governments to ensure that insulation is installed properly. The roadmap includes actions that industry commits to undertake, and recommendations for actions by governments and other organisations.

The roadmap sets out actions that include:

• Information and guidelines;
• Training and accreditation;
• Requirements for insulation installations supported by governments;
• Compliance associated with new buildings and major renovations; and
• Moving beyond an insulation-only approach.

The roadmap draws on the report Ensuring quality control and safety in insulation installation, which was written by the Energy Efficiency Council and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, and was jointly funded by the Government of New South Wales, the Government of Victoria, Insulation Australasia and the Insulation Council of Australian and New Zealand.

View the Roadmap here

Today the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) announced that its Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou, has been appointed CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR), and will conclude her tenure at ASBEC at the end of June 2021.

Paying tribute to Ms Toumbourou, ASBEC President Professor Ken Maher AO said: “Under Suzanne’s leadership, ASBEC’s impact, reach and productivity has grown immensely.  Suzanne has been outstanding in her roles with ASBEC over her almost 10-year tenure, and through her significant contribution to sustainability in the built environment.  She has leveraged the incredible collaborative spirit of ASBEC’s membership to build broad peak-level coalitions, bringing industry together with the community sector to push for improved building standards, and successfully engage politicians and advisors at all levels to gain traction for ASBEC’s policy agenda.”

“Suzanne has guided numerous projects that have had impact and influence in the sector. Most recently, in partnership with ClimateWorks Australia, Suzanne stewarded the delivery of Built to Perform, which informed the COAG Energy Council’s ‘Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings’, paving a cross-jurisdictional pathway for net zero buildings in Australia. She will be missed, and all of us at ASBEC congratulate her on her new appointment. I thank Suzanne for her enormous contribution to ASBEC’s work improving Australia’s current and future built environment, and am sure she will continue her wonderful contribution in her new role.”

Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s outgoing Executive Director said: “It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to work with ASBEC’s members over the past decade. We have achieved so much real impact together, from mapping the emissions reductions possibilities presented by our buildings and infrastructure to securing cross government support for improved energy performance measures in Australia’s Building Code. While I’m proud to have been part of the journey up to now, I know ASBEC’s members will continue to pursue their collective vision of a sustainable and resilient built environment in Australia.”

Professor Maher added “We are delighted to welcome Alison Scotland, former Senior Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Standards Australia, as ASBEC’s Interim Executive Director. Alison will work closely with Suzanne during an initial handover period, and continue in the role until later in 2021.”

He concluded: “Suzanne leaves ASBEC in an incredibly strong position, with an engaged Board of industry leaders, a committed and growing network of members, and a clear plan for continued positive impact in this critical period for the built environment sector. The Board looks forward to undertaking a full and thorough search for the individual that will lead ASBEC to continued success in the 2020s.”

Download the full ASBEC media release here.

A new study from Renew in Western Australia shows the financial benefits of going all-electric.

In 2018 Renew published Household Fuel Choice in the National Energy Market, a report on a comprehensive modelling and analysis project that considered purchase, installation, maintenance and operating costs over 10 years to determine what appliance and fuel choices led to lower costs for households in the southern and eastern states. This month, Renew published Affordable Energy Choices for WA Households, reporting on a similar project done for WA energy retailer Synergy looking at fuel choice for households in the South West Interconnected System.

This new study has similar findings to the earlier eastern states study:

• In most cases, when a gas appliance needs replacing, it’s more economic to replace it with an efficient electric appliance
• It’s always more economic to avoid a gas connection when building a new home and install efficient electric appliances
• Houses with rooftop solar are almost always better off with electric rather than gas major appliances

More information here

The Australian Government has announced the establishment of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

The agency aims to help support local communities respond to large-scale natural disasters and undertake new initiatives to manage the impact of future events and the changing climate. It will provide support to local communities during the relief and recovery phases following major disasters and provide advice to Government on policies and programs to mitigate the impact of future major disaster events.

The Australian Government has committed $600 million to a new program of disaster preparation and mitigation, managed by the new National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

The National Recovery and Resilience Agency will be led by Coordinator-General Shane Stone and bring together the former National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency and the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, including the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund.

The Agency will also take responsibility for supporting the long-term recovery of communities rebuilding after the recent storms and floods in New South Wales and Queensland and cyclones in West Australia.

More information here

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have launched Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy, which provides a roadmap to net-zero emissions and a climate resilient Victoria by 2050.

Along the path to net zero, the Government has set targets to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 28–33% by 2025 and 45–50% by 2030.

The Strategy outlines a five-point plan to securing Victoria’s net zero emission future, which include the following commitments relating to the built environment:

1. A clean energy economy

• • $1.6B clean energy package
  • $1.3B Solar Homes program for 778,500 households
  • $797M household energy efficiency package
  • $5.3B to construct more than 12,000 low-cost homes, all of which will meet 7-Star energy efficiency standards
  • $335M Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades program
  • Additional $60M to the Greener Government Buildings Program
  • $40M in energy efficiency upgrades for public health facilities
  • $10M Clean Economy initiatives to upskill and support workers to take on clean energy jobs

2. Innovation for the Future

• • Commitment to reduce energy costs and emissions by shifting from gas to electricity – A Gas Substitution Roadmap is being developed in consultation with stakeholders over 2021
  • $100M to support the uptake of zero emissions vehicles

3. Resilient farms and forests
4. Climate smart businesses and communities

• • Expanding the Victorian Energy Upgrades program to support small and medium enterprise adopt energy efficiency upgrades
  • $515 to deliver reform and transformation of the state’s waste and recycling system
  • $9.2M Solar on Public Buildings program
  • ResourceSmart Schools program
  • over $18B to expand and modernise the state’s public transport system

5. A climate resilient Victoria

More information here

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils has launched the Urban Heat Planning Toolkit to help local government strengthen their planning provisions to reduce the impacts of heat.

The toolkit focuses on strategies that can be implemented in new development and redevelopment, to reduce urban heat and help people adapt.

Local planning provisions are important mechanisms to influence built environment outcomes, and improved controls have the potential to reduce the impacts of urban heat.  However, this is a new and complex space. The toolkit identifies various design measures to reduce the impacts of urban heat, identifies how each measure works, summarises key evidence and notes limitations. Several case studies are included.

Three broad types of recommendations are made:

1. New LEP and DCP provisions. To raise the prominence of urban heat in LEPs and DCPs, it is recommended that specific urban heat provisions should be included.
2. Improvements to existing provisions. Where LEP and DCP provisions need to meet multiple objectives including addressing heat, it is more appropriate to build on existing provisions. Recommendations are made to improve many existing provisions including landscape, tree and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) provisions.
3. Topics beyond local planning controls. For example, BASIX governs energy efficiency and thermal performance for residential development.

More information here

Australia and New Zealand risk falling behind in the global race to attract private capital investment in net zero emissions industries and infrastructure, suggests new analysis by the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC).

Analysis by the IGCC shows the new US target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030 is now one of the strongest emissions reduction commitments amid the G20, only slightly behind what has been adopted by the United Kingdom and European Union (EU) nations. Japan and Canada, key trading partners and allies of Australia and New Zealand, also strengthened their emissions reduction goals for the end of the decade.

IGCC analysis covers and finds:

• National record on achieving past international emissions targets and current policy projections against existing 2025/30 targets: Independent analysis shows most countries have achieved their past emissions targets and are on track to achieve their 2025/2030 targets. Australia, South Korea, Mexico and the US are not yet on track to achieve the targets they committed to in 2015.
• Commitment to updating targets in line with agreements made in Paris: In advance of COP26, countries have agreed to review and update their 2030 emissions targets and put in place a long-term strategy to achieve net zero emissions. Australia has currently not committed to updating their 2030 target in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and unlike its major trading partners has not committed to net zero emissions by mid-century.
• Per capita emissions and the emissions intensity of the economy if 2030 target is achieved: In 2030, Australia’s per capita emissions would be the third highest among the G20 after Saudi Arabia and Russia. New Zealand would have the fifth highest per capita emissions when compared to G20 nations.
• Comparison of targets vs 1990 and 2005 emissions: Australia and New Zealand’s emissions targets are weak compared with relevant G20 countries except Russia. They fall well behind the targets of the EU, UK and the US. Australia’s target is around 30 per cent lower than the average emissions reductions of its international peers.

More information here

A new Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub based in Darwin is set to transform the way that NT producers and communities prepare for and respond to drought.

The Hub would oversee the co-design and delivery of innovative projects and practices aimed at boosting drought resilience and agricultural productivity.

The Hub is being funded by an $8 million Australian Government investment, with $13.9 million contribution from Hub members.

This is one of eight Hubs to be established around the country through the Australian Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia have released their Sustainability Principles, which explain Infrastructure Australia’s approach to sustainability and how sustainability informs their work program.

The Principles address four components of sustainability: social, economic, environmental and governance. These principles will inform IA’s upcoming work:

• The upcoming 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan will outline practical and implementable sustainability reforms. These reforms have been informed by close consultation, collaboration and partnerships with industry, peak bodies, governments and the community. Sustainability is a cross-cutting theme that is considered in each chapter of the 2021 Plan.
• As a national investment pipeline, the Infrastructure Priority List can promote sustainable outcomes by identifying and then endorsing sustainable investment. Capitalising on IA’s national perspective, the 2021 Priority List put front and centre the need for investment in new energy sources and water security.
• The next iteration of the Assessment Framework will provide advice on how IA assess sustainability and how proponents can consider it in their proposal development.

More information here

Low-income households are critical to our workforce, but increasingly struggle to find affordable rental housing near employment centres of Australia’s major urban areas, finds new research from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

Urban productivity and affordable rental housing supply in Australian cities and regions examined relationships between urban productivity and affordable rental housing, focusing particularly on the location and availability of affordable rental housing relative to employment and labour markets in Australia’s capital cities and satellite cities.

AHURI identified three primary policy development options to address challenges in the supply of affordable rental housing:

• Increase affordable housing near key employment areas
• Improve accessibility and connectivity to outer suburban and satellite city housing markets via strategic investment in transport and communications infrastructure
• Concentrated decentralisation: fostering new employment clusters through strategic place-based funding interventions and digital innovation.

More information here

The circular economy offers Australia the opportunity to generate $1,860 billion in direct economic benefits over twenty years and save 165 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2040, finds a new report from PwC Australia.

Building a more circular economy explores the opportunity for Australia to adopt the concept of a circular economy, offering a robust and holistic framework for sustainable growth. This involves creating closed-loop material cycles across the production and consumption value chain, and treating waste as a leakage of value to be avoided rather than dismissed.

More information here

Increasing urban vegetation will become essential for our three largest cities to reduce serious heatwave impacts by 2060-2080, finds a new report by the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub.

Temperature check: Greening Australia’s warming cities, finds:

• Hot summer days in Brisbane and Melbourne are expected to regularly top 40°C by 2060-2080, and up to 50°C in Sydney, with a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect likely to add several degrees on top of this in highly vulnerable suburbs.
• The areas most vulnerable to the additional heat caused by the UHI effect are typically disadvantaged suburbs with less protective tree canopy cover.
• Hobart is the only capital city that has more tree cover in 2020 than it did in 2013.
• More vegetation in cities helps address rising temperatures, improves physical and mental health, extends the life of infrastructure, captures carbon emissions, provides habitat for wildlife and reduces the economic burden of heat-related impacts.

The Monash research is the first study to examine the cumulative effects of future climate change and the UHI effect at local government level across Australia’s three largest cities.

More information here

The Planning Institute of Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to climate action, releasing a new suite of updated climate change policies.

The new Climate Change Series comprises a new policy statement and two supporting discussion papers:

• Position Statement: Planning in a Changing Climate
• Discussion Paper: Role of planning in adapting to a changing climate
• Discussion Paper: Role of planning in reducing carbon

These policies aim to help planners reduce carbon in buildings and places and will shape better decisions for cities and towns exposed to the hazards of a changing climate.

More information here

Around one in seven homes throughout Victoria face substantial hazards relating to climate and risk exposure, suggests research by CoreLogic and Munich RE.

The research analysed 2.5 million residential properties to assess their individual climate hazard ratings and risk scenario outcomes.

It modelled a range of climate risk scenarios and outlined Victoria’s hazard profile and overall risk level for properties exposed to bushfire, drought, precipitation and sea level rise. It quantified the value and volume of properties exposed to different climate hazards and assigned standardised risk ratings.

Key insights include:

• Climate change hazards: Almost 9% of Victorian households are at very high risk of climate hazards, with another 8% at high risk. This is equivalent to a combined estimated property value of $277 billion at risk.
• Bushfires & river floods: Bushfires and river floods pose the greatest threat for properties with a high or very high risk of exposure to climate hazards. The great majority of Victorian households, around 80%, are at medium risk, whilst only a fraction of properties present with low or no risk.
• Sea level rise: Sea level rise will exacerbate coastal erosion across many parts of the coast.

CoreLogic’s analysis provides a standardised assessment of future climate change risk that could affect individual properties across Victoria. Future scenarios indicate that both bushfire and flood risks are simultaneously likely to be on the rise across the regions due to drier environments but also increasing precipitation. Armed with this information, businesses can employ a sophisticated approach to quantifying climate change impact, enhancing risk management and making informed decisions.

More information here

The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) have released a new paper on “Hydrogen: A decarbonisation route for heat in buildings?”

The paper examined to what extent hydrogen is likely to be used, either in part or fully to accompany decarbonisation of the electricity grid. It concludes it is unlikely that zero carbon hydrogen supplied via a re-purposed gas mains network will be available for the vast majority of UK buildings, for the foreseeable future.

The document acts as a concise primer for those seeking clarity on the likelihood of hydrogen becoming a means of heat delivery for buildings via the pre-existing gas pipe network.

More information here

The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) have released a climate change position for the urban water industry.

The Position recognises that Australia’s urban water industry is uniquely positioned to mitigate our impact on our climate, respond and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate on the delivery of our services, and improve the resilience of our communities and the environment in adapting to a changing climate.

Through collaboration and partnership with customers, communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Māori people, government stakeholders and other sectors, the urban water industry commits to:

• Achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We are achieving net zero sooner where it aligns with customer expectations.
• Reduce water loss in our networks and encourage efficient water use by our customers.
• Build resilience in water infrastructure through holistic adaptation to climate change, including diversifying water sources and improving treatment processes.
• Recognise the importance of cultural flows and benefits of integrating Indigenous knowledge and practice in water management.
• Support green, cool and healthy environments.
• Implement circular economy principles in our management of water, waste and energy.
• Support healthy waterways to protect and restore ecological and community values.
• Engage with customers and communities to achieve a balance between climate change action costs and outcomes, including respecting the needs of current and future generations.

The urban water industry’s commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals provides the framework for achieving these commitments.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia has released the 2021 Infrastructure Priority List.

This year’s List features a record 44 new infrastructure proposals, across the broad spectrum of transport, energy, water, waste, telecommunications and social infrastructure.

This edition of the Priority List provides a $59 Billion pipeline of nationally-significant investment opportunities, with 6 High Priority Projects, 17 Priority Projects, 48 High Priority Initiatives and 109 Priority Initiatives.

Key themes of the 2021 Infrastructure Priority List:

• developing gateways to support our international competitiveness
• investment in new sources of energy
• water security
• regional infrastructure that drives economic development, service quality, digital connectivity and digital health services.

10 projects have moved off the Priority List this year and into the construction phase.

More information here

Apocalypse now: Australian bushfires and the future of urban settlements was published by leading climate and sustainability experts Prof. Barbara Norman, Prof. Peter Newman and Prof Will Steffen. The paper draws together observations of Australia’s 2019/20 bushfires and reflects on the lessons Australia can learn from such experiences when considering the planning of urban settlements.

The findings are set out in two scenarios suggesting that the fires can lead to a new model for climate resilient development that can flow into larger centres with multiple benefits. Researchers found that a combination of three factors were particularly important for strengthening the resilience of urban settlements:

1. ‘Renewable energy’ replacing oil and gas as well as coal.
2. ‘Urban sustainability’ that can deliver climate responsive urbanism and not the scatter that has locked in such high consumption and poor ecological outcomes.
3. ‘Investment in implementing climate responsive cities’ and continuous review of urban management strategies informed by the latest climate science and community needs to ensure that appropriate strategies are implemented in a timely and effective way to minimise risks to urban communities

More information here

A simple ‘net-zero emissions by 2050’ target is not sufficient for Australia to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, finds recent report by senior climate scientists and policymakers of the Climate Targets Panel.

The Climate Targets Panel is an independent group of senior Australian climate scientists and policymakers who have come together with the aim of ensuring that debate about Australia’s emissions reductions targets are informed by sound science and policy. It includes Federal Liberal party leader John Hewson, and leading climate researchers Professor Will Steffen, Professor Lesley Hughes and Associate Professor Malte Meinshausen.

Key findings of the report:

1. To be consistent with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target must be 50% below 2005 levels. A 2035 target would need to be 67% below 2005 levels. Net-zero emissions would need to be reached by 2045.
2. To be consistent with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target must be 74% below 2005 levels, with net-zero emissions reached by 2035.
3. A simple ‘net-zero emissions by 2050’ target for Australia is not sufficient for the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C (nor 1.5°C).

The report offers an update of the Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) review of Australia’s emission budget and emission reduction targets necessary to stay within that budget, which was last undertaken by the CCA in 2014. In the absence of further work by the CCA since 2014, this report adopts the CCA’s methodology and updates it to take account of both the current global emissions budget and Australia’s domestic emissions since the CCA report.

More information here

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Master Builders Australia (MBA) have called on the Federal Government to increase investment in disaster mitigation and building resilience funding.

The call comes as part of their second Building Stronger Homes Roundtable.

Both organisations urged the Federal Government to increase disaster mitigation funding and education programs to reduce the physical loss and economic disruption caused by bushfires, cyclones, storms, flood and other extreme weather events.

More information here

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Master Builders Australia (MBA) have united to develop proposals that will help strengthen homes and communities against natural disasters.

The industry groups have heeded key findings from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and are hosting a series of roundtable discussions to create a pathway towards national policies that improve property resilience, building standards and land-use planning.

The joint mitigation and resilience roundtables will identify key national priorities for ensuring Australian homes (including apartments and social housing) are resilient, secure and insurable in the long term. They will focus on:

• The built environment and codes
• The importance and structure of land-use planning
• Current and potential mitigation and hazard reduction investment priorities
• The importance of information systems, data, and coordination

A final report from the roundtables will be presented at the conclusion by mid-2021.

More information here

The Global Resiliency Dialogue have published their first report about the current integration of climate data and assessment of extreme weather events in building codes around the world.

The Use of Climate Data and Assessment of Extreme Weather Event Risks in Building Codes Around the World provides a readout of a survey that was undertaken by the core members of the Global Resiliency Dialogue, with participation from countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The survey, which was circulated to building code development and research organizations around the world, was meant to help illuminate – in detail – how climate-based risks are currently considered within national building codes and standards. It included an exploration of the types of codes (building, fire, energy, electrical, plumbing, etc.) that rely on climate-related data to support their requirements, as well as the source of that climate data, how it is communicated, and how often it is updated.

A follow-on survey of building code stakeholders from the participating countries will focus on potential strategies to incorporate future-focused climate risk in codes and standards and the research needed for effective implementation. The results of this second survey will be presented in an additional report. Together, these two reports will inform the development of international resilience guidelines and joint research initiatives.

More information here

The Property Council has launched the “Ready to welcome you back” campaign, aimed at encouraging more businesses and their staff to return to their regular office workplaces.

Property Council’s regular surveys of office occupancy over the past few months have shown that occupancy levels are still well below pre-COVID levels, even in those jurisdictions that have not experienced community transmission for several months.

The return to office campaign highlights ‘we’re ready to welcome you back’ and focuses on government and business leadership in returning to offices.

Property Council have placed an advertisement in The Australian and Australian Financial Review highlighting the role of owners and managers of Australia’s biggest office and commercial precincts in making office buildings COVID-safe to enable the return to workplaces. Property Council will also be engaging national and metropolitan media and running a social media campaign through Property Council accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

More information here

The Australian Government has announced a range of measures in commitment to climate resilience.

Measures include:

• Developing a new National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy
• Joining the international Call for Action on Raising Ambition for Climate Adaptation and Resilience
• $12.9 million investment towards establishing Climate and Resilience Services Australia
• Committing to the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment

More information here

More information on the refreshed National Resilience and Adaption Strategy here

Building sector emissions hit a record high in 2019, but low-carbon pandemic recovery packages provide an opportunity to transform the sector and rapidly cut emissions, finds the latest Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction from the Global Alliance for Building and Construction.

The report found that that while global building energy consumption remained steady year-on-year, energy-related CO₂ emissions increased to 9.95 GtCO2 in 2019. This increase was due to a shift away from the direct use of coal, oil and traditional biomass towards electricity, which had a higher carbon content due to the high proportion of fossil fuels used in generation.

When adding emissions from the building construction industry on top of operational emissions, the sector accounted for 38%of total global energy-related CO2 emissions.

To get on track to net-zero carbon building stock by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that direct building CO2 emissions need, by 2030, to fall by 50 per cent and indirect building sector emissions by 60 per cent. This equates to building sector emissions falling by around 6 per cent per year until 2030, close to the 7 per cent decrease in 2020 global energy sector CO2 emissions due to the pandemic.

GlobalABC urge governments to prioritize low-carbon buildings in pandemic stimulus packages and updated climate pledges within their pandemic recovery packages.

More information here

The Australian Government’s Centre for Population has released its first Population Statement.

The Statement includes a discussion of how our population has changed and how it is expected to change in the future spanning states and territories, capital cities and regions, by age and gender.

Key findings include:

• Slow population growth (0.2 per cent in 2020–⁠21): Population growth is expected to be the slowest it has been in over a century
• Expected 1.1m population reduction: Australia’s population is projected to be 1.1 million lower by 2031 than in pre-COVID-19 projections
• Melbourne is projected to overtake Sydney to become Australia’s largest city: Australia’s population is still growing and is expected to reach 28 million during 2028–29, three years later than in the absence of COVID-19.

More information here

ACOSS has released a report – Health of the NEM 2020: Current and emerging affordability issues for people on low incomes – ahead of the Energy Security Board’s (ESB) release of its annual Health of the National Electricity Market (NEM) report.

The report aims to ensure the energy issues facing people on low incomes and experiencing disadvantage are recognised, assessed and have appropriate solutions implemented.

ACOSS calls on the ESB to maintain its rating of energy affordability (current status) as ‘critical’, to increase the outlook for affordability to ‘moderate-critical’ in general and to ‘critical’ for vulnerable customers.

The report also calls on the National Federation Reform Council to urgently establish a permanent committee to annually review and progress reforms to reduce energy vulnerability.

The ACOSS report makes 29 recommendations including:

• Building on the work of the Trajectory for Low Energy Building – Existing Homes, state and territory governments commit to implement the measures being developed to increase energy efficiency of existing homes, specifically:
  • Introduce mandatory disclosure of home energy performance at point of sale;
  • Introduce mandatory energy efficiency standards for rental properties.
• Implement a National Low-income energy productivity program (NLEPP);
• NEM state and territory governments review their home energy assistance schemes or equivalent to improve access, uptake, and ability to better meet the needs of those most vulnerable;
• Progress ACCC recommendation 37 to improve energy concession schemes across the NEM to ensure that, to the extent possible, there is a uniform, national, best practice approach to electricity concessions;
• Extend the moratorium on disconnections until at least June 2021 and ensure pre-visit is done before disconnections are made;
• The National Federation Reform Council progress ACCC recommendation 38 that the Federal Government and the relevant state or territory governments should fund a grant scheme for consumer and community organisations to provide targeted support to assist vulnerable consumers to improve energy literacy.

More information here

New research from the Energy Efficiency Council and CitySwitch reveals how office-based businesses can significantly reduce their energy costs and environmental impacts, often by making simple choices such as which type of technology and equipment to use.

Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: a briefing for office-based businesses is underpinned by new research about where these businesses should and can focus efforts to reduce energy consumption and operational expenditure.

The research identifies energy and cost-saving opportunities for office-based businesses and particularly office tenancies, a sector that often gets less attention in the movement towards more sustainable buildings.

Highlights include:

• Printers and copiers account for the largest power draw of any single device after computers and servers, however, these pieces of equipment are not covered under the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) program or Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). Some inkjet printers use up to 90% less energy and power than comparable laser printers.
• Lighting constitutes the greatest proportion of energy use within office tenancies, but only 60% of the surveyed tenancies having undertaken a LED upgrade, making it a significant opportunity to reduce electricity bills.
• Desktop computers use almost four times as much energy as laptop computers

More information here

Uber and WSP have partnered to release a new white paper – Future Ready Kerbside – which examines what we need to do today to ensure our kerbsides and streetscapes enable the places people want now and into the future.

Drawing on two case studies, the white paper examines how the kerbside is allocated and managed during the day and evening and the impacts that has on people and place. It then envisions how these kerbsides could be better used to achieve what we want for these places by supporting future transport technology, higher levels of public amenity, and greater access for people and goods to support local businesses.

Key Recommendations from the Future Ready Kerbside white paper include:

• Co-design the vision for places in partnership with the community, businesses and governments
• Take a people and place first approach so that new mobility is an enabler and not a detractor to realising the co-designed vision
• Dynamically manage and allocate the kerbside to use it more productively and achieve the vision for the place
• Move from general parking to pick up/drop off for people and goods to improve kerbside productivity and access to local places.
• Prioritise access for all ages and abilities to our local places, supported by funding for local infrastructure

More information here

The ACT has surpassed its 2020 emissions reduction target of 40%, achieving a 45% reduction in emissions on 1990 levels.

The achievement was outlined in the 2019-20 Minister’s Annual Report under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction ACT 2010. The report outlines significant achievements in tackling climate change during the last year. Key achievements include:

• meeting the 100% renewable electricity target
• reducing emissions by 45% from 1990 levels
• committing to an all-electric Canberra Hospital expansion
• releasing the ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-25 and Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan
• removing the requirement for gas connection in new suburbs
• upgrading energy efficiency of public housing and continuing the Solar for Low Income Program.

Transport emissions decreased by 11% during 2019-20 in contrast to the around 2% annual growth observed in previous years. This decrease was recognised as a likely result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown in early 2020 that reduced travel.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI) has released a new Roadmap calling on financial system participants to embed sustainability into their organisation’s purpose, strategy and leadership, and to support the transition of the economy to net zero emissions by 2050.

The ASFI comprises of 80 organisations across Australia’s financial system, including financial institutions, civil society, academia, regulators and government.

The Roadmap makes 37 recommendations that will enable the financial services sector, together with regulators and governments, to strengthen Australia’s financial system with the aim of recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and delivering a transition to a net zero, resource-efficient and inclusive economy.

More information here

Overwhelmingly, Australians want to live locally in walkable neighbourhoods, within easy access to fresh, healthy food, and other everyday destinations, finds a recent survey conducted by the Heart Foundation.

The results from the survey of 2,895 Australians is contained in the report What Australia Wants: Living locally in walkable neighbourhoods. Key findings include:

• Just over eight in 10 value having natural elements such as trees and plants.
• Eight in 10 people surveyed feel that having quality public open space close to them is very / somewhat important to them when deciding where to live.
• Nearly eight in 10 people surveyed said its very / somewhat important to them that they can be active in their local area

More information here

A coalition of Australia’s leading property and sustainability bodies have applauded the Victorian and NSW Governments’ significant investments in harnessing the power of energy efficiency and social housing to create jobs and drive the economic recovery from COVID-19.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Energy Efficiency Council, Green Building Council Australia and Property Council of Australia welcomed what were cumulatively multi-billion commitments to a more sustainable future.

The organisations commended the Victorian Government’s outstanding leadership with an
unprecedented $5.3bn spend to increase and upgrade the state’s stock of social and affordable housing, while creating some 10,000 new jobs annually.

The benefits of this record investment are being further enhanced through a commitment to higher energy efficiency standards for new builds.

The Victorian Government is also setting a record for the single largest state-based investment in housing energy efficiency measures with a $797m package that includes:

• $335m for heating system upgrades for low income households
• $112m to upgrade the energy efficiency of 35,000 social housing properties (window and door sealing, upgrading heating/cooling and hot water systems)
• Introducing minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties
• Supporting the transition to 7 star NATHERS for new buildings and supporting skills and training
• $14m expansion of the Victorian Energy Upgrades program to enable all households to access rebates for more smart appliances
• $191m expansion of the Solar Homes program
• Offering 17,500 household battery rebates over 3 years
• Direct bill relief with a one-off $250 payment to eligible concession card holders and other recipients of government income support

The NSW Government is adding almost $900 million to its social and affordable housing investment, creating up to 3,000 jobs and taking the state’s total investment in social and affordable housing to $4.4 billion over four years. A $157.8 million LED light replacement program in schools across NSW will also enhance energy efficiency.

These announcements build on the recent South Australian Government commitment of $60 million to improve the energy efficiency of government buildings.

A collective COVID-19 economic recovery plan launched by the groups earlier this year, Building Efficiency for Jobs and Growth, presented a series of recommendations for governments to achieve job creation and emissions savings by leveraging the potential of high quality buildings and infrastructure. Several states have now recognised the benefits highlighted in the report, with many of the recommendations now adopted.

More information here

The Victorian Government has announced that the 2020/21 state Budget will include $797 million to help Victorians cover the cost of their power bills and make homes more energy efficient.

The investment will deliver the biggest household energy efficiency package in any state’s history. Highlights include:

• Energy efficiency upgrades: $335 million to replace old wood, electric or gas fired heaters with new energy-efficient systems. A further $112 million will seal windows and doors, and upgrade heating, cooling and hot water in 35,000 social housing properties.
• The introduction of minimum efficiency standards for rental properties.
• Funding to help set Victoria up for the move to 7-star efficiency standards for new homes, supporting skills, training and jobs in our construction sector.
• Expansion of the Solar Homes and Solar Homes battery programs

More information here

The Facilities Management Association of Australia have launched the Good Practice Guide on Energy Management.

The guide outlines the actions that facilities managers (FMs) can take to add value to the facilities that they manage through a structured approach to energy management.

FMs can use this guide to identify, plan and implement energy management initiatives across energy supply, HVAC, lighting, office equipment and more. Better energy management delivers a wide range of benefits, from improved comfort and productivity to lower operating costs and GHG emissions.

The guide was developed with support from the Commonwealth Government’s climate solutions funding package.

More information here

The Victorian Government have announced a $5.3 billion Big Housing Build program to construct more than 12,000 new homes throughout metro and regional Victoria.

Big Housing Build is Australia’s biggest ever investment in public and community housing and also delivers on sustainability, with new homes being built to 7-star energy efficiency standards.

The package aims to:

• Boost to Victoria’s social housing supply by 10 per cent in four years
• Build 9,300 new social housing homes – including replacing 1,100 old public housing units
• Build 2,900 new affordable and low-cost homes
• Allocated 25 per cent of funding to regional Victoria

More information here

The CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology have released their sixth biennial climate snapshot, State of Climate 2020.

State of the Climate draws on the latest climate research, encompassing observations, analyses and projections to describe year-to-year variability and longer-term changes in Australia’s climate.

Observations, reconstructions and climate modelling paint a consistent picture of ongoing, long-term climate change interacting with underlying natural variability:

• The number of dangerous fire weather days is increasing, with longer fire seasons for the east and south of the country.
• The southern half of Australia is becoming drier during the cooler months, and combined with warming temperatures, there will be more time spent in severe drought.
• In contrast, wet season rainfall over central and northern parts has increased.
• Ocean temperatures continue to increase, and marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe.

The report emphasises the need for Australia to plan for and adapt to the changing nature of climate risk now and in the decades ahead. It notes that reducing global greenhouse gas emissions will lead to less warming and fewer impacts in the future.

More information here

The Property Council of Australia, Climate Council, Conservation Council of South Australia, Energy Efficiency Council, Green Building Council of Australia and Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council welcome the South Australian Government announcement that it will invest $60 million to improve the energy efficiency of government buildings. The Government’s commitment will create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the government’s energy and maintenance bills.

Earlier this year the International Monetary Fund and International Energy Agency called on governments around the world to invest in upgrading buildings to stimulate their economies and support the transition to clean energy. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, called energy efficiency a “job-creation machine” and highlighted its critical role in reducing emissions.

We commend the Marshall Government for showing real leadership on the economy and the climate, and call on other governments to follow the South Australian Government’s example.

“This is textbook public policy that delivers a win-win for industry and the environment – energy efficiency is jobs intensive and taps into local workforce and supply chains to deliver stimulus while also reducing emissions,” said Daniel Gannon, South Australia Executive Director of the Property Council.

“The Climate Council applauds this major investment in energy efficiency, which demonstrates how smart energy solutions cut costs, create jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve workplace comfort,” said Andrew Stock, Climate Councillor and energy expert.

“While there is much more to be done, this exciting energy efficiency announcement alongside action on electric vehicles and purchasing renewable energy for the Government’s own activities is a great sign the Marshall Government is ramping up SA’s clean energy transition,” said Craig Wilkins, Chief Executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia.

“This policy will create hundreds of jobs for tradies and engineers. This is a win for the economy, a win for the environment and a win for South Australians,” said Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council.

“The South Australian Government has delivered a decisive win for both the economy and the environment today. Energy efficiency is the cheapest form of emissions reduction, it increases the health and wellbeing of occupants and creates jobs. We commend Premier Marshall and his team for this initiative that demonstrates government leadership in their assets.” said Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia.

“ASBEC congratulates the South Australian Government on their national leadership. Governments own or lease roughly 30 per cent of Australia’s non-residential buildings, so this kind of policy is essential to reducing our country’s emissions,” said Suzanne Toumbourou, Executive Director, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council.

More information here

Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall MP, has introduced a new Bill in the Australian Parliament which seeks to create a national framework for net zero emissions by 2050.

The Climate Change (Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 sets out a framework for national plans to be put in place and updated by the Australian Government, and for progress to be rigorously monitored and reported. The national framework seeks to ensure that Australia has:

1. a positive response to the challenges of climate change
2. national plans for adapting to a changing climate
3. national plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
4. transparent monitoring, reporting and accountability

More information here

The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, also known as the Bushfire Royal Commission, has concluded and released its final report.

The final report acknowledges that natural disasters will be more frequent and more severe, and warns that consecutive and compounding natural disasters will place increasing stress on existing emergency management arrangements.

The report focuses on what can be done to improve national natural disaster coordination arrangements. Recommendations to note include:

• Recommendation 3.2 Establishment of an authoritative disaster advisory body: Australian, state and territory governments should establish an authoritative advisory body to consolidate advice on strategic policy and relevant operational considerations for ministers in relation to natural disasters.
• Recommendation 3.5 Establishing a standing resilience and recovery entity: The Australian Government should establish a standing entity that will enhance national natural disaster resilience and recovery, focused on long-term disaster risk reduction.
• Recommendation 4.1 National disaster risk information: Australian, state and territory governments should prioritise the implementation of harmonised data governance and national data standards.
• Recommendation 4.2 Common information platforms and shared technologies: Australian, state and territory governments should create common information platforms and share technologies to enable collaboration in the production, analysis, access, and exchange of information, data and knowledge about climate and disaster risks.
• Recommendation 4.5 National climate projections: Australian, state and territory governments should produce downscaled climate projections: (1) to inform the assessment of future natural disaster risk by relevant decision makers, including state and territory government agencies with planning and emergency management responsibilities (2) underpinned by an agreed common core set of climate trajectories and timelines, and (3) subject to regular review.
• Recommendation 19.4 National Construction Code: The Australian Building Codes Board, working with other bodies as appropriate, should: (1) assess the extent to which AS 3959:2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas, and other relevant building standards, are effective in reducing risk from natural hazards to lives and property, and (2) conduct an evaluation as to whether the National Construction Code should be amended to specifically include, as an objective of the code, making buildings more resilient to natural hazards.

More information here

From 1 January 2021, NABERSNZ standards will be compulsory for all Government agencies who occupy single-tenant, co-tenanted, or co-located government offices.

Minimum standards:

• Existing buildings: Agencies entering a new lease, or renewing an existing lease should target a rating above 5 stars, and achieve a minimum of 4 stars.
• New buildings: Agencies planning a new build project need to achieve a minimum of 5 stars.
• Co-assess ratings: Co-assess is a process that enables tenancy ratings to be conducted as part of a whole building or base building rating. For example, a collection of tenancy assessments undertaken for multiple agencies in a co-tenancy building.

Assessments will be valid for 12 months. If the target rating has been met, a re-rating will be required every three years. If the target rating has not been met, an agency must implement a work programme within 12 months to achieve the target rating and re-rate the building annually until the minimum star rating is achieved.

Agencies will be required to disclose their NABERSNZ assessment via the Government Property Portal (GPP). This rating will be publicly available on the NABERSNZ website.

More information here

The Order of Australia recognises Australians for outstanding service or exceptional achievement.

Everyone that is recognised is nominated by someone in the community. This means we all have the ability to recognise someone for their hard-work and service. It also means that it is up to all of us to ensure our national awards system represents our diversity – across gender, cultural backgrounds and categories of endeavour.

The Governor-General of Australia has written to ASBEC and we are working with his Office to both raise awareness of the Order of Australia and improve its diversity.

It only takes a few moments of your time to nominate someone exceptional. To start, click here.

Victorian Energy Upgrades

The Victorian Government has recommenced high-volume residential activities under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, specifically:

• Incandescent lighting upgrades (Part 21 under the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Regulations 2018)
• Low-flow shower roses (Part 17)
• Weather sealing (Part 15)
• In-home display units (Part 30)

Consistent with government requirements, all businesses involved in these and all other VEU activities must have a COVIDSafe Plan

More information here

Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard, Energy Savvy Upgrades and Healthy Homes

The Victorian Government has recommenced activities for the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard, Energy Savvy Upgrades and Healthy Homes programs.

Consistent with government requirements, all businesses involved in these programs must have a COVIDSafe Plan.

More information here

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has released the draft NSW Public Spaces Charter and the draft Evaluation Tool for Public Space and Public Life – two initiatives that aim to enable more quality public spaces for every community across NSW.

The draft NSW Public Spaces Charter is a resource to support the planning, design, management and activation of public spaces in NSW. It identifies ten principles, developed with evidence-based research and consultation with public space experts, that will guide planning, delivery and management of quality public space.

The draft Evaluation Tool will help government, councils, industry and communities identify how to deliver more and better quality green, open and public space.

The draft NSW Public Spaces Charter and draft Evaluation Tool will be on public exhibition from 20 October – 17 November 2020.

More information here

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) have released new research assessing how the housing industry can help rebuild the Australian economy both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes a review of government measures to the end of August 2020.

Responding to the pandemic, can building homes rebuild Australia? provides evidence that non-residential construction, followed by residential construction, and then infrastructure spending has the highest multiplier effect to those industry sectors hardest hit by the pandemic. It suggests that government spending on construction or infrastructure projects leads to an increase in economic output several times the size of the initial spend.

To drive economic recovery, AHURI recommends that policymakers consider:

• Funding social housing development
• State specific demand stimulus measures
• Tax settings to encourage institutional investment
• Preparing for a market recovery

More information here

Over 40 mayors and councillors from across the country have released a joint statement committing to economic recovery solutions that create jobs and tackle climate change.

The commitment to a sustainable economic recovery aims to support industries and sectors that invest in a zero carbon future, along with driving strong economic recovery for communities hit hard by twin climate and COVID-19 crises.

The joint statement outlines eight solutions that puts local governments on a practical, jobs-rich path to future-proof cities, reduce energy costs and create more comfortable homes and workplaces. Solutions include:

• Drive renewable energy and storage within councils and communities to lower power bills and increase energy independence and resilience.
• Accelerate, and advocate for, sustainable transport to future proof cities and connect communities and regions.
• Roll out energy efficiency measures within council and the community to create jobs, reduce energy costs and create more comfortable homes and workplaces.
• Increase revegetation and urban greening, as well as undertake ecosystem restoration to maintain unique biodiversity, clean air and water and healthy communities.
• Integrate circular economy principles across council to close the loop on resource use.
• Support local businesses to be more sustainable through opportunities like increasing the uptake of renewable energy, aiding energy efficiency upgrades and waste management support.

More information here

Building Ministers have agreed to a four month delay to the adoption of NCC 2022.

NCC 2022 is now expected to be adopted by states and territories from 1 September 2022.

The delayed adoption will also see adjustments to key dates in the amendment cycle process for NCC 2022 to allow stakeholders time to participate. These adjusted dates include:

• May – July 2021: NCC 2022 Public Comment Draft released for public consultation
• May 2022: NCC 2022 Preview published at ncc.abcb.gov.au

More information here

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) have called for greater national investment in natural disaster mitigation and resilience to ensure that insurance remains available and affordable in disaster-prone parts of the country.

In a speech given to the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities, APRA Executive Board member Geoff Summerhayes said the high, rising and volatile costs of natural disasters was leading to declining insurance affordability and accessibility.

He said tackling the root cause “through greater investment in mitigation to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure from damage” was the most effective way of meaningfully and sustainably addressing the issue.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has welcomed APRA’s speech on natural disaster mitigation.

More information here

ICA Media Release here

The Water Services Association Australia have released a new paper to help guide water utilities unlock the circular economy to better manage resources, make and use products and to regenerate natural systems.

Transitioning the water industry with the circular economy outlines the key building blocks required for a utility to transition to a circular economy as well as the value proposition and the many benefits to customers and the broader community, the environment and to utilities themselves.

It collates existing knowledge on the contribution of the urban water industry in a circular economy and recommends the next steps to help utilities begin or further advance their approach. It is supported by 15 international and Australian case studies showcasing the future possibilities for the urban water industry.

The paper has been prepared for WSAA and its members by the Institute of Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney.

More information here

It is an open secret that Australians are being ripped off by poor enforcement of the National Construction Code. The Code, which governs minimum standards for buildings, is meant to ensure minimum safety, health, comfort and energy costs in new buildings and renovations. But poor enforcement means consumers are not getting the safe, functional buildings they have paid for.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) is calling on State and Territory governments to protect consumers by making urgent changes to the way building compliance is enforced.

“Australian families building or renovating homes need to get what the regulations say they are entitled to: a safe home with minimum standards for energy performance. Failure to ensure compliance with these standards risks leaving them with homes that lack the comfort and health that the Code’s energy performance standards help to deliver, as well as higher bills.” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Ms Suzanne Toumbourou.

“At the same time, commercial clients also risk incurring huge energy expenses if the Code is not enforced, affecting the bottom line at a time when many businesses are under threat.” said Ms Toumbourou.

Building Confidence, a 2018 report by Professor Peter Shergold and Ms Bronwyn Weir, commissioned by Australia’s Building Ministers Forum, found major issues with the enforcement of the Code and created 22 recommendations to address the issues.

“It’s up to our State and Territory governments to make sure the rules are followed and buildings are compliant with the Code.” said Mr Nicholas Burt, Chair of ASBEC’s Compliance Working Group and CEO of the Facility Management Association of Australia.  “ASBEC supports the recommendations in Building Confidence. We have worked collaboratively with industry leaders to compile 25 crucial policy responses to ensure Australians get the buildings they pay for in terms of health, comfort and energy efficiency.”

ASBEC’s policy responses seek to deliver the following:

• Key competencies and accreditation for building professionals who undertake energy efficiency assessments.
• A nationally consistent system of regulatory oversight to ensure that energy efficiency standards are met.
• Building documentation and permits should ensure that energy and sustainability provisions in the Code are properly addressed.
• A Building Log Book (or Electronic Building Passport) that can be audited and passed on to subsequent owners to ensure buildings are compliant throughout their lifecycle.

“Enforcing our National Construction Code is a huge opportunity to improve the buildings where Australians live, work and shop. It can keep future energy costs down for families and businesses, at a time when the financial future is uncertain.” said Ms Toumbourou.  “But these gains will only be possible if States and Territories step up and do their part to enforce the Code.”

Download ASBEC’s Building Confidence Recommendations Policy Response here.

Download full media release here.

A new handbook released by the Rocky Mountain Institute outlines how regional governments are reaping the immediate benefits of decisive climate action while also safeguarding the future.

The Regions Take Action handbook details five transformative actions regional governments can take to limit the effects of climate change while supporting a broad range of other societal benefits:

• Clean Electricity: Commit to generating clean electricity. Renewables are cost-effective investments, and clean electricity is fundamental to a carbon-free society.
• Carbon-Free Buildings: Construct and upgrade buildings to be all-electric and efficient, which will also create healthier, more comfortable places to live and work.
• Healthy Transportation: Create better mobility options and electrify vehicles, which can reduce air pollution while giving people more choices for transportation and for taking climate action.
• Innovative Industry: Use clean energy to move industry to electric power while also creating solutions to drive a clean energy economy. This includes new processes, low-carbon materials, digital technologies, and more.
• Sustainable Land Use: Preserve and enhance the natural resources that create beautiful places, economic opportunities, and essential carbon “sinks” that pull pollution from the air.

Case studies pertaining to each of the five actions—from Brazil, Europe, India, and the United States—show how climate-friendly policies can create better outcomes across society. The handbook uses these case studies to provide a model for how regional governments around the world can implement the five actions outlined in the report in their own areas.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia has received additional funding in the 2020–21 Federal Budget to provide reform and investment advice in support of the infrastructure-led COVID recovery.

This funding aims to ensure that Infrastructure Australia is resourced to:

• Expand the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan to respond to COVID-19
• Lead new research on the capacity of the infrastructure sector to deliver the investment pipeline
• Conduct an 18-month comprehensive reset of the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework, the basis for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List.

More information here

The World Green Building Council has released a new report outlining the business and climate opportunities of tackling embodied carbon in the built environment across the Asia Pacific region.

The Asia Pacific Embodied Carbon Primer raises awareness on what embodied carbon is, where it occurs throughout a building and infrastructure asset’s lifecycle and how tackling embodied carbon can catalyse Asia Pacific to building back better post COVID-19.

It sets out key actions that can be taken today by business, government and civil society to raise awareness, set ambitions, drive demand and make substantial progress in reducing embodied carbon of projects, materials and products.

More information here

New research released by AHURI has examined the incidence of energy hardship for Australian low income renters, and considered strategies and policy actions to reduce its impact on the lives of such households.

Warm, cool and energy-affordable housing policy solutions for low-income renters found that up to 40% of Australian households who rent their housing experience energy hardship.

The report notes that single set of policies or governmental actions will be able to meet the challenge of improving energy efficiency in the rental housing stock. Instead, it suggests that a portfolio of measures is needed— including, for instance, mandatory building standards, targeted financial or material assistance for very vulnerable households, and investment in the public housing sector.

Setting minimum standards for the energy performance of rental properties was highlighted as a critical starting point in the process of reform.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Adelaide, RMIT and University of South Australia.

More information here

The Federal Government has released its first Low Emissions Technology Statement, marking the first step in Australia’s Technology Investment Roadmap.

The Statement identifies five priority technologies and sets economic stretch goals for each technology. These are:

• clean hydrogen – under $2 per kilogram
• energy storage – electricity from storage for firming under 100/MWh (which would enable firmed wind and solar at pricing at or below today’s average wholesale electricity price)
• low carbon materials – low emissions steel production under $900 per tonne and low emissions aluminium under $2,700 per tonne
• CCS – CO2 compression, hub transport, and storage under $20 per tonne of CO2
• soil carbon – measurement under $3 per hectare per year

The Government expects to invest over $18 billion in low emissions technologies over the decade to 2030.

More information here

Tackling climate change presents a win-win opportunity for the South Australian economy and environment, finds a new report by Professor Ross Garnaut for the South Australian government.

South Australia’s Climate Change Challenge and Opportunity highlights that SA has a compelling interest in the success of the global effort to avoid the worst effects of climate change; with the state being among the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change, while also an international leader in the clean energy transition.

Professor Garnaut identifies several opportunities for South Australia to advance and capitalise on its leadership in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. These include:

• increased renewable energy generation, use and export
• expanding low emissions manufacturing and mining, including green steel and the processing of SA raw materials into low emissions products
• electrification of transport
• adapting agriculture, buildings and infrastructure, and water management; and providing high quality, accessible information.

Professor Garnaut’s advice aims to help guide the next phase of government action on climate change.

More information here

More energy efficient buildings could deliver more than a quarter of Australia’s emissions reduction target and save $20 billion in energy bills for businesses and households.  Recognising this potential, the Australian Government has announced funding to increase the energy productivity of our buildings.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes today’s announcement from the Australian Government which outlines funding and an expanded mandate for the Australian Renewable Energy Authority (ARENA), and a package of measures to facilitate improved energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings.

“More energy efficient buildings provide a win-win-win opportunity in terms of jobs, energy savings and emission reduction.” said ASBEC’s President, Professor Ken Maher AO.  “Whilst Australia’s foremost developers are leading globally in terms of sustainability, our broader building sector lags far behind, meaning we are not gaining the health, comfort, efficiency and environmental benefits that we could reasonably expect.”

“Energy efficiency is jobs-intensive and taps richly into local supply chains.” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou. “The expansion of ARENA’s mandate creates a great opportunity to support this sector by backing the deployment of technologies to deliver energy productivity at scale through the built environment.”

“At a time when bill savings and consumer empowerment are more important than ever, we also welcome the Government’s decision to facilitate improved building energy efficiency through energy performance rating schemes for homes and non-residential buildings.” Ms Toumbourou said.

The King Review, commissioned by the Australian Government, outlined a series of low-cost emissions abatement opportunities across the Australian economy, including building energy ratings.

“Buildings offer one of the most cost-effective, jobs-rich opportunities for energy savings and emissions abatement, with broader benefits that we can’t afford to ignore.” said Prof Maher. “The Government’s commitment to built environment energy productivity is the right priority right now and there is a big opportunity to do much more.”

Read more about  Building efficiency for jobs and growth

Read the Australian Government media release on Investment in new energy technologies

Download ASBEC’s full media release

Low-income workers are spending a considerable percentage of their income on commuting costs, finds new research from AHURI.

Commuting burden and housing affordability for low-income renters investigates the impacts commuting costs have on accessing employment for low-income workers who are renting their home.

It finds that low-income workers are spending a considerable percentage of their income on commuting costs – with those in Sydney spending 8.6 per cent of their average income on travelling to and from work, while in Melbourne it’s almost 10 percent (9.4%).

The research was undertaken by researchers from RMIT University and Monash University.

More information here

Water Services Association of Australia have released a new report highlighting the need for Australia’s urban water industry needs to continue moving towards a diversified portfolio of water supply options to meet the water security needs for our rapidly growing communities in the face of climate change and drought.

All options on the table: urban water supply options for Australia collates the latest available data from existing and newly planned projects and outlines contemporary and consistent information on each water supply option. It aims to inform water security discussions with the community and stakeholders and to increase understanding around the attributes and costs of different water supply options.

The report suggests that no water supply option on its own is likely to meet all the needs of a city or regional town, arguing that the reality is that combinations of options need to be considered. WSAA call on governments to allow all options for water supply to be on the table for planning decisions.

WSAA intends the report to be a living document, to be updated as more information and data from existing and new projects becomes available.

More information here

Research undertaken by Environment Victoria has revealed the lack of knowledge and information about residential energy performance in the real estate industry.

To find out how much real estate agents know about the energy efficiency of their properties, Environment Victoria conducted under-cover surveys of over 300 real estate agents at open-for-inspections across the state. Environment Victoria found that estate agents’ knowledge of energy efficiency is very low across the board:

• 91% could not identify the property’s energy rating
• Only 1% could offer any information about likely energy running costs
• 46% could not identify any energy-saving features of the home
• 68% could not say whether the home had insulation

Home Truths: A Lack of Information about Household Energy Needs outlines these research findings and argues that if energy efficiency information was more readily available, house hunters would be able to make more informed housing choices. To address this challenge, the report presents two key recommendations:

• The Victorian government should require real estate agents/vendors to disclose the energy rating of their property at point of sale (“mandatory disclosure”)
• Minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties should be introduced, since disclosure alone is unlikely to lead to significantly improved energy performance

More information here

The World Green Building Council has launched a new strategy to tackle the climate emergency, health and wellbeing, and resource efficiency issues in the built environment.

Using the SDGs as a foundation, Sustainable Buildings for Everyone, Everywhere aims to supports WorldGBC’s global network to lead and drive transformative change in the built environment across three North Star Goals: Climate Action, Health & Wellbeing, and Resources & Circularity.

More information here

Significant new infrastructure investment is fundamental to the achievement of the SDGs, but the sector remains underfunded compared to global sustainable development and economic growth needs, according to a new report issued by UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment group.

Bridging the gap: how infrastructure investors can contribute to SDG outcomes details the current approaches that infrastructure investors are adopting to consider the SDGs as part of their investment approaches. It finds that infrastructure investment approaches are far from consistent and calls for more standardised approaches to help all stakeholders understand how and which infrastructure investments shape outcomes in line with the SDGs, and how common interests can be aligned most effectively.

The paper highlights a range of challenges that such investors still face in seeking to shape real-world outcomes in line with the SDGs and suggests the steps they should take to address these and deepen their integration of the SDGs.

More information here

The National Institute of Building Sciences, an American organisation supporting advances in building sciences and technology to improve the built environment, has released a roadmap outlining strategies to incentivise investment in more resilient buildings.

A Roadmap to Resilience Incentivization outlines concrete incentives that reduce owner costs to make new and existing infrastructure more disaster resilient. Incentives include mortgage discounts, insurance premium discounts, tax incentives, grants, and other inducements.

Previous research undertaken by the Institute showed that pre-disaster mitigation activities save society much more than they cost, but people have not heavily invested in mitigation, partly because owners bear the cost but receive only a small part of the benefit. A Roadmap to Resilience Incentivization proposes a set of incentives by which finance, insurance, real estate, and government infrastructure stakeholders share more fairly the mitigation costs.

The roadmap examines stakeholder motivations, suggests incentivization mechanisms and pilot studies, and outlines standards and data to institutionalize incentivization nationally.

More information here

The Clean State WA Jobs Plan sets out an ambitious program of action on climate change and job creation in Western Australia.

The Plan presents 26 ideas which could lead to the creation of 200,000 jobs across the state. The ideas presented by Clean State WA have been chosen because of their potential to deliver multiple benefits: economic benefit, social outcomes, and action on climate change.

The Clean State WA Jobs Plan targets ten key industries, including energy, buildings, transport, industry and circular economy. Ideas outlined in the Plan include:

• Energy – capacity for 12,665 jobs
  • Idea 1, 8,650 jobs: Repower WA with renewable energy: 90% by 2030
  • Idea 2, 4,015 jobs: ‘Bright Sparks’ solar powered schools program
• Buildings – capacity for 63,490 jobs
  • Idea 3, 59,660 jobs: Build 15,000 new, low-carbon social housing homes
  • Idea 4, 3,830 jobs: Repower and retrofit WA’s 44,000 social housing homes
• Transport – capacity for 6,325 jobs
  • Idea 5, 5,220 jobs: Make WA the world’s best place to cycle
  • Idea 6, 350 jobs: Deliver a tram network for Perth, with WA-made trams
  • Idea 7, 120 jobs: WA-made electric bus fleet
  • Idea 8, 635 jobs: Powering ahead with electric vehicles

More information here

A new guide highlighting the opportunities reuse excess construction materials in WA projects has been developed by Active Sustainability and Foundations Research.

WA Construction Resources – Recovered Construction and Demolition Materials Resource Guide is supported by industry research which finds there is an abundance of recovered material available that are typically cheaper than virgin products, and that can perform better when used correctly.

The Guide aims to:

• increase awareness and knowledge to enable a better uptake of recovered C&D materials;
• lead to a reduction in virgin material usage;
• divert valuable resources currently going to landfill.

It seeks to address information gaps between WA developers, builders, consultants and recycling contractors.

More information here

The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has released new free house designs to support homebuilders and industry to design energy efficient homes.

The ‘Design For Place’ plans incorporate energy efficient design principles, such as smart solar passive design, and can be used by homeowners, designers, architects and builders. They have been designed by an architect in collaboration with an energy assessor and have variations to suit a range of Australian climates and a predicted NatHERS rating of 7 Stars or more.

Each ‘Design For Place’ plan comes with a design pack containing predicted energy rating outcomes, construction specifications and background information to support discussions with architects, designers or builders.’

More information here

Billions of dollars of industrial buildings risk becoming ‘stranded assets’ if they can’t show that they are low or zero carbon, warns a new report from the Australian and New Zealand Green Building Councils.

Green Star in focus: The case for sustainable industrial buildings finds that new Green Star certified industrial buildings produce 66% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard buildings and shows that a minimal 2% upfront cost to support green design can result, on average, in lifecycle savings of 20% of total construction costs.

The report underscores that the technology, design, materials and expertise are available now to build more sustainable buildings which will meet investors’ growing demand for future-proofed investments that uphold environmental and social governance principles.

More information here

New Zealand’s Auckland Council have adopted Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan, which centres on cutting transport emissions, decarbonising the built environment and transitioning to a clean energy system.

The Plan provides a roadmap for reducing emissions to net zero by 2050, via an interim target of 50% emissions reductions by 2030. It adopts a precautionary approach to climate change adaptation where the City will plan and build resilience into its initiatives to prepare for the potentially severe risks associated with climate change.

Actions outlined in the Climate Change Plan relevant to ASBEC’s priorities include:

• Built Environment:
  • Action B1. Ensure our approach to planning and growth aligns with low carbon, resilient outcomes
  • Action B2. Ensure new infrastructure is planned and designed to minimise climate risks and lifecycle emissions
  • Action B3: Ensure the management of existing infrastructure increases climate resilience and reduces emissions
  • Action B4: Identify and deliver alternative water supply options to address population growth and climate change while protecting and enhancing te Mauri o te Wai
  • Action B5: Encourage sustainable design and construction for new buildings
  • Action B6: Deliver and support retrofit programmes to transition to low-carbon, resilient, healthy buildings
  • Action B8: Ensure public spaces support a low carbon, climate resilient Auckland and optimise multi-functional benefits
  • Action B9: Establish and rapidly scale low carbon, resilient precincts across Auckland
• Transport:
  • Action T2. Make travelling by public transport more appealing than using personal vehicles
  • Action T3. Rapidly increase access to bicycles, micro-mobility devices and the safe, connected, and dedicated infrastructure that supports their use
  • Action T4. Rapidly improve safety, connectivity, and amenity of walking infrastructure
  • Action T5. Accelerate the transition of our passenger and light commercial vehicle fleet to low emissions vehicles
  • Action T7. Enhance the resilience of our transport network
• Natural Environment:
  • Action N3: Integrate connected, nature-based solutions in development planning
• Economy:
  • Action E3. Accelerate the decarbonisation of Auckland’s business sector
  • Action E4. Ensure Aucklanders are prepared for the transition to a zero-carbon economy
  • Action E5. Leverage public sector and large business procurement to deliver climate outcomes for Auckland
  • Action E6. Manage our resources to deliver a zero waste, circular economy
• Energy & Industry:
  • Action EN1. Reduce process heat and industrial process emissions in the Auckland region
  • Action EN6: Support energy demand management technologies, tools and techniques to address Auckland’s energy use, including peak loads.

More information here

The Green Building Council of Australia have released a draft Green Star for Homes Standard which will certify that homes which designed and constructed to the standard are healthy, resilient and energy efficient

The Standard represents a key tool to drive the transformation of the residential sector and create a market for more sustainable, better performing homes.

Achieving Green Star Homes certification will require applicants to meet a range of criteria across three primary categories:

• Healthy: Green Star Certified homes will need to be well ventilated to prevent the growth of mould and built to minimise the entry of pollutants, such as bushfire smoke. They will need to be thermally comfortable, use materials that are low or non-toxic and have high quality lighting installed.
• Resilient: Green Star Certified homes will need to be built with proactive measures to be better than Code at withstanding natural disasters and future climate change conditions such as bushfires, flooding, and heat stress. The draft Standard proposes that a Green Star Certified home achieve a 40% reduction in water usage when compared against a reference home with measures such as landscaping to mitigate heat stress.
• Positive: Green Star Certified homes will need to be net zero energy meaning that they have been built to generate sufficient renewable energy to power all estimated regulated loads as well as estimated appliances and plug loads. They do not use gas, major appliances including refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers must have a minimum 4-star energy efficiency rating, solar systems must be battery ready and all windows must be factory built double glazed IGU (Insulated Glass Units).

To achieve widespread change at scale, the Standard is primarily targeted at volume home builders and large-scale residential developers, from whom it has already received strong support. Stockland, Mirvac, Metricon and Rawson Homes, along with Chatham Homes, Passive House, Landcom and Development Victoria have all committed to piloting the new draft Standard through the early access program.

Consultation on the draft standard will run until 30 October 2020.

More information here

Some of Australian industry’s largest companies have come together to support a new initiative that will see them work together to better understand pathways to achieving net zero emissions in supply chains.

The Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative is convened by ClimateWorks Australia and Climate-KIC Australia, in collaboration with the Energy Transitions Commission.

The initiative aims to accelerate action towards achieving net zero emissions in supply chains by mid-century across five critical supply chains of the Australian economy: steel, aluminium, liquified natural gas, other metals (such as lithium, copper and nickel) and chemicals (including explosives and fertiliser). These five sectors collectively contribute more than a quarter of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions and generate exports worth around $160 billion.

BHP, Woodside, BlueScope Steel, BP Australia, Orica, APA Group, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers – which together represent 14 per cent of Australian industrial emissions – have signed on to the Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative. They are joined by National Australia Bank, Schneider Electric and AustralianSuper, who represent the broader system of investments, services, products and knowledge that will be key to supporting industry action towards net-zero supply chains.

More information here

A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) has flagged the huge potential of the HVAC&R sector to reduce global emissions.

Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report notes that coordinated international action on energy-efficient, climate-friendly cooling could avoid as much as 460 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next four decades.

It sets out 10 high-level approaches, ranging from national cooling action plans and building codes, to phasing-down the use of HFC refrigerants, better technician training and more sustainable cold chains. The report says countries can institutionalize many of these actions by integrating them into their implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

The report also highlights the importance of making cooling more energy- efficient through measures such as Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and labelling.

More information here

The EU will work towards a green recovery following a landmark decision by European leaders to adopt a €1.82 trillion budget and COVID-19 recovery package.

Thirty 30% of the total expenditure will target climate-related projects, to be invested between 2021 and 2027. Projects will comply with the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050, the EU’s 2030 climate targets and the Paris Agreement.

Almost €2.2b will be invested towards 140 transport projects. These projects include the construction of EV charging points on the road network, short-sea-shipping projects based on alternative fuels and the installation of on-shore power supply for ports to cut emissions from docked ships.

European Council decision here

Fifth Estate summary article here

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant stalling of construction projects, finds a new survey by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA).

The survey of Institute members revealed that almost two-thirds (64.87%) of respondents have had projects stalled as a direct result of COVID-19. Projects affected ranged in scale with the biggest impacts felt on projects valued between $1million and $5 million (30.48%) and $10 million to $50 million (15.75%).

The survey also indicated that almost 1 in 8 survey respondents had lost their job or suffered a change in their employment status as a result of the economic impacts from COVID-19.

AIA urges governments to consider further stimulus measures to support one of the economy’s biggest employing sectors. It identifies energy efficiency incentives, public building upgrades and investment in social and affordable housing as priority areas for stimulus.

The survey was conducted in June 2020 and comprises data from 428 responses.

More information here

The Climate Change Authority have released a report on an economic stimulus package in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Economic Recovery, Resilience & Prosperity after the Coronavirus notes that stimulus measures could build Australia’s resilience to the economic impacts of a changing climate and position Australia to take advantage of our abundant clean energy resources and emerging low-emissions technologies. It presents this opportunity as a ‘triple-win’ of economic recovery, resilience and prosperity in a low-emissions world.

The report identifies six areas for stimulus opportunities, one of which is ‘Boosting Jobs and Reducing Costs with Energy Productivity.’ It highlights the potential for investment in energy efficiency to deliver up to $20 billion in financial savings by 2030 and create an additional 120,000 jobs.

Key recommendations and observations that align with ASBEC priorities include:

• Pursuing energy efficiency improvements to create additional jobs, drive down energy costs and emissions and improve health, productivity and resilience outcomes.
• Using tax incentives such as an extended instant asset write-off scheme or providing accelerated depreciation for energy efficiency upgrades.
• Supporting household energy efficiency particularly for vulnerable households.
• Using financial incentives to drive accelerated uptake of energy efficiency in existing buildings.
• Undertaking targeted retrofits and introducing energy efficiency standards for public housing.
• Pursuing energy efficiency improvements in government owned and leased buildings (for example, hospitals, universities, galleries and government office buildings).

More information here

The New Zealand Government has introduced a Building for Climate Change programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for buildings and the construction sector and strengthen its resilience to climate change.

The Building for Climate Change program introduces two frameworks that set a series of targets (complemented by supporting initiatives) for new buildings, with a plan for tightening the targets over time:

• Transforming operational efficiency: this framework will set upper limits for new buildings to obtain a consent under the Building Act 2004. The framework will set levels of efficiency for energy use and water use. It will also set defined comfort levels including temperature ranges and air quality that will need to be achieved for consent.
• Reducing whole of life embodied carbon: This framework will set mandatory reporting requirements as well as targets that will need to be kept under to gain consent. It will consider the allowed level of greenhouse gas emissions from materials used in construction, the construction process, disposing of construction waste and disposal of the building at the end of its life.

The NZ Government will spend the next year engaging and consulting with the building and construction sector. From 2021, a group of initiatives will be launched under the program.

More information here

Australian builders have joined the growing Declare movement, with over 70 building and construction groups declaring a Climate & Biodiversity Emergency.

Builders Declare calls for an industry-wide mobilisation to protect the world from the twin emergencies of climate change and biodiversity loss. It includes commitments to a more energy efficient and low carbon built environment, with signatories pledging to:

• Advocate for faster change in our industry towards an improved standard of construction and more regenerative construction practices.
• Establish climate and biodiversity mitigation principles as the key measure of our industry’s success: demonstrated through awards, prizes, listings, & information sessions.
• Create buildings of a superior quality and performance, to meet the challenges of a low carbon future.
• Construct buildings that require minimal energy input to maintain a satisfactory internal living environment.
• Embrace the shift to low embodied carbon materials, and prioritising materials with minimal environmental impact more broadly.
• Implement on-site waste management and construction systems to reduce, reuse and recycle

More information here

ASBEC strongly supports a new initiative to coordinate an international response to improving the resilience of the built environment.   At a time when the level of risk to the built environment is increasing globally due to greater intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, international cooperation is key to ensuring our built environment can weather the storms ahead.

The Australian Building Codes Board, which oversees issues relating to the health, safety, amenity and accessibility, and sustainability of Australian buildings, has teamed up with the National Research Council of Canada, the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and the International Code Council to launch the Global Resiliency Dialogue, with the purpose of sharing information and best practice for creating a resilient built environment.

As a first step, they have today released the Findings on Changing Risk and Building Codes statement, endorsed by building sector organisations from across the world. The statement emphasises the need for building codes to adapt to the changing risk from extreme weather events as the effects of global climate change grow.

“Australia’s built environment includes the places where we live, work, play and educate our kids. We rely on our built environment for our health and prosperity, but it is vulnerable to climate change.” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou.  “Our building code can play a vital role in protecting us from a future of extreme weather and wild fluctuations in temperature.”

“Like COVID-19, climate change knows no borders and the best response is an international one. Strong building codes, which take climate change into account, are the key to buildings which are safer, healthier, more energy efficient and sustainable.” Suzanne continued.

ASBEC’s Preparing for Change report noted that building codes tend to be slow and reactive. To meet Australia’s need for a resilient built environment in the future, building codes need to be based on reliable data, a performance based approach and rigorous cost benefit analysis to ensure proposed changes are realistic. Regular reviews of Australia’s building code, and collaborating to share research and information, are critical to adapt our built environment in the face of catastrophic climate change.

ASBEC is delighted to support the Global Resiliency Dialogue as it strives to support a built environment that we can all thrive within as we meet the challenges of the future.

Read more about the Global Resiliency Dialogue

Download the Findings on Changing Risk and Building Codes statement

Download ASBEC’s full media release

Developed by Beyond Zero Emissions, the Million Jobs Plan provides a framework to deliver one million new jobs in clean energy and low emissions sectors to help rebuild Australia’s post-COVID economy.

In the first phase of this plan, BZE have identified seven key sectors across our economy where strategic investment over the next five years would have the most impact and create the most jobs:

• Energy
• Building
• Manufacturing
• Transport
• Recycling
• Land Use
• Training

It is identified that these jobs can be distributed around Australia, including in cities and regions already under pressure from the closure of traditional heavy industry and manufacturing, historical droughts and fires, and high unemployment. Alongside the delivery of practical projects and modernisation of our industries, the Plan includes a focus on reskilling existing workforces to support their transition to clean energy and low emissions sectors.

The next stage of the projectwill include shortlisting several priority projects across Australia that will be presented to the government over the coming months, along with the private investors and partnerships needed to realise these projects.

More information here

The Government Architect of NSW has released Greener Places, a design framework for urban green infrastructure.

The framework seeks to capture collective aspiration and expectations in planning, designing and delivering green infrastructure in urban areas across NSW. It aims to help create a healthier, more liveable, and sustainable urban environment by improving community access to recreation and exercise, supporting walking and cycling connections, and improving the resilience of our urban areas.

It outlines four principles to help deliver green infrastructure in NSW:

1. Integration: combine green infrastructure with urban development and grey infrastructure
2. Connectivity: create an interconnected network of open space
3. Multifunctionality: deliver multiple ecosystem services simultaneously
4. Participation: involve stakeholders in development and implementation

More information here

Clean State, a Western Australian advocacy body for action on climate change, is advocating for a Low Carbon Social Housing Construction stimulus package, which would see the construction of 15,000 low-carbon social housing homes across the state and create 58,500 jobs.

The organisation says housing construction is one of the most powerful job keepers and economic multipliers across the economy and that stimulus spending on social housing provides one of the best opportunities to save existing jobs in the housing sector and create new jobs, while delivering the benefit of providing much-needed social housing for Western Australia’s most vulnerable.

Under their proposed package, Clean State has advocated for:

• 15,000 new social housing dwellings be built to 7.5-star (NatHERS rating) and the ‘Improved Liveability’ accessibility standard within three years.
• Each home is provided with 3kw rooftop solar systems (and battery systems to multi-unit dwellings) to reduce power bills for tenants
• Leverages that support the local low-emission building materials sector’s use of sustainable building products
• The use of government-owned land and prioritisation of sites along future transit routes so as to catalyse urban regeneration and affordable living in these sites.

More information here

A new report released by the IEA’s Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency has demonstrated how energy efficiency could play a central role in fixing the social and economic damage of the COVID-19 crisis.

Recommendations of the Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency outlines 10 key recommendations to support governments in achieving more ambitious action on energy:

1. Prioritise cross-cutting energy efficiency action for its economic, social and environmental benefits
2. Act to unlock efficiency’s job creation potential
3. Create greater demand for energy efficiency solutions
4. Focus on finance in the wider context of scaling up action
5. Leverage digital innovation to enhance system-wide efficiency
6. The public sector should lead by example
7. Engage all parts of society
8. Leverage behavioural insights for more effective policy
9. Strengthen international collaboration
10. Raise global energy efficiency ambition

These recommendations highlight important approaches to designing and implementing policies to unlock the advantages that energy efficiency offers to economies and societies around the world.

More information here

An advocacy agenda released today by a coalition of industry bodies is calling on governments to make every building count in Australia’s economic recovery.

The sector focused platform, which leverages recommendations from the flagship report Every Building Counts highlights ways that energy efficiency building programs can boost construction activity and jobs whilst addressing long-term challenges such as the transition to net zero emissions.

“Our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic must be about job creation, driving business activity and ensuring we’re on a pathway to emissions reduction,” said Davina Rooney, Green Building Council of Australia Chief Executive.

“Energy efficient buildings present a huge opportunity to deliver on all of these fronts. Energy efficiency is jobs intensive, and historically we’ve seen many governments investing in building performance upgrades following major economic disasters to great effect.”

“These recommendations answer the call for high quality buildings and infrastructure, and carry the potential to create more than 90,000 job years of employment through jobs-rich projects that make the most of local supply chains,” said Luke Menzel, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency Council.

“We know that investments in energy efficient buildings brings many benefits for our businesses, households and industry, from energy bill savings, reduced pressure on the energy system to greater sector competitiveness and improved health and wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable Australians.”

“Beyond the pandemic, Australia’s long-term prosperity depends on dealing with other long-term challenges – including the transition to net zero emissions,” said Ken Morrison, Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia.

“Business, industry and consumer groups are united in calling on the government to make sure that our economic recovery efforts includes a focus on addressing this issue. We know that buildings can accelerate emissions reduction and energy transitions.”

“Whilst buildings are responsible for almost a quarter of our national emissions, most of the solutions required to decarbonise the sector are already mature and available.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, Executive Director of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council.

“The challenge is for these solutions to become widely deployed.

“In the current climate, it is more important than ever to leverage the potential of every building to create a sustainable and strong economy. More than ever, every building must count.”

Key opportunities highlighted in Building Efficiency for Jobs and Growth, include:

1. Improve the comfort and performance of residential homes through targeted equipment upgrades and incentives for deeper retrofits, with a priority for social housing and low income and vulnerable households
2. Drive commercial building upgrades through tax incentives and establish a ‘Smart Building Fund’ to support mid-tier building owners to rate and guide the upgrade of their buildings
3. Embark on an ambitious program to upgrade schools and hospitals and other government owned and occupied buildings with the Commonwealth committing to match funding from state and territory governments up to $150m in each jurisdiction
4. Empower building owners, buyers and renters with a single national rating scheme for home energy performance and prioritise its development in line with the recent recommendations from the King Review
5. Undertake a rapid review of skills needs around energy efficiency, and roll out priority measures to support workers transitioning from other sectors

Read Building Efficiency for Jobs and Growth

Download the full media release here

The UK-based Green Finance Institute have issued Financing energy efficient buildings: the path to retrofit at scale.

In December 2019, the Green Finance Institute established the Coalition for the Energy Efficiency of Buildings to stimulate action across the finance sector to support the decarbonisation of UK homes.

The report outlines the results from the Coalition’s first phase of work including a focused review of the domestic retrofit market, a portfolio of 21 scalable ‘demonstrator’ projects that were designed to unlock the barriers to investment, and policy recommendations that establish a conducive environment for rapid adoption and scale-up of energy efficiency improvements.

The report identifies further government policy measures that would help bolster the commerciality and scalability of the demonstrator projects, while also responding to the social and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. A key recommendation is the inclusion of both energy efficiency and climate resilience investment in the government’s economic recovery plans.

More information here

A structural transformation of the transport sector will be needed if environmentally sustainable, green economies are to become a reality, finds a new report issued by the International Labour Organisation and UN Economic Commission for Europe.

The report examines the employment implications of four “green transport” scenarios in 56 countries in North America, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, comparing a ‘business-as-usual’ approach with scenario-based projections that run up to 2030. These options envisage an accelerated expansion of public transport and the electrification of private passenger and freight transport.

The study finds that 10 million additional jobs could be created worldwide if 50 per cent of all vehicles manufactured were electric. In addition, almost 5 million new jobs could be created worldwide if UNECE countries doubled investment in public transport.

Other factors that could support job creation outside transport include the electrification of private passenger and freight transport, particularly if the electricity came from renewable sources. The report says that greener transport systems would also result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution, and traffic congestion.

More information here

The Federal Government have announced that a new National Federation Reform Council (NFRC) will replace Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meetings, with National Cabinet to remain at the centre of the NFRC.

National Cabinet will focus specifically on job creation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to meet regularly and be briefed directly by experts to inform decision making. During the COVID-19 epidemic, National Cabinet will meet every two weeks via telepresence, however it is foreseen that beyond COVID, meetings will take place once a month.

The Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR), consisting of Commonwealth Treasurers, will report to National Cabinet.

Taskforces will continue in critical areas.

National Cabinet, the CFFR and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) will meet in person as the National Federation Reform Council to focus on priority national issues.

More information here

New research from Curtin University highlights the important role that building energy codes can play in delivering national energy policy and climate policy outcomes for the building sector.

The potential contribution of building codes to climate change response policies for the built environment has been published in the Energy Efficiency Journal. The paper examines reform of Australia’s National Construction Code, demonstrating that building energy codes are a cost-effective greenhouse emission reduction instrument and also that market failures inhibit the effectiveness of conventional economic instruments in reducing building sector greenhouse emissions.

Researchers suggest that although building energy codes provide a potentially transformative intervention in the property market, their effectiveness is bedevilled by problems with enforcement and stakeholder behaviour in service. They recommend that targeted policy packages which bridge identified gaps between presumptive building performance objectives and outcomes actually observed in practice is necessary to address these impediments.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has called on Australian governments to build better homes and help Australia’s post-COVID economy.

Tomorrow’s Homes, a new platform released today, explains that with Australia’s population forecast to reach 41 million people by 2050, we’ll need to build up to 197,000 homes each year. At a time of economic uncertainty, building better performing homes can protect jobs, revitalise the economy, while saving $600 million on energy bills and creating healthier, more comfortable homes for Australians.

“Australia is already on a pathway to sustainable homes. Standards in our National Building Code are tightening up as we strive to improve energy efficiency and meet our international climate obligations. Accelerating this transition could deliver more than half a billion dollars for the construction industry over the next decade, while creating 7,000 jobs and saving Australians $600 million on their energy bills at a time when COVID-19 has damaged our economy.” said ASBEC’s President, Professor Ken Maher AO.

“Tomorrow’s Homes shows how investing in better design for our housing can deliver a double benefit. If implemented now, it can protect jobs and keep money flowing to sustain our economy. In the long term, it can lower energy bills, and reduce carbon emissions thus contributing to meeting Australia’s climate change obligations.  Importantly this will keep Australians healthier and more comfortable.” Prof Maher continued.

“To be ready to reap the rewards of better buildings, we’ll need to upskill our construction industry – and we’ve got the perfect opportunity to do that right now. Industry professionals could use downtime from the COVID-19 crisis to skill up on the latest best practice features. A major pilot project constructing demonstration homes would assist in training our tradies, while also revealing the benefits of sustainable homes to consumers in a tangible way.” Prof Maher concluded.

“Research shows that, while consumers value the benefits of comfort and affordability provided by sustainable homes, they lack the technical language and know-how to ask for these features. We must highlight the features and benefits of sustainable homes in a way that makes sense to everyone.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, Executive Director of ASBEC.

“To help consumers talk about and understand the benefits of sustainable features, we should build awareness using brand ambassadors that consumers know and trust. We need to appeal to the aspirations of homeowners by marketing sustainable housing via online, magazine, and TV lifestyle content – and make sure it’s focused on entertainment and storytelling, not boring technicalities. At the same time, peer-to-peer support via social media will help consumers explain the benefits and the process of retrofitting to one another, growing momentum for better homes.” she continued.

“A system of certification would help consumers know they can trust the services and the products that make their homes sustainable. Benchmarking would establish clear standards, so consumers know exactly what they’re buying.” Suzanne explained.

“Finally, we need the financial tools to value sustainable homes. This means training valuers and the real estate industry to recognise and quantify the benefits of particular sustainable features. Incentives such as lower interest rates on mortgages for sustainable homes should be delivered through the finance industry.” Suzanne concluded.

The COVID-19 crisis means that business as usual is not an option for Australia’s construction sector. If we start laying the foundations to build Tomorrow’s Homes now, Australians can enjoy a revitalised post-COVID economy, healthier homes, and lower energy bills into the future.

Read Tomorrow’s Homes here

Download the full media release here

A diverse coalition of organisations has called on Australian governments to bolster their jobs and recovery strategies with measures to reduce emissions and accelerate successful energy transitions across all Australia’s regions and economic sectors.

The coalition, including the Energy Efficiency Council, Property Council of Australia, WWF, and ACOSS, have highlighted energy efficiency and energy management as particularly promising areas for investment. In their statement, the organisations identify housing upgrades, appliance upgrades, smart meters and sub-metering, distributed energy generation and storage, fuel switching and support for better energy management as key areas for such investment.

They note that if done well, these improvements could deliver a range of benefits including lower energy bills, reduced strain on a rapidly changing energy system, delivery healthier homes and reduce carbon emissions.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the response to the House of Representatives Inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the development of cities.

The Building Up & Moving Out report, outlining the findings of the Inquiry, provided a wealth of insights into the way in which better outcomes can be achieved for cities and their citizens.  The report was bolstered by the high level of multi-partisan support of the members involved, demonstrating that good urban policy is a priority across all shades of politics.

“ASBEC has been very pleased to see many of our priorities reflected in Building Up & Moving Out.  The recommendations in this report support better outcomes for our communities and bang for buck from our infrastructure investments.” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou.

The Australian Government’s response to the report emphasised the priorities of liveable cities and more optimal settlement patterns in Australia, highlighting the role of the Centre for Population in the Treasury, and the value of the National Cities Performance Framework.

“In the face of Australia’s biggest environmental, economic and health challenges, now is the time for the Australian Government pull the levers to ensure our urban environments support our communities to survive and thrive.” said ASBEC’s President, Prof Ken Maher AO.

“The drivers for more resilient, liveable and sustainable communities are critical to the health of our economy.  “Now, more than ever, it is imperative that the Government substantiates their broad support for the report with a clear plan for action and timing.”

Read full ASBEC media release here

Building Up and Moving Out

Australian Government response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities report: Building Up & Moving Out

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has released their latest Investment Insight on Clean energy and community housing.

The paper provides an update of CEFC-financed initiatives undertaken by community housing providers SGCH and Housing Plus to build sustainable homes for low income households. Both providers have targeted areas of high household energy demand to cut energy use, lower emissions and achieve higher NatHERS ratings. Their priority sustainability goals are:

• Develop portfolios of new homes that achieve an average minimum of 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating System (NatHERS)
• Increase tenant comfort through energy efficient heating and cooling
• Improve sustainability in existing properties through retrofitting

SGCH and Housing Plus invested an additional $5,000 to $6,000 per dwelling to achieve the targeted 7-star NatHERS rated homes compared with the minimum compliant home – a premium that was substantially lower than anticipated. In return, SGCH estimates that tenants save $500 a year on their energy bills.

In addition to emissions reductions, the economic advantages associated with more sustainable homes are particularly beneficial for low-income households; with research from ACOSS finding that low-income households spend an average 6.4% of their income on energy, compared to high-income households who spend 1.5% of their income on energy.

More information here

A new report from the New Zealand Green Building Council has urged the NZ Government to invest in better performing homes, suggesting that such action could provide healthier, more energy efficient and comfortable homes while also providing a multibillion dollar economic boost.

A Green Recovery shows that improving 120,000 New Zealand homes to the healthy standards would deliver a net benefit of $1.5 -$3.1 billion, lower carbon emissions, improve health outcomes and create over 1,000 new jobs.

The paper presents three recommendations:

1. To double the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to 100,000 houses and expand the program to cover energy efficient lighting and hot water.
2. Stimulate private investment by expanding targeted rates schemes and encouraging local councils to introduce voluntary targeted rates schemes, which allow home owners to pay off heating and insulation through their rates.
3. To promote the HomeFit standard, to encourage homeowners to invest in making their houses healthier and more energy efficient.

NZGBC highlights that these recommendations align with the government’s major policy initiatives around energy efficiency, sustainability and housing.

More information here

GBCA have released a strategy for the delivery of a new standard for Australian homes: Green Star for Homes.

Green Star for Homes is proposed as a new standard for Australian homes that aims to ensure new homes are built to a higher standard which is focused on health, resilience and net zero energy.

Green Star for Homes: A strategy for the future outlines GBCA’s vision for homes and strategy for delivering its proposed standard. The strategy builds on extensive consultation undertaken with built environment stakeholders and provides an opportunity for industry and government to provide further feedback on the proposed new standard. GBCA propose to achive its vision for homes by:

• Setting a common guidance to rate new and existing homes
• Educating customers and facilitate industry uptake
• Advocating to support industry through a seamless transition

A comprehensive pilot period will test the standard with industry and investors to ensure it is fit for purpose in helping support consumer demand, provide a competitive advantage for volume home builders, and assure outcomes for banks, investors and insurers.

More information here

A circular economy could deliver Australia a $23 billion GDP boost by 2025, according to a new report produced by KPMG.

Commissioned by the CSIRO, Potential economic pay-off of a circular economy for Australia investigates the potential economic effects of circular opportunities in three key sectors of interest: Food, Transport and the Built Environment.

The report identifies energy efficient buildings and compact dwellings as key circular economy opportunities for the built environment. Lowering energy consumption in buildings is found to represent the greatest impact in dollar terms, with KPMG predicting such measures to provide over $96,000 million in GDP by 2047-8. It estimates that optimising space in the construction of new dwellings could deliver approximately $32 million in GDP by 2047-8 and provide the equivalent of nearly 35,000 full time jobs.

ASBEC and Climateworks’ recent report, Built to Perform (2018), was drawn upon in this study.

This report highlights a substantial pay-off under a circular economy that is above and beyond its environmental benefits, reinforcing findings for other countries and jurisdictions.

More information here

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has released An Action Plan for the Renovation Wave, setting forth a strategy to deliver climate-neutrality for Europe’s buildings by 2050 while supporting economic recovery post COVID-19.

BPIE’s Action Plan provides evidence-based recommendations for all actors across the value chain of the building sector, suggesting that they should embrace change and launch the renovation wave, which was first proposed by the European Commission’s Communication on the European Green Deal in December 2019.

BPIE envision that in a climate-neutral Europe, buildings will be:

• healthy and foster wellbeing
• part of the energy system infrastructure
• highly energy efficient
• circular in relation to their material
• fossil fuels free
• resilient to climate risks

The document emphasises that building sector can successfully contribute to the EU climate neutrality objective only if all actors move in the same direction.

More information here

Developed by National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Dodge Data & Analytics, the 2020 Green Single Family and Multifamily Homes SmartMarket Brief presents a portrait of green housing activity and marketplace trends in the US.

The Brief addresses four main topics: market activity, marketing, drivers and obstacles, and products and practices – drawing on data collected from over 1,500 surveys of home builders in America.

The study found that dedicated green builders were three times more likely to report that it did not cost more to build sustainably (12%) than builders with little engagement or experience with sustainable homes (4%). This data indicates that once builders conquer the learning curve, have teams that are comfortable with and experienced in green building practices, and realize economies of scale where possible, green building can be done cost effectively.

Other key findings include:

• Market Activity: Experience with achieving energy efficiency, improving indoor environmental quality and water efficiency are common among single family home builders, but homes incorporating a full range of green building practices are less common.
• Marketing: the opportunity to increase consumer demand makes marketing strategies particularly important. This may include targeting messages to different types of buyers and finding the most effective ways to communicate about green.
• Drivers and obstacles: Not only is consumer demand a top driver for future green building, but builders are very influenced by consumer perceptions about cost, performance and quality
• Products and Practices: Use of many products and practices improving energy efficiency is widespread in the home building industry, and other practices that promote water conservation, material resource conservation and improved indoor environmental quality are also quite common. Few builders, though, use renewable energy systems on the majority of their projects.

More information here

Infrastructure will play a central role in Australia’s economic recovery – and sustainable infrastructure can deliver an even bigger rebound, finds new research commissioned by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia.

An independent cost benefit analysis into the IS Rating Scheme finds infrastructure projects rated under the IS Rating Scheme will deliver up to $2.40 in benefit for every dollar spent.

The analysis, undertaken by RPS Group, monetised benefits such as carbon, water, ecology and air emissions and found that IS-certified as-built assets have delivered accumulated reductions of 14% in energy, 27% in water and 31% in materials when compared to standard practice.

Given the central role that infrastructure will play in the next wave of fiscal stimulus, ISCA is drawing on this study to call on all governments to rebound with five practical actions:

1. Mandate sustainability: Set the policy default for all infrastructure to sustainable and resilient, as well as economically productive
2. Prioritise productivity multipliers: Invest in projects that that deliver both productivity multipliers and non-market (benefits, including sustainability and liveability
3. Leverage procurement: Stimulate local economies by developing skills and capacity and drive nation-wide innovation across the supply chain
4. Commit to best practice: Adopt recognised standards on all shovel-ready projects to measure and achieve best practice sustainability performance
5. Embrace transparency: Use assured performance data to communicate the outcomes delivered for business, communities and the workforce.

More information here

The decision by the WA Government to significantly delay implementation of the latest updates to the National Construction Code (NCC) is deeply concerning at a time when energy efficiency is critical for supporting economic stimulus, according to the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

ASBEC President, Professor Ken Maher AO said that stalling the introduction of better standards for new buildings and fitouts will only delay the benefits to businesses, households and the wider economy.

“This is a disappointing outcome. The changes in the 2019 Code were developed through extensive engagement with industry and using evidence based research.  COVID-19 restrictions have impacted on construction productivity and appropriate concessions can be made to accommodate last-minute delays.

“Yet, without broader consultation, the WA Government has deferred the implementation of the changes by an entire year, which means delaying the economic benefit to energy consumers and businesses. Such a decision makes absolutely no sense in the current environment, where every economic lever is critical.” said Prof Maher.

ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou said that failure to act decisively on carrying forward the changes presents a missed opportunity.

“The evidence is in. Better performing buildings deliver a myriad of benefits such as lowered energy bills for household and business consumers, reduced stress on the electricity network and supports a least cost pathway to decarbonisation.”

Research by ASBEC and ClimateWorks in 2018 showed that strong energy standards for new buildings in Western Australia could, between now and 2050, reduce energy costs by up to $4 billion, deliver at least 10 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings and save households up to $1,000 per year in energy bills.  Nationally, stronger energy standards could reduce energy bills by $27 billion and cut energy network costs by up to $12.6 billion.

The latest update to the NCC represented the first major overhaul of the commercial provisions since 2010 and delivered a package of measures focused on reducing commercial energy consumption by a potential 35 per cent, promising to usher in a major step-change around the country.

“In the weeks and months ahead, we need leadership that delivers for every part of the economy, including our buildings. Ramping up building quality and efficiency should be a key part of every government’s arsenal to drive more economic benefits particularly at this critical time.” said Ms Toumbourou.

“The National Construction Code sets minimum standards for all new buildings and fitouts, so adopting the latest changes to the Code should be one of the first places that governments look to deliver improved building energy performance.”

Download media release here

An infrastructure-led recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19 should deliver productivity and liveability-boosting projects that drive sustainability across the built environment and its supply chain, says GBCA in a new policy statement: Building to Bounce Back.

Highlighting the value of infrastructure investment for Australia’s economic recovery, the statement calls on the Australian Government and state governments to maximise the potential of future rebuilding efforts, once the pandemic health impact has stabilised.

The statement outlines six recommendations as a foundation for the GBCA, working in partnership with government, to support Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. Seek to maximise productivity, liveability and sustainability outcomes through project selection and business case development.
2. Recognise whole-of-life benefits upfront and prioritise projects that deliver significant liveability and sustainability dividends.
3. Use procurement to build competitive advantage in the supply chain, encourage skills and business investment, and drive demand for more efficient products and technologies.
4. Bring forward the best lessons learnt from existing projects and scale up best practice approaches to asset design, construction and operation.
5. Maintain regular dialogue with industry to ensure transparency, industry coordination and support business confidence.
6. Collect and analyse data to demonstrate progress against project objectives and communicate outcomes to provide accountability.

More information here

“Not only does climate action remain critical over the next decade, but investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and the transition to a lower-carbon future can drive significant near-term job creation while increasing economic and environmental resiliency,” says business management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

In a recent article, McKinsey & Company discuss how we can address climate change in a post-pandemic world and encourage leaders to consider three questions:

• What lessons can be learned from the current pandemic for climate change?
• What implications—positive or negative—could our pandemic responses hold for climate action?
• What steps could companies, governments, and individuals take to align our immediate pandemic response with the imperatives of sustainability?

More information here

Australia can be a net zero emissions nation by 2050 and stimulate the economy getting there, finds a new report from ClimateWorks.

Decarbonisation Futures sets out detailed evidence of how major sectors of the Australian economy can move to net zero emissions, in line with global goals of keeping warming below 1.5 or 2 degrees. The report suggests that Australia can do this by accelerating investment and deployment of technological solutions already available in sectors including electricity, buildings, transport, industry and agriculture and land.

The release of the report comes at an important time, highlighting how on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stimulus required to revive the economy will provide a critical opportunity to achieve decarbonisation to meet Australia’s international commitments while helping drive an economic recovery.

In the report, ClimateWorks propose that a transition to net zero can only happen with strong action from every level of government, businesses and individuals to support technology development, demonstration and deployment.

Analysis in the report builds on ClimateWorks’ previous report, Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation, published in 2014 with ANU and CSIRO.

More information here

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has launched a Task Force on the role buildings can play in reducing the burden of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

The goal of the Task Force is to define the critical role buildings, organizations and communities play in prevention and preparedness, resilience and recovery. It will aim to identify and develop a set of resources to help communities and organisations better manage their buildings, while also assessing ways in which the WELL Building Standard can be further strengthened to support prevention and preparedness, resiliency and recovery at this time and into the future.

More information here

The Climate Change Authority has released a new report setting out how Australia can further develop its emissions reduction policies and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the transition to a low-emissions global economy.

Prospering in a low-emissions world: An updated climate policy toolkit for Australia, provides an update 2016 report, Towards a Climate Policy Toolkit: Special Review on Australia’s Climate Goals and Policies on policies for meeting Australia’s emissions reduction commitments under the historic Paris Agreement.

The report presents 35 recommendations to help transition Australia to a low emissions future, building on the Government’s current climate change policy settings to drive down emissions in the transport, industrial, electricity, agriculture and land, and waste sectors.

Energy efficiency measures are identified as a key area for emissions reduction, with the Authority proposing energy efficiency as one of the cheapest ways to reduce emissions. Recommended actions outlined in the report include targeted programs to improve energy efficiency in public housing and other government owned and leased buildings and for priority groups such as low income households, and accelerating the introduction and/or enhancement of energy efficiency standards for appliances, new buildings and the existing building stock. These recommendations align well with ASBEC’s priorities and the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

More information here

The Federal Government has announced funding for the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 (RACE for 2030) CRC and Building 4.0 CRC.

RACE for 2030

The Federal Government has announced is investing $68.5 million in the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 (RACE for 2030) CRC.

The RACE for 2030 CRC will lead collaborative research and innovation to grow Australian energy technology businesses, improve clean energy uptake, while at the same time tackling the grid stability challenges facing new energy technologies, with long-term benefits for all Australians.

The CRC’s potential benefits include reducing energy costs by up to 25 per cent, reducing emissions by up to 20 million tonnes and an $8 billion economic benefit by 2034.

RACE for 2030 CRC has generated around $280 million in cash and in-kind contributions from industry and researchers to drive its work which will be supported by the $68.5 million in Government support under round 21 of the CRC program.

More information here

Building 4.0 CRC

The Federal Government has committed $28 million towards to the Building 4.0 CRC, which seeks to deliver better buildings at lower cost and strengthen the human capacity needed to lead the building industry into a low carbon future.

The Building 4.0 CRC is guided by three targets: Better Buildings; New Efficiencies and Markets; and Building Human Capacity. These targets include a focus on developing sustainable and energy efficient buildings, reducing construction waste and promoting stronger connection and collaboration within industry.

The Building 4.0 CRC has generated a further $102.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions from industry and researchers, with major partners including Lendlease, Bluescope and Master Builders.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) congratulates the NSW Government on its commitment to progress a meaningful climate transition, through a comprehensive new plan.

“At a time when the resilience of our communities is at the forefront of our minds, it is heartening to see the NSW Government taking a leadership role in addressing the climate emergency; offering a bright vision amidst the current pall.” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou. “

Today’s release of the NSW Government’s Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 is focussed on growing jobs and the economy, whilst reducing emissions, via four “net zero priorities”: driving uptake of emissions reduction technologies; empowering consumers and businesses to make sustainable choices; investing in emissions reduction innovation; and leadership in NSW Government procurement.

The NSW Government has recognised the importance of built environment in reaching a bold emissions target, by prioritising measures including:

• Expansion of the NABERS rating scheme to major building types including schools, retirement living, industrial warehouses, retail tenancies, and supermarkets;
• Amendments to the National Construction Code and the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX);
• Growing the market for sustainable building materials; and
• Embedding sustainable building material standards and targets into the design and construction of major NSW Government infrastructure projects.

“A strong emphasis on resource-efficient Government procurement shows they are serious about walking the net zero talk!” said Ms Toumbourou. “As Australia’s largest economy, there is enormous potential for NSW to nudge the entire country towards a more climate-friendly trajectory.”

“We congratulate the NSW Government on setting this decisive course for a much-needed climate transition and are excited about working together to deliver a more sustainable, resilient and liveable built environment.” said Ms Toumbourou.

Read NSW Government Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030

Download full media release here

Infrastructure will play a critical role in supporting Australia’s transition to net zero emissions, according to a new paper released today.

Infrastructure contributes around 70 per cent of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Issues Paper: Reshaping Infrastructure for a net zero emissions future. The paper is published in partnership by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), ClimateWorks Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

“Most infrastructure built today will still be operating in 2050,” says Ainsley Simpson, CEO of ISCA. “By this point, all Australian states and territories are aiming to be at net zero emissions.”

Ms. Simpson says that infrastructure must respond to and support broader economic and social trends, one of which is decarbonisation of Australia’s economy.

“Infrastructure is facing pressure from both the public and private sector to prepare for net zero emissions,” said Ms Simpson.

“In addition to state and territory commitments, private investors are increasingly aligning their portfolios with net zero emissions,” she said.

Mr Michael Li, Senior Project Manager (Cities & Policy) at ClimateWorks Australia says infrastructure influences 15 per cent of Australia’s emissions directly and 55 per cent indirectly.

“Direct emissions occur across the life-cycle including in procurement, construction, operations and decommissioning. But the majority of emissions are associated with the end use of assets and the activities they enable,” said Mr Li.

“For example, providing public transport infrastructure close to population centres can reduce local road transport emissions,” he said.

Ms Suzanne Toumbourou, Executive Director of ASBEC, says that preparing infrastructure for a net zero emissions future is a shared responsibility between all stakeholders across the infrastructure lifecycle, including infrastructure advisors, investors, construction companies and operators.

“With billions of dollars in the infrastructure pipeline, and the need to rapidly rebuild infrastructure after this summer’s natural disasters, now is the time for consensus about what role infrastructure can play in achieving a net zero emissions future,” said Ms Toumbourou.

The Issues Paper will be a focal point for conversations amongst infrastructure stakeholders around reshaping the conception, planning, design, construction and operation of infrastructure for a net zero emissions future. Using the Issues Paper as a starting point, ISCA, ClimateWorks and ASBEC aim to work collaboratively with those responsible for planning, assessing, funding and delivering infrastructure.

ISCA, ClimateWorks and ASBEC will be actively engaging with infrastructure sector individuals and organisations and inviting them to this important conversation.

“We invite stakeholders from across the infrastructure sector to collaborate and participate in solutions-focused discussions that are essential to reshaping infrastructure for a net zero emissions future,” says Ms. Simpson.

Stakeholders who wish to participate in the conversation throughout 2020 and beyond are also invited to reach out directly to ISCA, ClimateWorks and ASBEC for updates.

The Issues Paper: Reshaping Infrastructure for a net zero emissions future was developed with the support of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Queensland Government.

Read the Issues Paper: Reshaping Infrastructure for a net zero emissions future 

Read the full joint media release from ISCA, ClimateWorks and ASBEC

In the face of a changing climate, Australia’s built environment is confronted with more challenges than ever before. A strategically and independently informed suite of national infrastructure priorities is critical in safeguarding the country’s future. The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the initiatives highlighted in the Infrastructure Priority List, including water, waste and coastal inundation.

“At the outset of this new decade, we have tackled the extremes of more record-breaking weather conditions, resulting in intense bushfires, smoke haze, floods, hail and dust storms,” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou.  “Australians are also contending with a growing and increasingly urbanised population putting increased pressure on cities and regions.”

“Resilience-building initiatives are essential to ensure that Australian communities adapt, grow and thrive.” said Suzanne. “The Infrastructure Priority List identifies several key initiatives to support our communities in a climate transition.  These include a coastal inundation protection strategy, a national water strategy, and national waste and recycling management.”

With these priorities now clearly identified, the onus sits with governments to take action where it is most needed and help plan for and secure a more resilient, productive and sustainable Australia for all of us.

Download ASBEC’s full media release here 

The RMIT Centre for Urban Research have developed a new digital platform mapping liveability across 21 major Australian cities to help decision-makers take action that improves the health and wellbeing of our community.

The Australian Urban Observatory draws on over 8 years of research by the Centre for Urban Research to map key liveability indicators including walkability, social infrastructure, transport, public open space and housing.

The Observatory provides information and understanding to support resource allocation, future policy action and support to create equitable, healthy and liveable places.

More information here

Renters are four times more likely than homeowners to struggle with the summer heat, according to a new report from tenant organisation Better Renting.

Home-Baked: Housing, Heat, and Health examines the health risks from heatwaves in relation to housing.

It finds that climate change and an aging population are likely to increase the health risks posed by heatwaves, especially among older Australians, people with mental health conditions, and the socially isolated.

The report makes the following recommendations to decision-makers:

• Improve the energy efficiency of housing stock
• Increase vegetation and street shading
• Facilitate access to public cool areas
• Facilitate a transition from gas heating to RCAC
• Encourage rooftop solar PV

More information here

The One Million Homes alliance, a broad collection of community, business and environment groups, have come together to call for the Victorian Government to set strong minimum energy performance standards for rental homes.

In a joint letter to the Victorian Government the alliance congratulated the state government on its Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 and proposed ‘rental reform package’ (Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020), however, noted that strong minimum standards are required to ensure that rental homes are safe and protect people from the elements.

The alliance recommends that the amended the Act and associated regulations include the following minimum standards for thermal safety and affordability:

• minimum standards for insulation, draught-proofing, lighting and hot water units
• minimum standards for insulation and draught-proofing
• strengthening the proposed two star energy requirement for heaters to four stars

More information here

The Planning Institute of Australia has declared a climate emergency, saying that now, more than ever, planners have a responsibility to integrate planning for climate change into their work.

PIA noted that planners are uniquely placed to bring together built environment and land management professionals and the community to deal with the complexities of planning in a changing climate.

This declaration aligns with PIA’s national position statement, Planning in a Changing Climate (2015), and its more recently adopted a target that “By 2050, new buildings, infrastructure and renovations will have net zero embodied carbon, and all buildings, including existing buildings, must be net zero operational carbon.”

More information here

The UK’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission have released a report on how to promote and increase the use of high-quality design for new build homes and neighbourhoods.

Living with beauty; promoting health, well-being and sustainable growth proposes a new development and planning framework which:

• Asks for Beauty
• Refuses Ugliness
• Promote Stewardship

The Commission proposes that these three aims be embedded in the planning system and in the culture of development. The report outlines policy proposals in the following areas:

1. Planning: create a predictable level playing field
2. Communities: bring the democracy forward
3. Stewardship: incentivise responsibility to the future
4. Regeneration: end the scandal of left behind place
5. Neighbourhoods: create places not just houses
6. Nature: re-green our towns and cities
7. Education: promote a wider understanding of placemaking
8. Management: value planning, count happiness, procure properly

The Commission calls for long-term government investment in these values, arguing for a stronger and more predictable planning system, for greater democratic involvement in planning decisions, and for a new model of long-term stewardship as the precondition for large developments.

More information here

As the concept of Zero Net Energy gains traction around the world, Arup have published a Five-minute guide to zero net energy in buildings.

The guide provides a brief introduction to the some of the key definitions, approaches, metrics, strategies and essential items required to help achieve zero net energy and carbon. It also showcases growth trends for ZNE buildings, policies around the globe, and highlights some of the notable projects that have achieved ZNE and Carbon.

More information here

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has compiled a list of 25 key climate actions for governments to implement by 2025 in their efforts to reduce emissions.

The actions focus on the five highest emitting economic sectors: agriculture, buildings, electricity, industry and transport – and are organised according to 5 policy levers: invest, regulate, tax and subsidise, lead by example, and inform and educate.

Five actions have been outlined in relation to the building sector:

• Ensure public procurement is climate-friendly and invest in sustainable buildings
• Put in place stringent climate-friendly building codes and standards
• Use tax and financial incentives to renovate existing buildings
• Mainstream sustainable building within urban and rural planning
• Educate planners and contractors on how to construct and maintain green buildings

More information here

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has launched a new green home loan to encourage the construction of energy efficient homes throughout Australia.

CEFC has committed $60 million to the program, which will deliver discounted interest rates to qualifying builders and home buyers.

The discounted rate will apply for up to five years for customers who buy or build homes which achieve a minimum of 7-stars under the NatHERS.

In announcing this new green home loan, the CEFC cited two reports produced by ASBEC and ClimateWorks: Low Carbon High Performance and Built to Perform. These reports recognise the significant emissions produced by Australia’s property sector and identify strengthened energy efficiency standards in residential buildings as an effective lever for driving emissions reductions.

Bank Australia is the first home loan provider to take up the CEFC finance, which has indicated that it will extend the Clean Energy Home Loan to existing homes over time.

More information here

The Australian Building Codes Board has published the outcomes report for its Energy efficiency: NCC 2022 and beyond scoping study – which outlined a proposed approach and scope of future changes to energy provisions for NCC 2022.

A total of 135 submissions were received from a broad range of individuals and groups. Key findings include:

• For residential buildings, the two options proposed in the Scoping Study attracted similar levels of support. However, questions were raised about their feasibility, particularly Option 1, which proposes net zero annual energy use (NZRE) for the regulated building services.
• The proposed quantified Performance Requirements for residential buildings were well supported by respondents. However, a number of respondents raised concern about their complexity, as well as the complexity of the residential changes in general.
• Respondents overwhelmingly supported the recommended baseline levels of energy efficiency for residential building services specified in the Trajectory.
• For both commercial and residential buildings, provision for the future installation of on-site renewables and electric vehicle (EV) charging was supported.

In addition to the scoping study, the ABCB will conduct a full public consultation process on the detailed changes proposed for NCC 2022, which is scheduled to occur in early 2021.

More information here

The Planning Institute of Australia have endorsed a national position statement, Planning in a Changing Climate, which recognises that the planning profession must urgently address the reality of a changing and degrading climate.

The commitment sees PIA adopt a target of net zero embodied carbon in all new buildings and net zero operational carbon in all buildings, including existing buildings, by 2050.

More information here

The Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organisation in the US, has developed a Building Electrification Action Plan to support the transition towards gas-free, electrified buildings in California.

The Action Plan describes and quantifies the benefits of electrification. It outlines how electrification drives lower household energy bills, creates 100,000 new jobs, improves public health by reducing combustible pollution and reduces the risk of fires and explosions.

It outlines five strategies for policymakers:

1. Establish a goal to reach zero-emission buildings no later than 2045;
2. Strengthen standards for buildings and appliances to reach zero emissions;
3. Improve affordability of electrification and prioritize low-income residents;
4. Educate and inspire consumers and the workforce; and,
5. Remove roadblocks and common barriers to electrification, particularly for low-income and environmental justice communities.

More information here

The Department of Environment and Energy and Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre have released two reports about building energy performance.

Closing the Gap between Design and Reality of Building Energy Performance

Closing the Gap between Design and Reality of Building Energy Performance explores the “Building Energy Performance Gap” (BEPG) in commercial buildings in Australia – wherein discrepancies occur between the design and reality of energy performance in buildings. The report finds that factors across the entire building life-cycle contribute to the BEPG. Based on the interviews of 28 experienced professionals and two case studies, two strategic frameworks have been developed to address the BEPG:

1. Framework to Address Design and Construction Stage Factors of BEPG: This Framework outlines: (a) Strategies for Better Regulation; (b) Strategies for the Project Team; (c) Suggestions for Training
2. Framework to Address Operational Stage Factors of BEPG: This Framework outlines: (a) Monitoring, Tracking and Fine-Tuning; (b) Collaboration with Occupants and Lease Agents; (c) Facility Managers’ Training and Support; (d) Better Documentation of Building Services; (e) Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives

Building Energy Performance Gap Issues: An International Review

The second report, Building Energy Performance Gap Issues: An International Review, offers a literature into the BEPG. Key findings from this review include:

• The performance gap is more significant in non-residential buildings, with smaller measured performance gaps in residences
• A major issue is the disconnect between the tools that are being used to identify the gap and their original intent
• There is no consistent estimate of the magnitude of the gap found across all of the sources reviewed.
• There is more that needs to be understood about the “prebound” effect, such that in “energy wasting” (often older) buildings the actual energy consumption is generally lower than predicted, whilst predicted energy use in low-energy buildings (or deep energy retrofits) seems to be subject to a bias toward overestimation of the energy reduction/savings
• the performance gap is not only a technical problem but also has behavioral components

The report outlines two major opportunities to address the performance gap: (1) more accurate predictions of expected performance, using assumptions more relevant to the expected building occupancy and operation, and (2) better management of the quality control process throughout the design, construction and operation processes to make sure that the design intent for greater efficiency is not lost at some point during the building’s life-cycle.

It suggests two key policy areas minimizing the performance gap:

• greater transparency of operational/measured energy performance (and not just relying on predicted performance through modeling);
• outcome-based policies that essentially regulate the operational performance of the building.

More information on Closing the Gap between Design and Reality of Building Energy Performance here

More information on Building Energy Performance Gap Issues: An International Review here

The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction have released their 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction.

The report underlines that dramatic improvements in the way the world’s buildings are built, designed and operated are urgently needed if the building and construction sector is to play its part in meeting international goals under the Paris Agreement.

It shows that CO2 emissions from the world’s buildings and their construction remain at around 39 per cent of total carbon dioxide emissions and calls on governments to commit to urgent and significant action to accelerate emissions reductions.

More information here

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect has released The Case for Good Design: A guide for government, compiling recent research and evidence showing how design affects us all.

Through local and international case studies, the guide demonstrates the real impact of design decisions in our built environment. The document shows good design to be a valid, even an imperative, ambition in public projects.

Findings highlight the importance of embedding design quality in every stage of a project’s lifecycle to inform decision-making across a selection of building types. The guide is intended as a work-in-progress with further evidence added as it emerges, circulating awareness of current best practice in design.

More information here

AIRAH & ARENA have announced the Innovation Hub for Affordable Heating and Cooling (i-Hub).

The i-Hub is designed facilitate the HVAC&R’s industry’s transition to a low-emissions future, stimulate jobs growth, and showcase HVAC&R innovation in buildings. It seeks to achieve this by providing the broader HVAC&R industry with knowledge dissemination, skills development and capacity building, while facilitating a collaborative approach to innovation across Australia.

The three-year project has secured a budget of $18 million.

Living Laboratory Facilities, a Data Clearing House digital platform and integrated Design Process that has renewable energy and building efficiency at its core will be established as part of the i-Hub project.

i-Hub will focus on a series of projects in the area of healthcare, education and data centre sectors.

The project will be led in conjunction with the CSIRO, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Melbourne and the University of Wollongong, and supported by ARENA.

More information here

The NSW Government has announced a new Electricity Strategy, which strengthens action on energy efficiency and supports the rollout of ‘smart’ devices and equipment that can take load off the system when demand is high.

The Strategy aims to support a new affordable and reliable energy system. It includes a major revamp of the state’s Energy Savings Scheme (ESS), which will be expanded and extended to 2050 with a more ambitious target increasing gradually up to 13% by 2030. The ESS will be rebadged to become part of the Energy Security Safeguard.

The Strategy also includes an Energy Security Target to ensure that the State has sufficient generation capacity to cope with unexpected generator outages during periods of peak demand, such as during heat waves, and a plan to deliver Australia’s first coordinated Renewable Energy Zone.

The Energy Efficiency Council and Energy Savings Industry Association have welcomed the NSW Government’s new Electricity Strategy.

More information here

Energy Efficiency Council Media Release here

Energy Savings Industry Association Media Release here

ResponsibleSteel members have approved the ResponsibleSteel Standard – the world’s first international, multi-stakeholder standard for responsible production for steelmaking and processing sites.

The objective of the ResponsibleSteel Standard is to support the responsible sourcing and production of steel. It aims to define the fundamental elements, and levels of implementation, that characterise the responsible production of steel.

The Standard consists of twelve principles for the responsible sourcing and production of steel: Corporate Leadership; Social Environmental and Governance Management Systems; Occupational Health and Safety; Labour Rights; Human Rights; Stakeholder Engagement and Communication; Local Communities; Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Noise, Emissions, Effluent and Waste; Water Stewardship; Biodiversity; and Decommissioning and Closure.

The Standard will be officially launched at the ResponsibleSteel Forum II on 1-3 December. ResponsibleSteel is now developing tools to help organisations implement the Standard.

More information here

As we face the extremes of more record-breaking weather conditions, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has welcomed the decision by Commonwealth, State and Territory energy ministers to support a ‘Trajectory for Low Energy Existing Buildings’.

Existing buildings contribute to almost a quarter of Australia’s emissions, along with more than half of the country’s electricity consumption, through their operation alone.  Buildings could also meet over half of the national energy productivity target, and more than one quarter of Australia’s national emissions target.

“Low energy homes and commercial buildings can provide great outcomes in terms of energy and emissions, whilst also delivering much more!” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou.  “More energy efficient buildings offer more resilience to extreme weather, better comfort and reduce stress on the electricity grid.”

Earlier this year, ASBEC applauded the release of the COAG Energy Council’s Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings, which outlined a pathway for improving the energy performance of new buildings. A new addendum from COAG expands this focus to existing buildings, driving better outcomes through a holistic suite of measures including:

• improved information, ratings tools and data collection;
• disclosure of energy performance;
• minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, renovations and refurbishments;
• improved energy productivity in government operations; and
• financial incentives.

ASBEC’s modelling has shown that, with the right level of support, Australia’s building sector could deliver over a quarter of Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target, whilst saving $20 billion and creating a healthier, more productive built environment.

An alliance of community groups, including the Australian Council of Social Service, National Shelter, Brotherhood of St Laurence and Renew, has also called to substantially improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, in the interests of healthier, safer and more affordable housing for all Australians.

“The COAG Energy Council’s ‘Trajectory for Low Energy Existing Buildings’ provides a critical commitment to helping Australians save money on energy bills, lower emissions, ease the strain on our energy infrastructure and be truly comfortable and safe in our buildings, in all extremes of the Australian climate.” said Ms Toumbourou.

Read the COAG Energy Council Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings

Read ASBEC’s full media release

Professor Paul Cooper has been awarded the James Harrison Medal for Lifetime Achievement at this year’s AIRAH Awards.

Paul was recognised for his industry-leading research in the HVAC space and contribution to advancing sustainable building practice as one of the founders of the UoW Sustainable Buildings Research Centre.

ASBEC warmly congratulates Paul on this achievement.

More information here

Community, health and research groups have called on COAG Energy Ministers to implement measures that substantially improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.

Forty organisations have written to Energy Ministers asking them to progress energy efficiency measures for existing homes and commit to implement the measures quickly. These measures include:

• Developing a rating tool for existing homes
• Develop a national framework for mandated energy efficiency standards for rental properties
• Explore funding options for social housing and low income home owners

Modelling for COAG Energy Council found that if these proposed measures were to be introduced by 2022 in all jurisdictions, they could deliver a net present value (NPV) of $5 billion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 52.7 MtCO2-e and save 429.3 PJ of energy by 2050.

More information here

After seven years of operation, the CRC for Low Carbon Living expects to exceed all of its founding goals in carbon emissions reduction, national economic benefit, education, planning and policy.

The CRCLCL’s Exit and Highlight Report 2012-2019 showcases these achievements and offers an overview of how its legacy will continue to inform the low carbon built environment sector.

Key achievements include:

• 8Mt CO₂e cumulative savings by 2020 & over 100Mt by 2027
• $1.116 billion in economic benefit to Australia by 2027 – a cost benefit ratio of 9.5:1
• 52 higher degree research students graduated with skills in the low carbon built environment sector, plus 41 expected to graduate by 2020

The CRCLCL has been a valuable partner of ASBEC and worked alongside us to produce reports: The Bottom Line, Built to Perform and Growing the Market for Sustainable Homes, while supporting many other projects and initiatives.

Although 2019 will mark the end of the CRCLCL’s operation, its work will continue through six Nodes of Excellence established in Australian universities, and the BuiltBetter knowledge hub – a website collating low carbon built environment research for ongoing use in the sector.

More information here

At a time when action on climate change is more important than ever, a new policy toolkit shows how every building in Australia can play a part in reducing Australia’s emissions.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) celebrates today’s release of Every Building Counts: A practical plan for emissions reduction.  Authored by the Green Building Council of Australia and the Property Council of Australia, Every Building Counts sets out a clear pathway to achieve net zero carbon buildings by 2030.

Buildings contribute to almost a quarter of Australia’s emissions, along with more than half of our electricity consumption, through their operation alone.  Buildings could also meet over half of the national energy productivity target, and more than one quarter of the national emissions target.

“ASBEC’s 2016 report Low Carbon, High Performance established a strong case for delivering high performing buildings which are key to saving energy and emissions.” said ASBEC’s President, Prof Ken Maher AO.

“Low Carbon, High Performance provided the ‘why’ in the form of the evidence base for improving the energy performance of Australia’s buildings. Every Building Counts now gives us the ‘how’ – “Low Carbon, High Performance provided the ‘why’ in the form of the evidence base for improving the energy performance of Australia’s buildings. Every Building Counts now gives us the ‘how’ – a much-needed template for action at Federal, State and local levels, with a clear and accessible plan.”

ASBEC’s work has shown that implementing a comprehensive suite of energy efficiency opportunities across Australia’s building stock could save up to $20 billion by 2030, as well as productivity benefits and improvements in quality of life for Australian businesses and households.

“If we are serious about reducing emissions, saving money, meeting our emissions targets and increasing productivity, we need to set off on a pathway to stronger energy performance – and Every Building Counts shows us how.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s Executive Director.

“We already have the technology to create zero carbon buildings. Market leading Australian companies have topped international green building benchmarks over the last nine years. Every Building Counts provides a clear set of steps to realise these possibilities across our building stock.”

Every Building Counts contains 75 recommendations, in a comprehensive assessment of what is measures are required to improve energy performance for specific types of building, including commercial, residential and government, as well as what works across all building types.

The seven key recommendations in the report are:

1. Set out a long term vision for net zero buildings and extend the ‘Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings’ to 2050
2. Ensure the Climate Solutions Fund drives low cost abatement and provide targeted financial incentives
3. Deliver a Zero Carbon Ready building code and improve enforcement and compliance
4. Expand the mandate of the Energy Security Board to drive energy productivity across the economy
5. Deliver City Deals that drive cost effective emissions reductions
6. Empower buyers and renters with a single national rating scheme for home energy performance

Every Building Counts was sponsored by the CRC for Low Carbon Living and supported by steering group partners ASBEC and the Energy Efficiency Council.  It is available at www.everybuildingcounts.com.au.

Download ASBEC’s full media release here.

Download the Property Council of Australia and Green Building Council of Australia’s joint media release here.

As many as 1 in 3 children live in unhealthy homes, finds the latest Healthy Homes Barometer report from VELUX.

The Healthy Homes Barometer is a yearly publication that draws on the results of a series of Pan-European surveys to investigate the link between buildings and health throughout Europe. This year’s edition turns its attention to the impact that unhealthy homes have on the health, wellbeing and learning abilities of children.

It was found that housing deficiencies like dampness, darkness, cold temperatures and excess noise can contribute negatively to children’s health, with children 4.2 times more likely to report poor health when living in these poorly performing homes. As children of low-income families are more likely to live in low-performing and deficient homes, they were found to be proportionately more exposed to these risks.

Some of the impacts associated that poorly-performing homes had for children include:

• 10 – 15 percent of new cases of childhood asthma in Europe can be attributed to exposure to dampness and mould indoors. This exposure can be linked to more than 37.000 years of healthy, disease-free life lost.
• Poor homes result in 1.7 million lost days of school each year

The report recommended that enhanced ventilation in European schools could boost student performance and lead to an increase of European GDP of nearly €250 billion.

More information here

The Australian Government has launched the Centre for Population.

Based inside of Treasury, the Centre will be the primary location for all population related matters inside the Australian Government and will aim to work closely with the states and territories, academics and think tanks in order to share data, research, ideas and expertise on population.

The Centre will provide data and policy analysis to support the following broader objectives:

1. To support Australia’s economic growth;
2. To ensure the liveability of our cities and ongoing strength of our regions;
3. To achieve a more optimal settlement pattern in Australia; and
4. To ensure Australia remains united and together as a people.

In supporting the broader objectives, the Centre will be focused initially on four tasks.

1. Integrating and sharing population data from across the Commonwealth and, should the states agree at COAG later this year, from within their jurisdictions as well
2. Undertake better forecasting and annually track actual data against the forecast
3. Create greater transparency over population data to support better planning
4. Undertake key pieces of research

More information here

Property Council media release here    

The Property Council of Australia has launched an online platform that engages suppliers about the actions they are taking to assess and address human rights issues and modern slavery risks across shared operations and supply chains.

Developed in partnership collaboration with Informed365, The Property Council Supplier Platform consists of a single questionnaire that enables Property Council members to collect, compare and share data, and put together an accurate picture in line with the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018.

More information here

ClimateWorks and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute have released their first report in a series of Net Zero Momentum Tracker assessments that focus on key sectors of the Australian economy.

The Property Sector report examines all property companies listed in the ASX 200, and all those required to report their emissions under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act. It shows a meaningful portion of Australia’s property sector has acknowledged the environmental, social and economic incentives for achieving net zero emissions.

Analysis found that 43% of these companies have a net zero target or aspiration, of which:

• 29% have pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 for their owned and managed assets. These companies represent 36% of total ASX200 property sector market capitalisation
• 14% have made climate commitments that align with a pathway to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 but have not yet explicitly pledged to achieve this goal.

There is significant opportunity in the property sector for companies to strengthen their commitments to align with net zero emissions by 2050, with none of the property companies examined having targets that address all of their emissions and 9.5% have not announced any emissions reduction commitments or activities.

More information here

The CRC for Low Carbon Living have conducted a rapid systematic review of international academic literature, finding that home buyers typically value a more energy efficient home, and when presented with easily accessible information in the form of an energy performance rating, are willing to pay more to live in one.

Disclosing energy ratings is common practice in the commercial building sector in Australia, where it has been found to have a positive effect on the value of buildings with higher energy ratings. In this study, researchers from CRCLCL investigated if see if a similar effect exists in the residential sector. The central question driving this research was: What are the effects of residential building energy performance disclosure policies on property values?

The systematic review found that a majority of academic publications agreed that price premiums do exist for more energy efficient homes, typically in the order of 5% to 10%. A price premium was found both when comparing rated versus not rated residences, and higher rated residences with lower rated residences.

Researchers concluded that a disclosure policy of a building’s energy rating can assist consumers in making a more energy efficient choice, which may result in lower energy bills and a healthier home. They recommended that homeowners, agents and policy makers consider the way that the rating scheme is calculated, the local context, and the associated evaluation model.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) is a signatory to a new report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), which calls for a bold new vision to transform the buildings and construction sector from a major cause into a major solution in respect of the climate emergency, securing a safe future for our generations and those to come.

Bringing embodied carbon upfront – Coordinated action for the building and construction sector to tackle embodied carbon, shows that buildings are responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions.  Reducing the emissions of the building sector is one of the cheapest ways to lower emissions and combat climate change.

“Until now, the focus has been on ‘operational carbon’ – the emissions produced by heating, lighting, and cooling our buildings once they are built. ‘Embodied carbon’ – the emissions produced making, transporting, and disposing of building materials – has largely been overlooked, but it contributes around 11% of global emissions.” said Prof. Ken Maher AO, ASBEC’s President.

“The WorldGBC’s vision that by 2030 “all new buildings, infrastructure and renovations will have at least 40% less embodied carbon with significant upfront carbon reduction, and all new buildings must be net zero operational carbon” dovetails with ASBEC’s work in Australia.” said Prof Maher.

Many of the products used in Australian buildings have international life cycles. Raw material might be mined in one country, transported to another for manufacture, and then brought here to Australia to be used and disposed of at the end of their useful life. The carbon used in all these processes should be accounted for and reduced. Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront proposes a coherent set of tools for accounting for this carbon in building products.

“The report makes it clear that the building sector needs to take coordinated action to understand product lifecycles and processes. Here in Australia, ASBEC creates collaboration across the building sector to achieve a common vision and establish clear policy pathways to lowering emissions. We showcase the fact that many of our market-leading members are already demonstrating best practice when it comes to reducing carbon emissions.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, Executive Director of ASBEC.

“Global companies like Skanska have said they are willing to work on this, and Australian company Lendlease is used as an example of best practice in Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront, for their work with engineered timber. By adopting the tools in the report, we’ll know how much carbon has been emitted in the production of building materials, so we can compare like with like.” said Ms Toumbourou.

The WorldGBC states that by 2020, all countries need to create national roadmaps to net zero. ASBEC has partnered with ClimateWorks Australia to create Built to Perform, an industry-led roadmap to a zero carbon-ready zero building code. And the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council has created the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings, both of which focus on operational emissions.

ASBEC’s advocacy has helped inform Australia’s national and state governments in their move towards net zero building operations. The next step is to work together on progressive embodied carbon reduction targets.

“Climate change and rising emissions are a global challenge. The fact that the buildings and construction sector operates at global scale means it’s a complex task to understand exactly what emissions are created by the entire life cycle of our buildings. By understanding and addressing this life cycle, we can deliver a powerful response to the challenge of climate change, and build a better future for all of us.” said Prof Maher.

Read Bringing embodied carbon upfront – Coordinated action for the building and construction sector to tackle embodied carbon

Download ASBEC’s media release

The ACT Government have released their 2019-2025 climate strategy, which includes three points related to energy efficient rental properties.

Under the new strategy, the ACT has committed to reducing emissions, from 1990 levels, by 50-60% by 2025 and transitioning to net zero by 2045.

The strategy places a strong emphasis on reducing emissions from the transport and gas sectors. It also recognises the need for climate-wise, zero emission, rental homes and includes three commitments to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties:

• Introduce mandatory minimum disclosure of energy performance for all rental properties
• By 2021 introduce legislation for staged minimum energy performance requirements for rental properties to come in force in 2022-23
• Expand the Actsmart Home Energy Program to provide free, tailored in-home energy assessments for renters.

Other key priorities identified in the strategy include:

• Improve energy performance and climate change resilience requirements for new buildings
• Improve liveability and adapt to the impacts of climate change by implementing Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan
• Consider the social cost of carbon in government procurement and capital works
• Shift to high efficiency, all-electric and climate-wise Government buildings and facilities.
• Support higher uptake of public transport by continuing to improve services to meet community travel needs.
• Encourage active travel by continuing to improve cycle paths and walkability.
• Continue to encourage the uptake of zero emissions vehicles and explore the need for further incentives.

This strategy replaces the previous Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2 (2012) and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2016) and is complemented by Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan: Cooling the City. It is aligned with the ACT Planning Strategy 2018, the ACT Housing Strategy (2018) and the draft Moving Canberra: Integrated Transport Strategy.

More information here

Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) have released a new report highlighting the value of water to liveable communities.

Blue + green = liveability presents a series of case studies that highlight the opportunities and challenges of implementing green and blue infrastructure for society, our cities and regions.

In this report, WSAA call on industry and government to advance an integrated, collaborative approach to the planning and delivery of blue and green infrastructure initiatives by:

• Harnessing the full water cycle with all water supply options on the table and by coordinating the incorporation of stormwater
• Integrating industry and government approach to planning
• Implementing an effective framework for measuring health and liveability benefits
• Creating new funding and financing models for green and blue infrastructure as social infrastructure.

More information here

The ACT Government have released their 2019-2025 climate strategy.

Under the new strategy, the ACT has committed to reducing emissions, from 1990 levels, by 50-60% by 2025 and transitioning to net zero by 2045.

The strategy places a strong emphasis on reducing emissions from the transport and gas sectors. With the ACT on track to achieve its target of 100% renewable-generated electricity on 1 October 2019, the transport and gas sectors will constitute the two largest sources of emissions in the territory from 2020.

Key priorities identified in the strategy include:

• Improve energy performance and climate change resilience requirements for new buildings and introduce minimum energy performance requirements for rental dwellings
• Improve liveability and adapt to the impacts of climate change by implementing Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan
• Consider the social cost of carbon in government procurement and capital works
• Shift to high efficiency, all-electric and climate-wise Government buildings and facilities.
• Support higher uptake of public transport by continuing to improve services to meet community travel needs.
• Encourage active travel by continuing to improve cycle paths and walkability.
• Continue to encourage the uptake of zero emissions vehicles and explore the need for further incentives.

This strategy replaces the previous Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2 (2012) and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2016) and is complemented by Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan: Cooling the City. It is aligned with the ACT Planning Strategy 2018, the ACT Housing Strategy (2018) and the draft Moving Canberra: Integrated Transport Strategy.

More information here

A recent report from thinkstep has identified opportunities to decarbonise New Zealand’s building and construction sector by 40% with a focus on embodied emissions from now until 2050.

The strategies set out in the report, Under construction: Hidden emissions and untapped potential of buildings for New Zealand’s 2050 zero carbon goal, have been estimated to save approximately 1,200 kt CO2e per year – equivalent to taking 460,000 passenger cars off the road permanently and 15% of New Zealand’s total light vehicle fleet.

Steel and concrete were found to be the they key materials contributing to embodied GHG emissions in New Zealand. Aluminium was also found to be significant for non-residential construction, and timber framing was identified as a significant material for residential construction.

thinkstep recommends that a collaborative effort be pursued to achieve or exceed the 40% decarbonisation potential identified in the report. The report identified that decarbonising the built environment will require:

• Collaboration among all players in the building sector;
• Communication of good information and data;
• Innovation in the manufacturing sector
• Policy development encouraging the use of materials with low embodied carbon.

More information here

The Australian Government has released the final report of the Independent Review of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (GEMS Act).

The final report finds that the GEMS Act is achieving its purpose of providing a streamlined nationally-consistent approach to appliance energy efficiency while effectively reducing energy use, power bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

It finds that for the GEMS Act to continue to meet its objectives, and reduce costs of living for Australian households, its operation will need to adapt to changing market conditions and requirements. Potential ways the GEMS Act could deliver additional benefits include:

• Updating energy efficiency standards for products that are already regulated. Any such updates would need to take into account technological advances and international best practice.
• Expanding to new high energy using products that are not currently regulated in Australia. The “low hanging fruit” of standardised consumer goods have already been captured under the GEMS Act. To facilitate coverage of further high energy using products, updates to some registration and compliance arrangements, to make them more flexible, would be required.
• Expediting development and implementation of regulations. When considering this improvement, it is extremely important that a balance be found between expedience and adequate consultation with stakeholders.
• Improving the effectiveness of the energy rating label. This would enhance customer understanding of the choices available to them and, together with broader education and awareness activities, assist customers to better engage with energy efficiency.

The final report, which provides the findings and recommendations of the review, contains a number of recommendations, which the government will consider before publishing a response.

More information here

Water Services Association Australia’s new report, Urban Water Update 2019: Drought, Growth and Liveability, reflects on a year dominated by severe drought, and explores future challenges and opportunities for Australia’s water industry.

WSAA recognises that the drought is having a devastating impact on rural communities, yet emphasises the importance of keeping sight on the longer-term challenges and opportunities facing the sector. It highlights how previous large investment desalination and water recycling during the Millennium Drought are now paying off to support diverse, resilient and secure water supplies.

The report identifies population growth, urbanisation and climate change as some of the major challenges facing the sector. In response the industry is seen to be broadening its vital role in improving the liveability and prosperity of our cities.

In this report, WSAA calls for:

• All water supply options on the table including desalination, dams, water efficiency and all forms of water recycling
• Integrating stormwater into the urban water cycle to reflect the role it can play in creating and maintaining liveable cities and communities
• Improved collaboration between Federal, State and local government agencies, water utilities and other stakeholders for long term water security planning that includes the latest science for climate change
• A new National Water Initiative that recognises future challenges

More information here

Australia’s property sector has strengthened its ranking as a world-leader on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, according to the 2019 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

The Assessment found that Australia and New Zealand real estate sectors outperformed other regions, with Oceania maintaining top position in the global rankings for the ninth year running.

Australia and New Zealand set a new record score, achieving a GRESB score of 81, up from 76 last year. The global average also increased climbing to 72 from 68 in 2018.

GRESB noted that more than half of the GRESB-5 star rated portfolios are located in the Oceania region.

While celebrating the global improvement in ESG performance, GRESB highlighted that more improvements are needed to meet key global goals and achieve the transition to a low-carbon, resilient and more sustainable future. It identified that a slower reduction rate for like-for-like emissions will not be enough to meet the 1.5-degree target set out by the Paris Climate Agreement. With only three net-zero portfolios in the 2019 benchmark, GRESB emphasised that much more still needs to be done to shift the sector to a sustainable path.

GBCA CEO, Davina Rooney, said Australian companies were providing global leadership and continued to raise the sustainability bar.

The Property Council’s Chief Executive, Ken Morrison, celebrated the results but noted there is more to be done and no room for complacency.

GRESB’s global leaders for Australia are:

Overall Global Sector Leaders (Achieved highest score for its sector)

• Office – Private: Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial, Lendlease
• Retail – Private: Australian Prime Property Fund Retail, Lendlease
• Diversified – Office/Retail – Private: Dexus Wholesale Property Fund, Dexus Property Group
• Developer – Residential: Frasers Property Australia Pty Ltd – Development Assets, Frasers Property Australia Pty Ltd
• Developer – Industrial – Goodman Group (GMG), Goodman Group

Global Sector Leaders (Achieved highest score for the combination of nature of ownership and sector)

• Office – Listed: Dexus Office Trust, Dexus Property Group
• Industrial – Listed: Frasers Logistics & Industrial Trust, Frasers Logistics & Industrial Asset Management Pte. Ltd.
• Diversified – Office/Industrial – Private: Frasers Property Australia Pty Ltd – Investment Properties, Frasers Property Australia Pty Ltd
• Diversified – Office/Retail – Listed: Stockland

More information here

GBCA Media Release here

Property Council Media Release here

The Green Building Council of Australia and Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia have partnered together to release a new guide assisting industry to deliver sustainability through the infrastructure and buildings.

Guide to Integrating Sustainability Tools for Buildings and Infrastructure explains how to integrate the Green Star – Design & As Built rating tool for buildings, and Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Design & As Built ratings tool for infrastructure, on urban development projects. It highlights common elements of the ratings tools, which can create more efficiencies when planning and applying for both certifications.

The collaborative and integrated approach reflects increasing demand and uptake of both rating tools from industry and government. The guide seeks to assist applicants identify potential synergies and reduce risk.

More information here

Consult Australia and the CRC for Low Carbon Living have released a report examining desired outcomes of infrastructure projects, the challenges, and the possible solutions.

Innovation in Infrastructure found that, without exception, all industry stakeholder groups considered the optimal outcomes for infrastructure projects to be that they are delivered on budget, on time, the quality of design is as demanded, and the asset is ultimately fit for purpose.

The report demonstrates a consensus amongst clients, consultants and contractors that innovation in infrastructure is possible. However, it finds that there are barriers to unlocking this innovation:

• Consultants and contractors are constrained by procurement processes, inappropriate allocation of risk and resource frustrations.
• Clients are constrained by legacy and inappropriate systems, political will and the fear that innovation is being driven by the desire of industry for immediate revolutionary change rather than a more achievable gradual shift in approach.

The report sets out the results of the research and a number of actions that can be undertaken to bring about change. These actions will require collaboration between industry and government and fall into three areas of opportunity:

• People and Culture
• Education and Knowledge Sharing
• Contracts and Procurement

Reframing the conversation from one of innovation, which was suggested to create anxieties around risk, towards one where the focus is on ‘doing things more effectively’ was proposed as a small, but essential step in achieving greater alignment across our industry, better support community needs, reduce the impact of large infrastructure on our environment and support Australia’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2030.

More information here

Consult Australia have examined the benefits of an integrated and collaborative project management approach to Business Case development in their report, Business Case Development in Australia.

The report seeks to make case for an integrated Business Case process through collaborative behaviours across project teams by demonstrating how this approach delivers better outcomes. Particular attention is given to the issue of scalability and the potential for the key Business Cases roles required to reflect the complexity and size of the particular project.

A strong evidence based problem definition is identified as the foundation for a compelling Business Case. The report suggests that a strong, integrated process through collaborative behaviours in project management is required to ensure the problem statements are appropriately tested and validated by available data.

The report draws on the experiences of the working group members to provide case studies that represent good practice.

More information here

The 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit has called for a new wave of investment and planning reform to ensure Australia’s infrastructure continues to support our quality of life and economic productivity over the next 15 years.

The Audit presents a forward-looking view of our infrastructure challenges and opportunities over the next 15 years and beyond. It examines the changes facing Australia, including a changing climate, growing population, re-ordering of the global economy and technological change, and recommends that Australia adopt a robust approach to infrastructure planning.

It notes that progress has been made since the last Australian Infrastructure Audit was released in 2015, with more than $123 billion of construction work having commenced since 2015, with a committed forward pipeline of over $200 billion. However, the Audit also finds that that infrastructure in Australia’s four largest cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – are failing to keep pace with rapid population growth, particularly on the urban fringe.

The 2019 Audit puts the community at the centre of infrastructure planning, using user-focused measures of access, quality and cost, it also highlights how service quality varies greatly for Australians depending on where they live. Social Infrastructure and waste are also examined in the Audit for the first time, alongside other major infrastructure sectors of energy, transport, telecommunications.

The Audit does not seek to identify solutions, but rather to identify issues, gaps, problems and untapped potential in the form of challenges and opportunities.

More information here

Infrastructure Australia media release here

Poorly performing homes are contributing to cold-related deaths in Canberra, according to a new report from Better Renting.

Unsafe as Houses: Cold-housing deaths in the ACT estimates that 140 people die in Canberra each year as a result of health issued caused by or exacerbated by the cold, and that more than one third of these deaths could be attributed to cold-related housing.

The report found that Australian housing standards were lower than other comparative countries, with our inefficient housing stock resulting in poorly insulated homes. Better Renting recognised that renters were more likely to live in inefficient dwellings, thus increasing their exposure to the health risks linked to low indoor temperatures.

The report suggests that improving the quality of homes in the ACT could help avoid the number of cold-related deaths experienced in the state.

More information here

Sustainability Victoria have published the results of their Comprehensive Retrofit Trial, which was undertaken in fourteen existing houses located in Melbourne.

The study investigated the impact of a comprehensive package of energy efficiency upgrades (or retrofits) applied to existing houses. The key focus of the study was on building shell (draught sealing and insulation) and heating system upgrades that could significantly reduce heating energy consumption, while also improving the winter comfort of the houses.

Research found that heating and water heating were the main areas of residential energy use, accounting for 97.2% of gas use and 52.6% of electricity use.

Key findings include:

• Heating energy consumption can be reduced by increasing the energy efficiency of a house’s building shell, and by upgrading the efficiency of the heating system
• Building shell upgrades increase thermal comfort in both winter and summer, and can reduce summer energy consumption if air conditioning is used for cooling. These retrofits can also reduce peak energy demand for heating in the morning and evening on cold winter days, and in the late afternoon on hot summer afternoons
• Federal policies and programs that improve the energy efficiency of building stock are key elements for reducing a county’s greenhouse gas emissions. The report noted the Australian Government’s Trajectory for Low Energy Existing Homes as an example of such national strategy.

More information here

Research funded by the CRC for Low Carbon Living and City of Parramatta has revealed ways to reduce temperatures in Western Sydney by as much as 2°C.

Undertaken in collaboration with UNSW, the study examined hot spots on Phillip Street, Parramatta and recommended cooling strategies, such as increased greenery and shading and the installation of water features, to mitigate urban heat. In addition to lowering temperatures, the study found that these methods can increase comfort by 50-60 per cent.

The research examined air and footpath temperatures on Phillip Street and found that the eastern end of the street was 1°C cooler than the west end due to its proximity to the Parramatta River, and asphalt surface temperatures reached above 50°C in unshaded areas. Wind speeds and other measurements were also taken.

The study’s findings will inform aspects of Council’s Phillip Street upgrade.

More information here

The ABCB has released an energy efficiency scoping study for public comment.

The study outlines an approach and scope for investigating possible changes to the NCC’s energy efficiency provisions, with a focus on NCC 2022. This work will consider the COAG Energy Council’s Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

Consultation closes 8 September 2019.

More information here

A group of leading Australian architect firms have declared a climate and biodiversity emergency.

The declaration asserts that the twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss are the most serious issue facing the world today. It recognises that buildings and construction play a major role in contributing to these issues.

Signatories of the declaration have committed to strengthening their working practices to create architecture and urbanism that has a more positive impact. Other key goals listed in the declaration include:

• Upgrade existing buildings for extended use as a more carbon efficient alternative to demolition and new build whenever there is a viable choice.
• Include life cycle costing, whole life carbon modelling and post occupancy evaluation as part of our basic scope of work, to reduce both embodied and operational resource use.
• Adopt more regenerative design principles in our studios, with the aim of designing architecture and urbanism that goes beyond the standard of net zero carbon in use.
• Accelerate the shift to low embodied carbon materials in all our work.

The Australian Institute of Architects has endorsed the declaration.

More information here

AIA endorsement here

New research has found that while Net Zero Energy Home housing developments are achievable and affordable, the market is slow to pick up on easy opportunities for improved energy efficiency and thermal comfort.

Funded by the CRC for Low Carbon Living and led by Curtin University’s Dr Josh Byrne, research found that the average cost for Net Zero Energy Homes in Melbourne, Townsville, Canberra and Perth housing developments were only between 6-11% higher than the standard, yet offered approximately 88% annual energy cost savings.

The research also emphasised that while industry currently demands building code changes to improve regulation, quality and safety, sustainable design must be included to meet the sector’s net zero emissions target by 2050.

Research indicated that NZE Homes are often still viewed as a niche market and that many consumers still believe NZE Homes to attract higher upfront costs. This is despite the Net Zero Energy Home costing only about $20,000 (6-11%) more than a standard comparable home, with annual energy savings paying back this difference in around ten years.

More information here

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has released a Green Infrastructure Position Statement calling on non-government agencies, industry organisations and governments at all levels to make significant progress towards improving the liveability and sustainability of urban and regional settlements through Green Infrastructure.

The Statement highlights the value of Green Infrastructures as strategically planned networks of natural and semi-natural areas in urban and regional settlements that provide environmental, social and economic benefits to society.

Faced with the challenges of global warming, urban migration and environmental decline, AILA emphasises how we require new forms of infrastructure and new approaches to landscape planning and management in our urban and regional settlements.

The Statement calls for the development of a Green Infrastructure Framework that could interact with the built environment, underpin urban ecosystem functions and improve the performance of conventional urban and infrastructure systems.

More information here

As we strive to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions, whilst at the same time tackling rising energy bills, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has warmly welcomed the agreement of building ministers across the country to advance energy efficiency provisions for new homes in the National Construction Code.

ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou said more energy efficient homes can deliver more resilience to extreme weather, better comfort and reduce stress on the electricity grid, providing an imperative to act now on improving energy performance.

“The homes built today will still be operating in 2050 – at a time when Australia will need to be at or near net zero emissions.” said Ms Toumbourou.

“In setting minimum standards for all new buildings, improved energy efficiency provisions in the National Construction Code can help to ensure new homes are ready to plug into a net zero emissions economy.”

ASBEC has worked in partnership with ClimateWorks Australia to produce Built to Perform – An industry led pathway to a zero carbon ready building code, which identifies a cost-effective long term pathway for energy requirements in the National Construction Code; providing certainty for the construction industry and savings for householders and businesses.

The Building Ministers’ Forum agreement to enhance energy efficiency for residential buildings was informed by the COAG Energy Council’s trajectory for low energy buildings, which aligns closely with recommendations in ASBEC and ClimateWorks’ Built to Perform report.

Built to Perform showed that stronger energy standards in the National Construction Code could reduce household energy bills by up to $900 each year, contributing to up to $29 billion in reduced energy bills and 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings across the economy by 2050.

A broad alliance of community and consumer groups including the Australian Council of Social Service, CHOICE, the Consumer Action Law Centre, Community Housing Industry Association and Renew has also called for better energy performance standards for housing in the interests of healthier, safer and more affordable homes for all Australians.

“The decision by the Building Ministers’ Forum paves the way for energy bill savings, lower emissions and more comfortable and safe Australian homes.” said Ms Toumbourou, “It’s a long time coming and a very welcome first step. As part of this process, it is important to set out a long term pathway for energy requirements in the National Construction Code, providing a clear policy direction and certainty for industry.”

Download the ASBEC media release

The CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) has launched a suite of low carbon living guides offering consumers and professionals easy to use information on low carbon homes and buildings.

Drawing on the significant body of CRCLCL research conducted over the past seven years, these user-friendly guides are designed to help consumers and professionals make informed decisions about their home, commercial property or development project.

The suite of Low Carbon Guides consist of:

• Guide to Low Carbon Households
• Guide to Low Carbon Residential Buildings – New Build
• Guide to Low Carbon Residential Buildings – Retrofit
• Guide to Low Carbon Precincts
• Guide to Low Carbon Commercial Buildings – New Build
• Guide to Low Carbon Commercial Buildings – Retrofit
• Guide to Low Carbon Landscapes

More information here

New research into Australia’s housing thermal performance has highlighted that minimum new build standards fall short of requirements for a low carbon future and must increase.

Aiming for mediocrity: The case of Australian housing thermal performance analysed over 187,000 NatHERS certificates from 2016 to 2018 to determine the response to market desires and the regulatory environment. The report found that 81.7% of housing is designed only to meet minimum standards, and 98.5% falls below the economic and environmental optimum.

Other key research findings include:

• Average NatHERS rating for hew housing in selected Australian states is 6.2 stars;
• Colder climates were found to have slightly higher star ratings; and
• Only 1.5% of new homes are built to optimum economic and energy performance.

The report proposes that systematically raising minimum building energy regulations is the most important and effective mechanism for governments to decarbonise the built environment.

More information here

A two-year research project into the construction cost implications and consumer interest of Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) in Australia has been published.

Mainstreaming Zero Net Energy Housing was led by Dr Josh Byrne in collaboration with Curtin University, the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living and CSIRO involving four-volume builders in different states.

The project has followed four land developers and builders in four different states, with each of them embarking on the design and construction of a zero energy display home in their respective residential developments. The project results have been documented in two recently published CRC LCL report and captured in a four-part video series produced by VAM Media.

Some key findings from this project include:

• Major energy efficiency gains were obtained mainly from additional insulation, glazing upgrades and energy efficient appliances
• Only relatively small PV systems (3-4kW) is required to cover the net needs of a typical Australian household, provided that the building envelope is designed appropriately for the climate and appliances are energy efficient
• Solar PV and Heat Pump or Evacuated Tube hot water systems are the two most cost effective upgrades across all case studies, with both technologies showing payback within 10 years at current energy prices
• the net present value of Net Zero Energy Homes upgrades is positive under energy price increase scenarios.

In the final episode of the four-part video series, Josh interviews our very own Suzanne Toumbourou to discuss the opportunities for progressing NZEH performance requirements via a national regulatory approach.

More information here

A new roadmap for sustainable homes presents a win for builders, consumers, the economy and the environment.

Growing the market for sustainable homes was launched today by the CRC for Low Carbon Living and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

The report reveals that two thirds of Australian home buyers prefer energy efficient homes when given a choice – but significant barriers prevent them from turning that desire into reality.

“Our research shows that Australians want homes that are comfortable, healthy and affordable – all things that a sustainable home can deliver,” says Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO, Chief Executive Officer of the CRC for Low Carbon Living.

Australia’s homes produce around 13 per cent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“Sustainable homes require less energy to heat and cool, enhance occupant comfort and are more resilient to climate and weather extremes. They can also be a driver for economic growth, Professor Prasad explains.

Preliminary economic modelling outlined in the report finds that accelerating Australia’s transition to sustainable housing would deliver more than half a billion dollars of extra investment in the construction industry by 2030. It would also create more than 7,000 new jobs and save Australians $600 million on their energy bills.

While the opportunities are enormous, the report identifies several significant barriers.

Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s Executive Director, says some Australian home builders are already striving to move beyond minimum requirements by incorporating energy efficient designs and technology innovations into new homes.

“However, these builders lack scale and face significant barriers. Consumers are unclear of their choices. Home builders are locked into business models and supply chains that limit innovation. And financiers don’t value sustainable homes,” Ms Toumbourou explains.

The report proposes a ‘Sustainable Homes Transition Roadmap’ with four clearly defined steps to address these barriers:

1. Differentiate sustainable housing in the market
2. Train and reward the construction industry
3. Build awareness
4. Broadcast the positive business case.

Ms Toumbourou says the roadmap presents a “golden opportunity” for the industry to proactively address challenges and achieve a smooth regulatory transition as the Australian Building Code Board responds to COAG’s Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

“Our research shows that, with the right incentives and support, the transition to sustainable homes can create a win outcome for builders, consumers, the economy and the environment,” she says.

Professor Prasad says Australia’s world-leading approach to sustainability in the commercial sector underscores the opportunity.

“We have the skills, knowledge and technologies at our disposal. Now we must create the right policies and incentives to help Australian home builders deliver the benefits of sustainable homes,” Professor Prasad concludes.

Download Growing the Market for Sustainable Homes

Download the ASBEC and CRC for Low Carbon Living media release

The Queensland Government has released a comprehensive assessment exploring the implications of climate change for the state.

The Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment 2019 features long-term climate change projects and includes an assessment of the impact that heatwaves will have on the state’s building stock, essential infrastructure, transport infrastructure and water and sewage.

The assessment found the extreme heatwaves and bushfires across Queensland in 2018–2019 were an indication that the state is facing unprecedented challenges in understanding and responding to the impacts of natural hazards in a changing climate. Analysis also noted that the building guidelines in Australia use historical analysis of climatic conditions to determine the energy demand of a building and to determine appropriate levels of energy efficiency. Is proposed that these guidelines do not allow for variation in design based on local climatological conditions and are likely to be significantly inadequate for future climatic conditions

Adaption strategies recommended in the report include:

• Essential Infrastructure: Adapt existing infrastructure and plan any new infrastructure to take into account extreme heatwaves and long-term projection of future climatic impacts.
• Building Design & Urban Planning: Incorporate the QDesign principles within building design and urban planning to improve mitigation of heatwave impacts and general wellbeing
• Green Infrastructure: Plan and invest in green infrastructure to reduce the impact of future heat increases
• Building stock: Features for new buildings and methods of retrofitting existing structures may help to increase resilience of building stock and subsequently building occupants.
• Public buildings: Encourage the installation of solar panels to offset the cost of air conditioning, especially in public buildings where primary use often occurs during the daylight hours

More information here

Impres have released a new study exploring how procurement requirements for carbon reduction can be implemented in infrastructure projects and how this connects to national and organizational policy contexts in different countries.

Procurement Requirements for Carbon Reduction in Infrastructure Projects investigated the institutional and organisational contexts, policies, procurement requirements and implementation projects being used to drive greenhouse gas reduction in large infrastructure projects across a series of international case studies.

Overall, the study found that the applicability of procurement requirements for carbon reduction is dependent on how well these requirements are aligned with culture, policies and capabilities in the local context. Other key conclusions from the study include:

• An ongoing process to develop and implement policies for carbon reduction in infrastructure projects, with raised ambitions over time, was evident across all case studies
• Carbon reduction measures were applied in all case studies
• Goals or carbon reduction are still new to many working in the infrastructure sector, with clients and industry partners needing time to adjust and develop new competencies
• Procurement requirements were considered necessary in driving carbon reductions in all countries where case studies were conducted, but the preferred style of these requirements vary.
• Collaborative contracting models offer a flexible option to encourage innovation and integrate knowledge of different participants
• Clients in mega-projects perceive an obligation to conform to national policy goals and may also have ambitions to be industry-level change agents.

Impres suggested a series of recommendations categorised across three levels: the policy level, the project level, and innovation and learning. Among these recommendations is a call for the establishment of high-level goals and policies for carbon reduction in order to sanction ambitious initiatives that contribute to setting new industry standards.

This report can be useful for client side decision-makers who are in charge of developing policies, procurement strategies and procurement requirements to reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector.

More information here

The Energy Efficiency Council’s latest report, The World’s First Fuel, examines the energy efficiency policies that leaders across major global economies have introduced, and what the key lessons are for Australia.

This report examines key energy management policies in other countries and is informed by extensive research and interviews with global experts from the US, Europe and Asia. EEC found that global private and public investment in energy efficiency was AU$346 billion in 2018, delivering dividends in reducing energy bills, ensuring energy security, reducing emissions and creating economic jobs and growth.

A chapter in the report is dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of residential and commercial. The report emphasises that no single policy can optimise energy management in the building sector, as energy is affected by a wide variety of factors. It therefore proposes that an effective approach to improving the energy efficiency of buildings requires an integrated strategy, such as the EU’s Energy Performance of Building’s Directive (2002).

In comparison to major global economies, EEC argue that Australia lags behind in pursuing energy efficiency. The report recommends that Australian governments take actions that include:

• Reforming institutions and introducing policies to ensure that we meet our national target to improve energy productivity by 40 per cent by 2030. While this target should be raised, we are already falling behind our current target.
• Adopting the principle ‘energy efficiency first’ to ensure that our energy strategies, policies and markets deliver the right mix of energy supply and energy management.
• Ensure that there is either a national energy efficiency scheme (EES) or an EES operating in every state and territory
• Help manufacturers identify and invest in opportunities to manage energy
• Introduce strong minimum standards for appliances, buildings and vehicles.

The report highlights a number of policies and programs that EEC assert Australia should adopt to ensure that our energy system is affordable, reliable and sustainable.

More information here

There is significant opportunity for Australia’s property sector to transform from a passive participant in the energy market to an active electricity producer and energy market participant, according to the latest report from The Property Council and CEFC.

Distributed Energy in the Property Sector: Unlocking the Potential identifies the barriers to distributed energy in property and proposes collaborative solutions to address them, outlining:

• The opportunity in terms of the potential size of rooftop PV generation capacity in Australia’s property sector
• The regulatory, policy and market related barriers to realising this potential
• The actions the property sector, regulators and policymakers can take to address those barriers

The report proposes that the property sector is ideally placed to play a significant role in modernising Australia’s traditional, centralised electricity system to a world class two-way energy system.

Scaling up of rooftop solar PV systems across the property sector could significantly increase the amount of clean energy being fed into the grid, thus helping Australia transition to a low carbon future.

These distributed energy generation and storage technologies could alleviate the network’s operation and maintenance costs, local congestion problems and improve its reliability. Increased adoption of such technologies would enable the property sector to bring competition to the electricity market, making energy more affordable for tenants.

In considering the barriers to distributed energy in the property sector, the report underscores the need for energy market authorities, electricity networks and the property industry to improve information sharing, align planning processes and work on collaborative solutions.

More information here

The urban greening action, Living Melbourne: our metropolitan urban forest, has been launched by Resilient Melbourne in partnership with the Nature Conservancy.

Living Melbourne is the cumulative result of over two years of collaboration to develop the evidence base and actions required to connect, extend and enhance urban greening across the metropolitan area. It has been endorsed by 41 organisations representing local government, Victorian government, water authorities, statutory agencies and industry bodies.

In the face of population growth and climate change, Living Melbourne aims to support urban greening such that it can support the city’s sustainability, resilience and productivity.

More information here

The UK Green Building Council have provided an overarching framework of consistent principles and metrics that can be used as a tool for businesses to drive the transition to a net zero carbon built environment.

Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition provides guidance on the definition of net zero carbon buildings and a way to demonstrate how a building has achieved net zero carbon status. It focuses on carbon impacts that can be readily measured and mitigated today – operational energy and embodied impacts of construction.

UKGBC emphasises the equal importance of net zero carbon for construction and operational energy. Drawing from these two approaches to net zero carbon, the report outlines 5 steps to achieve a Net Zero Carbon Building:

1. Establish Net Zero Carbon Scope
2. Reduce Construction Impacts
3. Reduce Operational Energy Use
4. Increase Renewable Energy Supply
5. Offset any Remaining Carbon

A third approach for net zero carbon – ‘whole life’ is also proposed at a high level, but UKGBC identify that further work will be needed to define the scope and requirements for this approach. While this report is primarily designed for businesses, its recommendations can also be integrated into policy.

More information here

Investing in urban water will help create liveable cities with improved health outcomes, according to the latest report from Frontier Economics for Water Services Association of Australia.

WSAA engaged Frontier Economics to assist in understanding and quantifying the liveability associated health benefits of water industry investments to better inform investment decisions. Their findings are presented in Health benefits from water centric liveable communities.

The report found that investment in urban water to create liveable cities improves health through four pathways:

1. Improvements in health resulting from more active recreation
2. Improvements in mental health resulting from more exposure to green space
3. Improvements in health resulting from reduced temperatures associated with the Urban Heat Island effect
4. Improvements in health resulting from lower air pollution.

Case studies presented in the report show that investing in water in major greenfield developments will have benefits across all four pathways.

WSAA and Frontier Economics have also developed a ready reckoner tool to assist the water industry in making quick appraisals as to whether a project may deliver quantifiable health benefits under the four pathways. This is supported by three hypothetical case studies.

More information here

Under current policies, Australia’s property market is expected to lose $571 billion in value by 2030 due to climate change and extreme weather according to a recent report released by the Climate Council.

Compound Costs: How Climate Change is Damaging Australia’s Economy seeks to expose the material cost of climate inaction, and highlights how property has emerged as one of the most vulnerable sectors to the economic impacts of climate change.

Key findings from the report include:

• More than $226 billion in commercial, industrial, road, rail, and residential assets will be at risk from sea level rise alone by 2100, if greenhouse gas emissions continue at high levels.
• One in every 19 property owners face the prospect of insurance premiums that will be effectively unaffordable by 2030 (costing 1% or more of the property value per year).
• Some Australians will be acutely and catastrophically affected. Low-lying properties near rivers and coastlines are particularly at risk, with flood risks increasing progressively and coastal inundation risks emerging as a major threat around 2050.
• Certain events which are likely to become more common because of climate change are not covered by commercial insurance, including coastal inundation and erosion.

Climate Council argue that greenhouse gas emissions must decline to net zero emissions before 2050 if Australia is to avoid the costs of climate change increasing exponentially. It recommends:

• Increasing resilience to extreme weather and climate change should become a key component of urban planning, infrastructure design and building standards.
• Buildings and infrastructure must be built to withstand future climate hazards and to facilitate the transition to a net zero emissions economy.
• A credible national climate policy is needed to safeguard our economy by reducing the direct costs of climate change, and avoiding economic risks associated with a sudden, disruptive or disorderly transition to net zero emissions.

More information here

A new Thriving Cities policy platform released today by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) calls for federal leadership to create great Australian cities for everyone.

“Australia is the one of the most urbanised countries in the world, and this is set to continue as our cities keep pace with population and economic growth,” said ASBEC’s President, Professor Ken Maher AO. “ASBEC’s recommendations aim to ensure that the cities we build for the future deliver healthy, liveable, productive and sustainable communities that we are all happy to call home.”

“This Federal Election comes in the wake of a clear multi-party consensus on the importance of a national approach to cities policy that delivers for all Australians. From our CBDs and outer urban growth areas, to our regional centres: a coordinated, national approach to urban policy will help us tackle those most intractable challenges associated with population settlement, productivity, climate and demographic change, and a low-carbon future.” said Jonathan Cartledge, Chair of ASBEC’s Cities and Infrastructure Task Group and Interim CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia.

“We encourage all parties to leverage this consensus across the Parliament, and support the re-appointment of a Minister for Cities and the re-establishment of a Major Cities Unit within the Australian Government.”

“In recent years we have seen incredible collaboration across governments and with industry and communities around Australia to deliver better cities. ASBEC’s recommendations provide a roadmap for that collaboration to continue and the benefits to grow.”  Jonathan said.

ASBEC calls for commitment to a shared long-term vision for thriving cities, supported by targeted policy reforms to foster the best possible Australian cities.  Key actions are:

1. Investing in improved policy and governance, including a National Settlement Strategy and better procurement.
2. Delivering more balanced business cases to realise better value from our infrastructure.
3. Improving housing outcomes for more affordable, equitable and sustainable living.
4. Adopting key recommendations of the House of Representatives Standing Committee Building Up and Moving Out report.

“A shared vision for our cities across all levels of government, coupled with improved business cases for infrastructure investment, will help realise better value from our infrastructure investments.”  said Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s Executive Director.  “We also need more affordable, equitable and sustainable housing options for all, with an understanding of housing as an essential component of infrastructure.”

“Last year the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities Inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the development of cities provided a wealth of insights into how better outcomes can be achieved for Australia’s cities.” said Jonathan. “As it observed: we need a national vision for our cities over the next 50 years; nationally consistent guidelines on green spaces; and a clear trajectory to reduce carbon emissions from our built environment.”

“With almost 90% of Australians living in urban areas, there is great pressure on our cities to support the livelihoods, health and wellbeing of our population.” said Ken. “There is no better time than now to act and help ensure our cities thrive for the future.”

Read Thriving Cities

Read the full media release 

The OCED Principles on Urban Policy consolidate lessons from the past 20+ years of work on cities and aim to help guide policymakers in building smart, sustainable and inclusive cities.

The OECD has developed 11 principles on urban policy which fall into three key areas: (1) Targeting an effective scale of policy action, (2) Adopting a coherent, integrated and effective strategy to build smart, sustainable and inclusive cities, (3) Engaging stakeholders in a co-designed, co-implemented, and co-monitored urban policy.

Principles include:

• Leverage the potential of cities of all sizes for advancing environmental quality and the transition to a low-carbon economy. [Principle 5]
• Foster a national and multi-level urban policy approach that sets incentives to align and integrate sectoral policies to jointly promote development and well-being in cities. [Principle 7]
• Harness adequate funding for effective implementation of responsibilities for urban policy at all levels of government. [Principle 8]
• Promote stakeholder engagement in the design and implementation of urban policy. [Principle 9]
• Foster monitoring, evaluation and accountability of urban governance and policy outcomes. [Principle 11]

The Principles were co-developed with a diverse range of stakeholders, including international organisations, development banks, networks of cities and local governments, research institutes and academia, and the private sector.

More information here

NABERS have released the final version of their five-year Strategic Plan. The Plan reflects ambition to scale up the role of NABERS in driving sustainable change to a larger part of the Australian economy.

This five-year Strategic Plan is underpinned by:

Vision: We all live, work and play in a sustainable place

Mission: All Australian buildings are healthy, comfortable and have zero environmental impact.

The Plan also includes two goals that guide NABERS’ decision making and work plans:

Goal 1: Every major building type can be rated by NABERS.

Goal 2: Double the number of NABERS ratings* by driving uptake and improving our existing tools (*compared to 2017-18 figures).

Each goal includes prioritised work areas, including maximising partnerships, investing in technology and building capacity of NABERS Assessors.

NABERS are currently developing an implementation plan which will outline the projects, targets and resources needed to execute the plan.

More information here

The overall benefits of asset recycling to the public outweigh shortcomings when delivered with the right checks and balances in place, according to the latest policy report from Consult Australia.

Re-building the social license for asset recycling argues that the case for asset recycling in Australia is strong. It proposes that asset recycling can unlock funding for additional infrastructure projects in our growing cities and regions by transferring commercially viable, publicly owned assets to the private sector.

It notes how the challenge facing governments today is ensuring that asset recycling initiatives deliver public benefits by getting the right balance between public and private sector interests. The report rejects the view that asset recycling, and privatisation more broadly, delivers either positive or negative outcomes by default.

Consult Australia argues that the case for asset recycling cannot be ignored and calls on the government to increase their focus on creating the right conditions for successful transfers that are in the public interest. To support this renewed focus, the report outlines six recommendations for governments across Australia:

1. All jurisdictions to renew asset recycling policies centred around Consult Australia’s eight key conditions for successful transfers
2. The Australian Government to re-establish an improved Asset Recycling Initiative focused on transfer conditions rather than transfer proceeds
3. Governments across Australia to link asset maintenance costs to infrastructure investments
4. Governments across Australia to assess the merits of an infrastructure investment cycle supported by asset recycling, focused on transferring assets to the private sector when they represent the best value
5. The Australian Government to take the lead on pursuing a road user charging model
6. The Australian Government to require the Foreign Investment Review Board to undertake public consultations as part of their foreign investment review process

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has warmly welcomed today’s news that Davina Rooney has been appointed to lead the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

“Davina is a sustainability dynamo in the built environment sector.” said ASBEC President, Professor Ken Maher AO, “Her expertise and industry experience provide a powerful platform to launch from into this important role.”

As former General Manager of Sustainability and Corporate Procurement at Stockland, and Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s Sustainability Roundtable, Davina has built a reputation as deeply insightful, collaborative and industrious leader.

“ASBEC has long enjoyed a greatly collaborative and productive relationship with GBCA, leading work together on high performing buildings and thriving cities.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s Executive Director. “We very much look forward to working with Davina towards our vision of more sustainable, resilient and liveable buildings, cities and infrastructure.”

Professor Maher acknowledged the outstanding contribution of outgoing CEO, Romilly Madew AO. “As a change agent advancing a better built environment, Romilly has brought international acclaim to Australia’s green building sector.  We wish her enormous success in her new role.”

Read the full media release here.

ASEBC welcomes the City of Melbourne’s Climate Change Mitigation Strategy, which recognises the significant capacity of the built environment to contribute to emissions reductions and plans to transition the municipality to 100 percent renewable energy.

The strategy outlines actions that the City will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change impacts. Aligned with the Paris Agreement, this strategy forms part of the City’s commitment to international efforts to stay below a 1.5⁰C rise in global average temperatures.

City of Melbourne has identified four priority actions for achieving its emissions reduction targets:

1. 100 per cent renewable energy.
2. Zero emissions buildings and precincts
3. Zero emissions transport.
4. Reducing the impact of waste.

These actions align with ASBEC’s recommendations in Low Carbon, High Performance, in advancing innovation, incentives, and advocacy to delivery zero buildings and precincts. We are thrilled to see the City’s proposal to “Partner with industry to advocate for higher energy performance standards in the National Construction Code” and fully welcome this support in advancing the recommendations in Built to Perform.

To implement the strategy, the City of Melbourne will:

• Integrate climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Deliver environmental, social and economic benefits to the community.
• Support innovation, knowledge sharing and transparency.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the announcement by the Australian Government of additional investment in energy efficiency, with a clear focus on improving the energy and emissions performance of buildings.

ASBEC’s modelling has shown that, with the right level of support, Australia’s building sector could deliver over a quarter of Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target, whilst saving $20 billion and creating a healthier, more productive built environment.

“The Government’s commitment to low energy buildings sets the foundation for meaningful progress in a sector that offers some of the most cost-effective solutions for energy savings and emissions reduction.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s Executive Director.

“ASBEC strongly supports the expansion of the National Australian Built Environment Energy Ratings System, which has grown awareness of the benefits of energy performance of commercial buildings and driven better comfort and bill-saving outcomes for occupants.  We look forward to a nationally harmonised rating system for residential buildings, so that householders can realise these benefits as well.” said Ms Toumbourou.

Earlier this year, ASBEC applauded the release of the COAG Energy Council’s Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings, which outlined a pathway towards “zero energy (and carbon) ready buildings”, increases to the energy efficiency provisions in the National Construction Code and further consideration of options for existing buildings.

“Energy ratings for buildings and the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings hold great promise.  But there is much more to be done to meet the full potential that Australia’s buildings offer.” said Ms Toumbourou.

“ASBEC and our members have long recognised that more efficient homes and commercial buildings can deliver significant emissions reduction, energy bill savings, comfort and health benefits and reduced stress on the electricity grid.” said Ms Toumbourou. “We’re pleased that the Australian Government is switching onto this opportunity.”

Read the full ASBEC media release here

Read the Australian Government announcement here.

The Building Ministers Forum have referred a Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings to the Australian Building Codes Board for further advice.

Building Ministers have asked ABCB to provide advice on:

1. Any changes to the trajectory to ensure delivery is in collaboration with industry;
2. A holistic review of the energy efficiency provisions in the NCC; and
3. A regulatory impact process which can take account of regional differences.

This decision was made in response to the COAG Energy Council’s recent commitment to a Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings and is a positive step for advancing the proposal.

More information here

Improving the energy efficiency of Australian homes and businesses would create jobs and cut household and business energy bills, according to a new report from the Energy Efficiency Council & Energy Savings Industry Association.

Commissioned by the Energy Efficiency Council and Energy Savings Industry Association, Green Energy Markets produced Energy Efficiency Employment in Australia. This report estimates the upper and lower bound estimates of the number of people currently working in energy efficiency activities in Australia and the employment that would be created by government policies that drive the adoption of a series of technologically mature energy efficiency upgrades to homes and businesses.  

It found that there are currently 500,000 Australians who spend part of their working day on energy, and that this time commitment is equivalent to 59,000 full time jobs. The report noted that energy efficiency is already Australia’s largest ‘energy employer,’ employing 25% more people than coal mining.

The report suggests that an ambitious strategy to upgrade the energy efficiency of homes and businesses would create the equivalent of 120,000 jobs and cut $7.7 billion from energy bills each year. Improved energy efficiency would also cut household gas use by 640 million gigajoules over a decade.

More information here

As we face the extremes of more record-breaking heatwaves, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and ClimateWorks Australia have welcomed state and territory energy ministers’ decision to support a Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

The ‘Trajectory’ proposes a pathway towards “zero energy (and carbon) ready buildings”, increases to the energy efficiency provisions in the National Construction Code and further consideration of options for existing buildings.

ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou said more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings can deliver more resilience to extreme weather, better comfort and reduce stress on the electricity grid, providing an imperative to act now on improving the energy performance of our building stock.

Ms Toumbourou said the energy performance of buildings isn’t just about energy bills and comfort.

“Almost all buildings built today will still be operating in 2050, at a time when Australia will need to be at or near net zero emissions.

“The National Construction Code sets minimum standards for all new Australian buildings, so it is the best place to start to improve building energy performance. By strengthening the National Construction Code we can ensure new buildings are ‘zero carbon ready’ to plug into a net zero emissions economy by 2050.

COAG’s ‘Trajectory’ aligns closely with ASBEC and ClimateWorks’s recent report Built to Perform – An industry led pathway to a zero carbon ready building code, which recommends a pathway for energy targets for subsequent updates to the Code.

Chair of ASBEC’s Building Code Task Group and President of the Energy Efficiency Council, Professor Tony Arnel said COAG Energy Council’s commitment to a forward pathway for energy requirements in the National Construction Code would provide certainty for the construction industry.

“If developers and manufacturers know how the Code requirements will evolve over the next 15 years, this will provide the regulatory certainty industry needs to plan and invest in new technologies, delivering higher building energy performance at lower cost,” he said.

ClimateWorks Project Manager Michael Li said the Built to Perform report showed that stronger energy standards in the National Construction Code could reduce household energy bills by up to $900 each year, contributing to up to $29 billion in reduced energy bills and 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings across the economy by 2050.

“Stronger energy standards in the Code could also relieve pressure on Australia’s ageing energy infrastructure, cutting electricity network costs by up to $12.6 billion between now and 2050,” he said.

“These savings could be achieved through simple, cost-effective energy efficiency measures such as improved air tightness, double glazed windows, increased insulation, outdoor shading, and more efficient air conditioners, hot water systems and lighting.”

An alliance of consumer groups including the Australian Council of Social Service, CHOICE, the Consumer Action Law Centre and Brotherhood of St Laurence has also called for better minimum standards for new and existing housing in the interests of healthier, safer and more affordable homes for all Australians.

“The measures outlined by the COAG Energy Council will set Australian buildings on a firm trajectory towards saving money on energy bills, lowering emissions, easing the strain on our energy infrastructure and being truly comfortable and safe in all extremes of the Australian climate.” said Ms Toumbourou, “In the midst of another stifling summer, this forward-thinking commitment is a breath of fresh air.”

Read the full joint ASBEC and ClimateWorks media release here.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) congratulates two outstanding built environment sustainability champions on being awarded an Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2019 Honours List.

Ms Romilly Madew, Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and past-Deputy President of ASBEC has been awarded for her “distinguished service to the construction sector as a change agent and advocate for sustainable building practices”.

Mr Peter Verwer, former head of the Property Council of Australia, ASBEC’s co-founder and founding board member of the GBCA, has been awarded for his “distinguished service to the property sector, to sustainable development and construction, and to professional bodies”.

“Romilly is an extraordinary champion of sustainable, liveable and resilient buildings, communities and cities, who has helped to catalyse an enormous effect on Australia’s built environment.” said Professor Ken Maher AO, President of ASBEC. “As CEO of the GBCA, Romilly has grown the market for sustainable buildings and precincts, which are not only energy and water efficient and environmentally-friendly, but also deliver great health, comfort and wellbeing outcomes for occupants.”

“Peter has made a remarkable contribution to the property industry and built environment sector with his relentless dedication to bringing a focus on sustainability, through cross sector collaboration.” said Prof Maher. “In his longstanding role as former head of the Property Council of Australia, as well as co-founder of ASBEC and the GBCA, Peter lead the delivery of policy initiatives that have spurred a step change in the environmental performance of commercial buildings within our cities.”

“Peter and Romilly are exception individuals whose passion, commitment and boundless energy has helped to foster an expansive, high level and impactful collaborative movement advancing a sustainable built environment.”  said Prof Maher.  “All of us at ASBEC congratulate Romilly and Peter as they join the ranks of distinguished Australians who have been recognised with an Order of Australia award.” concluded Prof Maher AO.

Read the full ASBEC media release here.

Research from GBCA and the New Zealand Green Building Council has revealed the triple bottom line benefits of green-certified health facilities following a review of national and international healthcare facilities.

With hospitals typically using at least twice energy and around six times as much water per square meter than commercial office buildings, The Case for Sustainable Healthcare highlights the environmental and economic importance of delivering more efficient healthcare facilities. The report found that Green Star certified hospital buildings delivered significant energy and water savings, resulting in large cost savings. Some examples referenced in the report include:

• New South Wing of Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia, a five-star Green Star-certified building, saved $400,000 a year thanks to a solar-heated hot water system. It also reduced water consumption 20 per cent through rainwater harvesting
• Queensland’s newly opened $1.8bn Sunshine Coast University Hospital is tipped to operate at 40 per cent lower peak energy demand when it is fully occupied in 2021

The report also reveals the significant health benefits that green buildings deliver for hospital patients including: 15 per cent faster recovery for people with depression when they were cared for in facilities with natural sunlight; a 30 per cent drop in medical errors in better designed rooms; and a 41 per cent shorter average stay for patients in sunny rooms compared to those without access to natural light.

GBCA and NZGBC run world-leading Green Star certification programs that recognise the quality of design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings. Overall, Green Star-certified buildings and communities use 66 per cent less electricity than average Australian city buildings, half the potable water than minimum requirements, and produce 62 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions.

More information here

The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the UK-based Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) have signed a Memorandum of understanding aimed at “furthering a more effective and beneficial exchange of knowledge and ideas in the HVAC&R industry.”

This MoU will provide members of AIRAH and IOR with access to each other’s banks of technical resources, foster global cooperation on research projects, and provide shared training opportunities.

Both highly respected organisations in their home countries, the MoU will help strengthen global ties between organisations in the HVAC&R industry. It enables them to work effectively together as they tackle major industry challenges and aims, including a growing focus on sustainability.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the appointment of Romilly Madew as Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Australia.

In her time as leader of the Green Building Council of Australia, Romilly has been a longstanding champion of ASBEC and served as ASBEC’s Vice President for several years.   In her former role as Chair of ASBEC’s Cities Task Group, Romilly led a strong agenda for more sustainable, resilient, liveable and productive cities and regions.

“Romilly has driven a movement in sustainable buildings that has paved the way for better Australian cities, precincts and communities.” said ASBEC President Professor Ken Maher AO.

“As a change agent advancing a better built environment, Romilly has brought international acclaim to Australia’s green building sector. Her deep engagement across the built environment sector will also contribute greatly to the necessary integration of infrastructure and urban development.”

ASBEC is a strong supporter of Infrastructure Australia’s role as independent advisor to the Australian Government.

“With the right level of engagement and transparency, Infrastructure Australia’s mandate to prioritise and progress nationally significant infrastructure can help to deliver greater productivity, increased resilience, better environmental outcomes and a higher and more equitable standard of living for all Australians.” said Prof Maher. “With her outstanding vision, drive and expertise, Romilly is exquisitely positioned to lead this endeavour.”

Read the full media release here.

The COAG Energy Council has failed to come to an agreement on a nationwide pathway to improve the energy performance of Australian buildings.  This missed opportunity could lock in higher energy bills for households and businesses, increase stress on the electricity network and result in greenhouse gas emissions that could otherwise have been avoided.

ASBEC President Professor Ken Maher AO said more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings can deliver better comfort and reduce stress on the electricity grid, providing an imperative to act now on improving the energy performance of our building stock.

“ASBEC’s Built to Perform report, produced in partnership with ClimateWorks Australia, showed that a forward pathway for stronger energy standards in the National Construction Code could reduce household energy bills by up to $900 each year, contributing to up to $29 billion in reduced energy bills and 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings across the economy by 2050.”

Delays in improving minimum energy performance standards for new buildings can lock in decades of avoidable energy bills. Buildings will continue being built to outdated standards, which in the case of housing haven’t been updated in almost a decade.

“A three-year delay of strengthened requirements to Australia’s Building Code could lead to $2.6 billion in wasted energy expenditure, while locking in an additional $720 million of electricity network investments and 9 million tonnes of emissions by 2030.” said Prof Maher.

ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou said the energy performance of buildings isn’t just about energy bills and comfort. A study in the respected medical journal, The Lancet, showed that 6 per cent of Australian deaths annually are due to cold in poorly heated homes, with another 1 per cent due to heat in inadequately cooled homes.

An alliance of consumer groups including Energy Consumers Australia, the Australian Council of Social Service and CHOICE has called for better minimum standards for new and existing housing.

“Consumer and community groups are well aware that better energy performance delivers healthier, safer and more affordable homes for vulnerable households.” said Ms Toumbourou.

Prof Maher said that a COAG-level commitment to a forward pathway for energy requirements in the Building Code would provide certainty for the construction industry.

“If developers and manufacturers know how the Code requirements will evolve over the next 15 years, this will provide the regulatory certainty industry needs to plan and invest in new technologies, delivering higher building energy performance at lower cost,” he said.

“Better building energy performance is one of the most cost-effective and readily implementable pathways towards energy bill reduction and better health outcomes for households.” said Ms Toumbourou.

“Over fifty peak bodies across the country, ranging from community groups to property developers, have called for improved energy performance standards in buildings.  Australia’s governments must act now.” said Prof Maher.

Download full ASBEC media release here.

In the largest national survey of its kind, Energy Consumers Australia has found that only 1 in four households believe that their home is energy efficient.

The Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey December 2018 consulted more than 2000 consumers about household energy efficiency and their perceptions of the Australian energy sector. Headline findings include:

• 48% of consumers support addressing energy efficiency with a mandatory labelling scheme that requires sellers to disclose the energy rating of their house (with only 15% not supporting the measure)
• 60% of consumers say energy efficiency would be a factor when buying a house
• 60% of consumers supported increasing minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties (with 8% not supporting the measure)
• Satisfaction with competition nationally was up 10% to the highest level over Energy Consumer Australia’s six surveys
• Consumer trust remains low, at 33% nationally
• More than half of consumers are confident in their abilities to make choices and access information and tools to improve their energy usage

Data from this survey highlights the strong relationship between housing energy performance and energy affordability, with Energy Consumers Australia strongly supporting calls across the energy sector to mandate higher energy performance in new homes.

More information here

Ahead of the COAG Energy Ministers meeting on 18-19 December 2018, consumer and housing groups have rallied together to call for higher energy efficiency standards for new and existing homes in the National Construction Code.

36 housing and consumer groups have signed a joint statement calling on COAG energy ministers to commit to higher energy performance standards in the next update of the National Construction Code from 2022 and mandatory minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties. Drawing on ASBEC and ClimateWorks’ Built to Perform report, this joint statement emphasises how any effort to bring down energy bills must also address housing efficiency.

The joint statement calls for:

1. Improved energy performance standards for new homes and major renovations
2. Improved energy performance standards for existing homes, including fixed appliances
3. Targeted measures to overcome the barriers to improved energy performance in low income households

More information here

The Australian Building Codes Board has confirmed the draft 2019 National Construction Code, which includes an upgrade of the commercial building energy efficiency provisions. This was an early recommendation in Low Carbon, High Performance and the Trajectory Project and a big win for ASBEC!

Excerpt from the ABCB website:

The commercial building energy efficiency provisions have undergone their first major overhaul since 2010, consistent with the COAG National Energy Productivity Plan. A package of measures for Volume One focuses on reducing energy consumption by a potential 35%, representing a step-change for commercial buildings. Additionally, new VMs will be introduced to demonstrate compliance with the relevant Performance Requirement by way of NABERS and Green Star.

New heating and cooling load limits for the NatHERS compliance pathway will be introduced for Volume Two.

Energy efficiency provisions for Volume One and Volume Two will have a transition period of 12 months until 1 May 2020 during which either the new NCC 2019 provisions or those from NCC 2016 may be used.

More information here

Green Building Council Australia has been awarded the NFP and NGO Award at the Banksia Awards for its Green Star Certification initiative.

In its 30^th year, the Banksia Awards are Australia’s longest running sustainability awards and assesses excellence under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

GBCA’s Green Star is Australia’s only comprehensive environmental rating scheme which benchmarks the design, construction and operations for buildings, fitouts and communities. This initiative has helped transform Australia’s built environment towards a more sustainable future and has certified thousands of buildings across the nation.

More information here

A National Construction Code with stronger energy performance standards would reduce emissions and power bills for buildings in Northern Australia, according to a new report released today by ASBEC and ClimateWorks Australia.

The report, Built to Perform in Northern Australia sets out potential energy performance targets in the National Construction Code specific to Queensland, Northern Territory and Northern Western Australia’s unique climates.

“The hot tropical and desert climatic conditions of Northern Australia really put buildings to the test when it comes to energy consumption. But these challenges actually provide a unique opportunity to reduce Australia’s emissions and save money – if governments act to make it happen,” said ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou.

“We have modelled the opportunities provided by different building types, including apartments, free standing houses, hospital wards and schools. Even without changing the standard design of these buildings, the report found energy savings of up to 27 per cent in residential buildings, 38 per cent in commercial sector, and 56 per cent in public sector buildings such as schools.”

“Improved energy performance of buildings presents a win-win-win opportunity by reducing stress on the electricity network, offering bill savings and supporting a least-cost pathway to a zero carbon built environment, while improving health and resilience outcomes for households and businesses.”

ClimateWorks Project Manager Michael Li said previous analysis showed that nationwide changes to the National Construction Code could save Queenslanders $6 billion in energy bills between now and 2050, $430 million for the Northern Territory and $4 billion in Western Australia. At the same time, it would reduce emissions by 19 million tonnes, 2 million tonnes and 10 million tonnes respectively.

“Implementing the energy targets in Built to Perform in Northern Australia will enable each state and territory to unlock these savings,” he said.

Suzanne Toumbourou said “We have got the right tool to strengthen energy performance in the National Construction Code – if governments will use it. Right now, industry leaders are delivering buildings that perform far better than the Code’s minimum standards but increased minimum energy requirements in the 2022 revisions to the Code will deliver industry the certainty to roll this out nationwide – and drive down costs. At the same time, state and territory governments should encourage building materials and designs which are best suited to specific local environments.”

Download Built to Perform in Northern Australia

Download the ASBEC and ClimateWorks media release

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects is calling for the development of a National Green Infrastructure Strategy, led by the Federal Government.

The proposed strategy recognises the importance of nature within our built environment, acknowledging that nature itself acts as an enabler of city liveability and provides important ecosystems that benefit our cities, regional communities and towns. This strategy would assist decision makers to leverage and maximise the benefits of incorporating greening strategies into the design, construction and management of major infrastructure assets.

Deployment of a National Green Infrastructure Strategy would help combat the impact of heatwaves in cities through urban cooling policies and promote the construction of accessible and well-designed urban open spaces.

AILA is developing a Green Infrastructure Position Statement, to be released in early 2019, that will assist inform a national approach. AILA is calling on the government to bring key stakeholders, state and local governments, industry bodies and community representatives together to develop a National Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Australia continues to lead the world’s green building sector, with further growth predicted over the next three years, according to a new report from Dodge Data & Analytics.

The World Green Building Trends 2018 SmartMarket Report indicated that the international market for green construction projects has grown dramatically over the past 10 years, with demand for green buildings poised to grow further. It noted the importance of green building retrofits and renovations, identifying these performance upgrades as critical for meeting carbon-neutral targets worldwide.

The report found that the construction industry is increasingly shifting towards sustainable materials and practice, especially as perceptions that green buildings are costlier to build than traditional buildings continues to decline. Two thirds of the study’s participants indicated that see third-party certification as an effective way to build better performing buildings.

46% of Australian participants reported that more than 60% of their projects were in the green building space, the highest of any country, and 64% expected that by 2021 the majority of their work would be in green building.

More information here

The world is seeing a major shift in the energy sector, with renewables becoming the technology of choice in power markets, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest World Energy Outlook.

The World Energy Outlook is an annual report that details global energy trends and what possible impact they will have on supply and demand, carbon emissions, air pollution and energy access. Analysis showed that 70% of global energy investments will be government-driven, emphasising the critical role that governments will play in determining the world’s energy future.

The report found that oil markets are entering a period of renewed uncertainty and volatility while solar PV is charging forward as a rapidly growing energy source. Renewables are transforming the global power mix, with renewable generation expected to make up over 40% of the mix by 2040. While this brings major environmental benefits it does also give rise to a new set of policy challenges that must be addressed quickly by policy makers.

IEA analysis found that higher electricification in transportation, buildings and industry would lead to peak oil demand by 2030 and reduce harmful air pollutants, but would have a negligible impact on carbon emissions without stronger efforts to increase the share of renewables and low-carbon sources of power.

This report stressed the urgent need for increased investment in sustainable energy technologies if the world is to stay below the 2 degree Paris Agreement target.

More information here

ClimateWorks has completed the first stage of their new Decarbonisation Futures report which analyses the abatement potential of a range of new innovations and assess how such innovations can help Australia reach net zero emissions sooner.

This new report builds on their 2014 report, Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in 2050, and analyses new technologies, social changes and business models that were deliberately excluded from the original report. At the completion of the first stage in development, two summary reports have been published that begin to explore the future of decarbonisation across ‘Buildings’ and ‘Industry’ sectors.

The Buildings summary report highlighted promising technological innovations that could help push Australia’s built environment sector towards much needed emissions reductions. Solar PV and LED Lighting were identified as recent key innovations that could reduce building emissions, and heat pump technologies and electrochromic windows were recognised as emerging innovations that could spur building emissions towards net zero. This report noted the societal co-benefits of building energy optimisation, with increased energy efficiency leading reducing the demand placed on the grid during peak times – saving in electricity network infrastructure investment and reducing electricity prices charged to customer.

The Industry report similarly highlighted key and emerging innovations that are driving emissions reduction in Industry, while emphasising the enormous potential that existing opportunities and technologies offer for Industry. Regular energy data analysis, the inclusion of energy efficiency in corporate policies, technology upgrades and operational improvements were among some of the recent innovations identified in the report. Newer ideas helping to move Industry emission towards net zero by 2050 included 3D printing and material substitution, particularly in the buildings sector where timber products can be substituted in place of steel and cement.

More information here

Despite good social and economic performance, Australian cities are lagging behind their global counterparts on emissions reduction and waste management according to Arcadis’ Sustainable Cities Index 2018.

The 2018 Index explores city sustainability from the perspective of a citizen, considering how different cities enable different citizen groups to meet their particular needs (such as the maintenance and performance of essential services, the allocation of resources). Measured on three pillars of sustainability: People, Planet and Profit, Australian cities were ranked in the second quartile: Sydney 34^th, Canberra 35^th, Brisbane 44^th, Melbourne 56^th.

Australian cities performed well in the People pillar and satisfactorily in the Profit pillar yet the Planet pillar was the weakest for all Australian cities. Greenhouse gas emissions and waste management were common issues across all four cities and compared to leading European cities, Australian cities were very weak on electric-vehicle adaption, had high exposure to natural disasters and waste management.

Overall, Australian cities were all middle of the road in the sustainability index.

More information here

Green Building Council of Australia and the Smart Cities Council have launched their new Code for Smart Communities. This standard will elevate benchmarks for sustainable, liveable cities across Australia and New Zealand and will complement GBCA’s Green Star rating tool.

This Code is designed to help government set smart cities targets and serve as a general check list for planning and development projects. Some of the key issues addressed by the code include:

• Enhanced telecommunications connectivity
• Data insights
• Digital planning practices
• Innovation districts

Lendlease has come on board as the project’s lead partner where it has supported the development and testing of the Code. This Code forms an important framework for collaboration across industry and government and will help accelerate sustainability outcomes on development projects across Australia and New Zealand.

More information here

Sustainability Victoria have released their Energy Smart Housing Manual to help home owners, builder and designers construct homes that comply, or exceed, the minimum 6 Star Standard set out by the National Construction Code.

The Manual explains how a home’s design and construction impacts its energy efficiency. With this understanding, homebuilders can improve their building plans and maximise the energy efficiency of their homes.

Six design concepts are explored in the Manual, with guidance about how to cost-effectively and successfully incorporate them into home design and construction. The concepts are:

1. Sun, Climate and Comfort
2. Siting and Solar Access
3. Windows
4. Insulation
5. Thermal Mass
6. Air Leakage and Air Movement

The Manual concludes with a case study to demonstrate how a house that closely follows these concepts can reduce the cost of achieving 6-star compliance or achieve even higher efficiency levels.

More information here

A new report from the Building Performance Institute Europe has called for upgrades to European building regulations to ensure satisfactory indoor environmental quality. Key factors of indoor environmental quality are identified as air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics.

The Inner Value of a Building looks at opportunities to integrate indoor environmental quality into European regulation that addresses building renovation and energy performance, and identifies four key areas of opportunity where such regulations can be improved to better deliver satisfactory indoor environmental quality. These areas are:

1. Long-term renovation strategies that take into account indoor air quality
2. Energy Performance Certificates that recommend for the cost-effective or cost-optimal upgrading of the energy performance
3. Smart readiness indicators that capture and promote the benefits of smart buildings for building users and occupants, the energy system, the economy and society as a whole
4. The integration of indoor environmental quality within regulatory framework where compliance and quality control mechanisms are enforced

The report emphasised the importance of national regulatory frameworks in improving minimum indoor environmental quality.

More information here

GBCA have launched their Future Homes Project and accompanying Thought Leadership paper.

The Future Homes Project aims to develop a framework for quality housing and test ways to verify the construction and performance of homes. In order to deliver affordable, sustainable, quality homes to for all Australians, GBCA proposes the following:

• Great homes provide benefits for everyone
• Australia needs a clear, unified vision for housing for the future
• Homes are designed, built and verified to perform

Future Homes Project is born out of a growing recognition that current Australian regulation is not delivering nor safeguarding a sustainable built environment. Through this initiative, GBCA hopes to work closely with the property industry to define best practice benchmarks for sustainable housing, and develop cost-effective ways to verify performance.

More information here

A report released by ACOSS and the Brotherhood of St Laurence has revealed the economic stress that rising electricity prices are having on low income and disadvantaged households.

Energy Stressed in Australia exposes how these households are paying disproportionately more of their income on energy than that national average. When combined with the current housing affordability crisis, low wage inflation and long-term unemployment, Australia’s rising electricity prices are imposing significant stress on low income households such that some elect to go without heating and cooling, meals and other basic essentials in order to afford their energy bills.

The report finds that low-income homes are hit the hardest, with these households spending 6.4% of their income on energy, while households of the highest 20% spend far less to their relative incomes – an average of 1.5%. Low-income renters are particularly vulnerable to energy stress with tenants having less ability to install simple energy performance upgrades that would help reduce their electricity consumption.

ACOSS and the Brotherhood of St Laurence recommend:

• Reducing energy prices for all
• Reducing energy stress for vulnerable households by introducing measures including the establishment of mandatory energy efficiency standards for rental properties supported by tax incentives for landlords
• Supporting the access of vulnerable and low-income households to solar and batteries
• Establishing benchmarks by which energy affordability can be measured over time

More information here

Zero-Energy Homes are rapidly nearing cost parity with conventional dwellings, according to a new report released by Rocky Mountain Institute. Economics of Zero-Energy Homes: Single Family Insights investigated the cost of zero-energy homes and zero-energy ready homes (homes that are designed to achieve zero-energy levels of efficiency yet haven’t yet been installed with solar) and found that these sustainable dwellings are more cost-effective than often perceived by the public or portrayed in mainstream media.

The report’s main findings include:

1. Zero-Energy and Zero-Energy Ready Homes are already approaching cost parity. It suggests that with stricter baseline codes developers may be able to construct these homes at cost parity with conventional dwellings.
2. Consumers are increasingly prepared to pay higher upfront costs for zero-energy homes as they recognise that these energy-efficient homes deliver measurable cost savings over the long-term.
3. Depending on which climate zone zero-energy houses are located, cutting-edge envelope and HVAC solutions are not always necessary for delivering results – therefore enabling consumers to achieve zero-energy efficiency levels with a significantly lower cost premium.
4. The cost of zero-energy homes will continue to decline over the next decade

Alongside these findings, the report also provides homebuilders and policymakers with guidance on how to bring zero-energy homes and zero-energy ready homes to market.

More information here

ISO have developed a new Sustainable Development Goal Tool that identifies the standards that make the most significant contribution to advancing the UN’s SDGs.

This online tool presents a list of the top ISO standards that correspond to each of the 17 SDGs, with links that enable users to preview each standard so that they can determine if it’s appropriate for their organisation’s needs.

Promoting SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) is ISO 37101 – a standard that helps communities define their sustainable development objectives and implement strategies to achieve them.

More information here

The Future Cities CRC has been shortlisted for the Cooperative Research Centre Program where it has been invited to apply to Stage 2 of the application process.

The proposed CRC will be Australia’s national research and innovation hub for the future of cities.

The CRC will engage with government, industry and community to undertake research aimed at developing and implementing integrated science-based policy and practice solutions to current and future urban challenges.

The mission of the Future Cities CRC is to conduct high quality research which will enable Australian industry to be globally competitive, to take new products to market and make our cities and regions more productive, sustainable and liveable.

The programs of the Future Cities CRC will address:

• Program 1: Smart Connected Places will address current technological shortcomings by developing next generation smart sensors and cyber-safe smart solutions for cities including 5G enabled systems and AI led solutions.
• Program 2: Efficient integrated infrastructure will tackle efficiency, integration, finance, regulatory and sustainability and resilience challenges of city infrastructure and assets.
• Program 3: City analytics and foresighting will address the transition from big data to intelligible information and actionable knowledge to enhance design, planning and policy innovations.
• Program 4: Liveable cities and regions will shift cities from technocratic to truly technology enabled, problem-driven and community-oriented ones.

More information here

View the Future Cities CRC bid highlights here

NABERS turned 20 years in 2018 and launched multiple exciting initiatives during the past year as highlighted in their 2017-2018 Annual Report. Over the past year, the program launched NABERS Co-Assess, NABERS for Apartment Buildings and the new NABERS Waste, as well as helping to develop one of the world’s first Carbon Neutral Building certification schemes.

The 2017-18 financial year also saw NABERS certify record-levels of shopping centres throughout Australia, and increase their NABERS Indoor Environment ratings in offices by 32%. The year also witnessed the debut of NABERS for Public Hospitals which certified 274 hospitals within a year of its launch, making it the fastest uptake of any new NABERS tool to date.

In the year following its expansion, the Commercial Building Disclosure program (CBD) increased the number of office buildings tracking and disclosing their energy performance with NABERS by 21%. Together, these world-leading NABERS initiatives have helped Australian building owners save more than $790 million and 5.4 million Tonnes of CO₂ since the program first started in 1998.

More information here

The Building Up and Moving Out report, released by the House of Representative Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities, seeks to mark out a holistic and integrated approach to urban planning that will support and deliver the future needs of Australia’s major cities and regions.

The report proposes the development of a National Settlement Strategy that will establish a vision for what cities could and should look like over the next fifty years and provide a pathway to achieving this vision.

The report makes 37 recommendations to the Australian government, including:

• nationally consistent guidelines for urban green space and establish a clear trajectory to continued carbon emissions reductions (recommendation 10)
• extending the Smart Cities and Suburbs Program (recommendation 17)
• maintaining the Co-operative Research Centres (CRC) focus on urban issues (recommendation 24)
• supporting the broader application of rating systems, such as the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star program, to urban regeneration (recommendation 25)
• adopting an approach to infrastructure project appraisal that includes:
  • wider economic, social and environmental benefits
  • costs and returns over the life of the infrastructure
  • cost of the project suing a discounted rate of 4 per cent.

ASBEC and GBCA each delivered individual submissions and evidence to the Committee last year and are pleased to see that elements of these submissions were reflected in the overall report and its recommendations.

The report recognised the significant role that the Australian government must occupy in driving the sustainable and resilient development of our cities.

More information here

The World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Building Commitment represents a statement of coordinated action from businesses, cities, states and regions to advance a decarbonised built environment.

38 founding signatories have committed to eliminating operational carbon emissions from their building portfolios by 2030, and advocating for all buildings to be NetZero by 2050. The Commitment requires all signatories to verify their achievements on an annual basis by an independent third-party system. The fulfilment of this Commitment will result in savings of 209 million tonnes of carbon emission equivalent by 2050.

By setting ‘absolute’ Net Zero targets, WorldGBC hopes to encourage ambitious emissions reduction actions from the built environment sector, with the goal of limiting global warming below 1.5 degrees.

Six Australian companies and councils have signed the commitment: AMP Capital Wholesale Office Fund, Frasers Property Australia, GPT Wholesale Office Fund, Stockland’s retirement living and logistics divisions, Cundall, and the City of Sydney. C40 Cities has also entered the Commitment, including Sydney which is a member city of the network.

More information here

A report released by ClimateWorks has found that Australia is not yet on track to meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement, yet that there remains sufficient potential to do so.

Tracking Progress to Net Zero Emissions used findings from the Deep Decarbonisation Pathways Project and compared them with emissions data and projections from the Australian Government to examine whether Australia was on track to (1) meetings its first commitments to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent under the Paris Agreement, and (2) on track for a net zero pathway.

While Australia’s total emissions have fallen 11 per cent since 2005, these improvements are not enough for the nation to be on track to reach net zero, nor the Government’s Paris Agreement commitments. Building sector emissions rose to 6 per cent higher than 2005 levels as emissions improvements did not keep pace with increased economic activity. Energy efficiency and clean electricity technologies did help to drive improvements, yet increased activity in the sector outpaced the improvements brought about by these technologies.

ClimateWorks’ report does, however, find that the building sector has the potential to reach 69 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 if it pursues a net zero pathway. Alongside efficiency and clean electricity technologies, stronger standards for buildings and appliances are expected to drive the majority of emissions improvements.

The report calls strongly for the adoption of a net zero pathway. In the building sector alone, present emissions intensity improvements will achieve less than a fifth the rate of emissions reductions of the net zero pathway.

More information here

Around 100 representatives from government, the energy industry, academia and consumer groups gathered to discuss energy affordability and how to improve energy performance in homes at the Housing Summit hosted by Energy Consumers Australia in September.

There was broad agreement by consumer and community groups that policies and programs are urgently needed to ensure that all Australians are able to afford the energy required to have a healthy and comfortable home.

Speakers highlighted the need to ensure low-income households and people living in rental properties are not disadvantaged by poorly performing housing stock. The Summit’s Communique called for:

• Improved energy performance standards for new homes and major renovations
• Improved energy performance standards for existing homes, including fixed appliances

The Communique calls on governments and industry to work together in developing a comprehensive, national strategy to improve the energy performance of all Australian homes.

More information here

The Australia Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) fully supports South Australian Senator Tim Storer’s Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving the Energy Efficiency of Rental Properties) Bill 2018.

Professor Ken Maher, President of ASBEC, says that stronger energy performance achieved through simple retrofitting, such as improved insulation, would make homes cheaper to light, heat and cool, as well as more comfortable in temperature extremes. At the same time, it would achieve significant emissions reductions, helping Australia to meet our international climate obligations.

ASBEC supports Senator Storer’s independent member bill, that would provide a tax deduction of $2000 for landlords who act to strengthen energy performance standards in homes rented by low income Australians.

Read the full media release here

A report released by the NewClimate Institute, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Climate has found that policies which encourage and facilitate large-scale urban climate action can generate millions of jobs, save households billions of dollars and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths related to urban pollution around the world.

Climate Opportunity: More Jobs, Better Health, Liveable Cities analysed how efforts to promote (1) energy efficiency retrofit of residential buildings, (2) enhanced bus networks, and (3) district heating and cooling reduced the GHG emissions of global cities and improved the health outcomes of their residents. The report concluded that:

• residential energy efficiency retrofit could result in the creation of 5.4 million urban jobs worldwide, generate significant household energy savings, and contribute to emissions reductions.
• District-scale renewable energy for heating and cooling in buildings could create approximately 8.3 million jobs, prevent up to 300,000 premature air pollution related deaths per year, and result in emission reductions

With cities accounting for 73% of global GHG emissions it is critical that policymakers turn their attention to urban climate action if nations are to deliver on their commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. The report noted how national policy plays a key role in fostering coordination across all sectors and levels of government.

More information here

The Victorian Government’s Smart Homes Program will help to expand and encourage rooftop solar installation in the state. The $1.24 billion program is predicted to see solar panels installed in over 650,000 homes over ten years.

Under the scheme, Victorians will be able to access a 50% rebate on 4kW solar panel systems and pay-back the remainder cost over a four-year interest-free loan period. A $1000 rebate on solar hot water systems will also be provided as part of the program.

This program is expected to result in the installation of an additional 2.6 gigawatts of rooftop solar, cut the state’s emissions by nearly 4 million tonnes, save households an average of $890 each year on their electricity bills, and support the accreditation of 4,500 electricians to install solar panels safely.

More information here

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications have released their report, Current and future impacts of climate change on housing, buildings and infrastructure, following the enquiry the conducted upon the Senate’s reference.

This report accounts for the full range of projected climate scenarios and draws  from ASBEC’s 2012 Preparing for Change report. Some of the matters addressed in this report include:

• The impact of climate change on energy infrastructure, including generators and transmission and distribution lines
• The impact of climate change on public and private housing
• The impact of climate change on financing and insurance arrangements for housing, buildings and infrastructure
• The adequacy of current state and Commonwealth policies to assess, plan and implement adaption plans and improved resilience of infrastructure

More information here

The NSW Government’s Clean Energy Knowledge Sharing Initiative will help provide nearly 1 million NSW rental households with rooftop solar. $300,000 will be provided by the NSW Government, with an additional $680,000 to be provided by the private sector.

Ten projects have been funded through the initiative, and together they will make solar technologies more accessible and affordable for rental households. The program also provides an opportunity for innovators and early adapters to test and trail new clean energy solutions.

The co-funding recipients are: SunTenants, Solar Analytics, COREM, Interface, Goldwind, Liberty OneSteel, CLEAN Cowra, Enova Energy, Reposit Power, and Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education in Thora in partnership with Enesol.

More information here

The Energy Efficiency Council have released an executive-level energy briefing, Navigating a dynamic energy landscape, to help businesses manage risks and capture opportunities in Australia’s energy system transformation.

The briefing provides a straight-forward assessment of current energy trends, how they are playing out in energy bills, and presents opportunities for businesses to take control. It finds that trends and technologies driving Australia’s increasingly dynamic energy landscape can also be leveraged by businesses to improve profits and productivity.

The briefing highlights how leading businesses are using energy efficiency, renewable energy, demand response and smarter contracting to reduce their energy costs and shift to clean energy.  It will be regularly refreshed with up-to-date information to ensure that business leaders can stay ahead of the curve.

More information here

Sydney has unveiled its first comprehensive metropolitan scale resilience strategy. The Sydney Resilience Strategy was developed by Sydney’s 33 metropolitan councils and 100 Resilient Cities and outlines a set of tangible actions that the city can take to build resilience and strengthen its ability to adapt, survive and thrive in the face of climate change, global uncertainty and local stresses.

The strategy promotes collaboration between business, government, academia, communities and individuals and results from two years of research, stakeholder negotiation and development. Resilient Sydney contains a 5-year action plan with 35 actions that are categorised along the following flagship directions:

1. People-centred
2. Live with the climate
3. Connect for strength
4. Get ready
5. One city

More information here

An upgraded standard for the carbon footprint of products, ISO 14067, has been finalised by the International Organisation for Standardization and is presently under publication. This standard builds on ISO standards for life cycle assessment and provides greater clarity on how to calculate the carbon footprint of products and services.

The upgraded standard mandates the use of the most recent data on greenhouse gas emissions and demands that GHGs are also considered alongside carbon emissions. It now uses the full lifecycle of providing energy to make its assessment rather than energy calculations based on the individual supplier or retail figures.

With the EU looking to include the carbon footprint standard in its Product Environment Footprint initiative, the implementation of ISO 14067 may also provide Australian companies with a better chance of exporting to the European Union.

View the standard here

More information here

Energy standards in Australia’s National Construction Code must be urgently upgraded if new buildings are to be fit for a zero carbon future, according to a new report released today.

Built to Perform, prepared by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and ClimateWorks Australia, shows setting stronger energy standards for new buildings in the Code could, between now and 2050, reduce energy bills by up to $27 billion, cut energy network costs by up to $12.6 billion and deliver at least 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings.

“Australia needs to transition to a net zero emissions economy by 2050 to meet our commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. But new analysis by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy shows Australia scores the lowest in energy efficiency amongst all developing countries. Although market-leading Australian companies are demonstrating world-class commitment to a sustainable built environment, the market alone cannot fix this problem,” said ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou.

“All of the buildings being built today will still be operating in 2050, at a time when we will need to be at or near net zero emissions. Our Building Code needs to be ‘zero carbon ready’, ensuring that today’s new builds are prepared to operate in a zero carbon future.”

“We welcome proposed improvements to the 2019 National Construction Code to advance energy performance in commercial buildings and adjust the requirements for residential buildings,” said Ms Toumbourou. “However, to meet the full potential of the Code, we need to shift away from ad-hoc, periodic updates. Governments must agree to a longer-term plan with targets and a clear, regulated and transparent process for Code updates out to 2030, starting with a step-change in residential standards in 2022.”

“If developers and manufacturers know how the Code requirements will evolve over the next 15 years, this will provide the regulatory certainty industry needs to plan and invest in new technologies, delivering higher building energy performance at lower cost.” said Professor Tony Arnel, Chair of ASBEC’s Building Code Task Group and President of the Energy Efficiency Council.

“Even this conservative analysis shows that, by 2030, improvement in Code energy requirements could reduce energy consumption of new buildings by up to 56 per cent. This could be achieved through simple, cost-effective energy efficiency measures such as improved air tightness, double glazed windows, increased insulation, outdoor shading, and more efficient air conditioners, hot water systems and lighting,” said ClimateWorks Project Manager Michael Li. “With the costs of solar PV and battery storage rapidly reducing, adding on-site renewable energy into the Code could deliver significant additional gains.”

Although there are upfront costs associated with these improvements, these are small (less than 4% for detached homes) relative to overall construction costs and land prices.

“While the Code is important, it can only take us part way to net zero,” said Ms Toumbourou. “Improving compliance and enforcement with Code requirements is paramount, as well as improving appliance energy standards, retrofitting existing buildings, providing building owners and occupants with better information, and driving faster decarbonisation of the electricity grid. The Code should be seen as one part of an integrated strategy to deliver a zero carbon building sector by 2050.”

“Delaying action will mean that many of these opportunities are lost,” said Mr Li. “A three-year delay in further upgrades to building energy performance standards could lead to a further $2.6 billion in wasted energy expenditure and lock in an additional 9 million tonnes of emissions by 2030, increasing to 22 million tonnes by 2050.”

Read Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code. 

Read the ASBEC and ClimateWorks media release.

The Green Building Council of Australia has released their latest discussion paper, A Carbon Positive Roadmap for the built environment, which plots a world-leading path to raise the benchmark for sustainable design, construction and building operation in Australia’s built environment. The roadmap outlines the steps required for commercial, institutional and government buildings to decarbonise.

Developed in close consultation with industry and government, the report considers the high-level outcomes, actions, targets and policy positions required to decarbonise Australia’s built environment sector. The proposed steps are designed to operate alongside changes to the GBCA’s Green Star rating tool.

The roadmap proposed a significant increase in performance for buildings and fitouts over the next decade and will drive transformation in the broader built environment sector by promoting policies to retrofit existing buildings, improve new buildings, increase the supply of renewable energy and phase out fossil fuel use.

More information here

Australia has been ranked the worst nation for energy efficiency in the developed world in the 2018 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard.

Released each year by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), this Scorecard examines the efficiency policies and performance of 25 of the world’s top energy-consuming countries. Together, these 25 nations represent 78% of all energy consumed on the planet. Australia slipped from our 16th ranking last year to 18th in 2018 – making it the worst performing nation among all developed nations evaluated by the Scorecard.

While Australia demonstrated positive energy efficiency efforts in the building sector (ranking 10th), it ranked among the bottom 5 nations in the industry and transportation sectors (ranking 22nd and 20th respectively). Australia’s slip in the rankings follows a concerning trend, having fallen dramatically from a ranking of 10th most energy efficient nation in 2014 to 18th in 2018.

Australia is falling behind our global counterparts. Through strong government leadership, ambitious energy efficiency policies and innovative household and commercial action we can all work to improve the nation’s energy efficiency performance.

More information here

Australia’s first Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development Goal progress was released in June and details the nation’s progress in implementing and achieving SDGs. Australia first signed up to this United Nations initiative in 2016 and has since worked to advance social justice, economic growth and tackle climate change through sustainable development.

The Review demonstrates how all sectors of Australian society, from government to community groups, are contributing to the achievement of these Goals. It shows that Australia has performed well in Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, due to the nation’s participation in free and open markets, and that positive trends are evident in Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.

The Review also outlines the sustainable development challenges that Australia needs to invest greater focus. These include improving the liveability of our cities, advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice and outcomes, and delivering better financial and institutional structures for peoples living with a disability.

The Australian SDGs website was launched alongside this report and will provide an ongoing digital platform to gather and share case studies that are shown to advance the nation’s progress on sustainable development. GBCA and WWF submitted case studies showcasing their contribution to the environment and energy Goals.

More information here

Compendium of Case Studies here

The European Union has negotiated a new energy efficiency target of 32.5% by 2030. Negotiators from the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union agreed to the targets in June, with an upward revision clause by 2023.

These targets are part of a broader regulatory framework that seeks to bring about a clean energy transition by:

• setting renewable energy targets of 32% by 2030
• extending the annual energy saving obligation beyond 2020
• strengthening the rules regarding individual metering and the billing of thermal energy such that customers are provided clearer information on their energy consumption
• requiring Member States to have in place transparent, publicly available national rules on the allocation of the cost of cooling, heating and hot water consumption in multi-apartment and multi-purpose buildings with collective systems for such services

Many energy efficiency stakeholders across industry and the community had been calling for a binding 40% energy efficiency target, arguing that strong energy efficiency measures are one of the cheapest and most effective routes to delivering the Paris Agreement. These parties have expressed their disappointment with the agreement and claim that they 32.5% target falls well short of targets necessary to fulfil the Paris Agreement.

The energy efficiency target is set to be reviewed in five years and this will provide energy efficiency advocates with another opportunity to advance the EU’s sustainability commitments.

More information here

Researchers at Melbourne University have released research that reveals people living in the ACT are prepared to pay a premium for more energy efficient homes. Their research found that houses with higher energy efficiency ratings fetched higher sale prices and rental transactions. This suggests that consumers are prepared to pay a premium for more sustainable homes.

Research results demonstrated that homes rated 7-stars or higher attracted sales premiums. Considering that 6-star rated properties are considered ‘standard’ in their energy demands according to the NatHERS Star Rating system, it appears that homeowners want to invest in houses that exceed average sustainability measures.

The rental market similarly reflected a desire for sustainable dwellings, however the picture was more complex. Unlike the sales market, homes on the rental market are not required to disclose energy efficiency information, therefore there was less incentive for landlords to built or retrofit properties with technologies that would improve a home’s energy efficiency. This resulted in a lag in the energy rental properties compared to owner occupied homes.

This research supports existing studies that evidence favourable market sentiment for energy efficient homes and encourages action towards the implementation of a mandatory energy efficiency scheme across the rental market.

More information here

The New Urban Agenda is an urbanization action blueprint aimed at making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. It represents a shared vision for a more sustainable and equitable future in which all people have equal rights and access to the benefits and opportunities that cities can offer.

Drafted by UN-Habitat and adopted in late 2016 by the United Nations General Assembly, this blueprint contributes to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. In this present era of unprecedented urbanization, the New Agenda identifies urban systems and spaces as important sites where we can advance sustainable development. As cities in developing and developed nations continue to grow, this Agenda emphasizes the need for our cities to expand in a sustainable way.

The New Urban Agenda correlates good urbanization with positive development outcomes including job creation, improved quality of life and livelihood opportunities. It proposes that safe, accessible and resilient cities will provide favorable environments for social and economic development. The Agenda therefore functions as a guide, outlining principles that can be adopted and adapted by the decision-makers and inhabitants of different urban areas according to the unique physical, social and cultural environment of each area.

In June the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign held a series of events in Townsville where Australian decision makers and communities to discuss and apply the New Urban Agenda to our local Australian context – and more specifically a tropical Queensland context.

More information here

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) congratulates two of Australia’s most pre-eminent built environment sustainability champions on being awarded an Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List.

ASBEC’s President, Professor Ken Maher, has been acknowledged for his “distinguished service to architecture and landscape design, particularly through urban infrastructure projects, and to environmental sustainability in planning”.

ASBEC’s co-founder, Mrs Jane Montgomery-Hribar, has been awarded for her “distinguished service to the building and construction sector, particularly in the areas of project procurement and industry standards, through executive roles, and as a mentor of women”.

Professor Maher is a past Chairman and current Fellow of multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm HASSELL, and a recipient of the Australian Institute of Architecture’s highest accolade, the AIA Gold Medal, as well as the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ Australian Award for Landscape Architecture. His long standing commitment to a sustainable future is evidenced through his role as a founding board member of the Green Building Council and board member of the Co-operative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living.

Mrs Montgomery-Hribar is a co-creator of ASBEC, former Executive Director of the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC), and founding member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).  As a transformative influence around sustainable procurement, she facilitated the development of the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry and developed the Government Framework for Sustainable Procurement.  Jane was awarded the NAWIC Crystal Vision Award for her efforts to promote women in leadership.

ASBEC Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou, said “The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council is very proud to be led by individuals like Ken and Jane, who embody the boldness, perseverance, intelligence and humility required to build a more liveable, sustainable and resilient Australia.”

Download full media release here.

See full Queens Birthday Honours List here.

NABERS for Apartments was launched in early June at the NABERS conference and presents an innovative new rating tool that will allow strata owners and residents to measure and compare their building’s energy and water use.

The tool will measure the energy and water use of communal areas in the building, such as gyms, lobbies and carparks, and score them according to a six-star rating scale. Three stars will represent average energy and water use, while six-stars will celebrate market leading practice.

Chris Duggan, president of Strata Community Australia NSW, expects that this tool will soon represent a “mark of quality” that recognises when a building is well-governed and sustainable in its operation. This could have a strong influence on the property market where apartments of four stars or more would attract higher sale prices and encourage the building sector to construct more sustainable apartments.

NABERS hopes that this new rating tool will provide potential buyers, residents and strata owners with an easy-to-understand guide of building sustainability that enable them to more clearly understand their building’s performance and make changes to reduce excessive energy and water consumption. It will allow consumers to easily seek out sustainable apartments and demand that their homes be more sustainable.

More information here

The United Kingdom Government has pledged to at least halve the energy use of new buildings by 2030. The target was announced in a speech by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, at the Jodrell Bank observatory complex. The target applies to both commercial and residential buildings and is a key part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. The changes are expected to increase innovation and standards within the construction sector as well as increasing employment. The UK Government also stated an aim to reduce the cost of achieving the same standards in existing buildings.

The announcement has been welcomed by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) as a ‘bold’ commitment but emphasised the need for the target to be supported by ‘clear and consistent policies’. the UKGBC also called for the Government to set a building regulation trajectory for achieving net zero carbon and an introduction of long-term incentives for the retrofitting of residential and commercial buildings.

Read more here.

The International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities (IEA EBC) 2017 Annual Report has been released outlining current, new and completed projects. The Annual Report includes a review of research projects that directly relate to the Mission Innovation Challenge 7: Affordable Heating and Cooling.

New projects include:

• Deep renovation of historic buildings towards lowest possible energy demand and CO2 emissions;
• Integrated solutions for daylighting and electric lighting; and
• A new Communities and Cities working group.

Ongoing research projects include:

• HVAC energy calculation methodologies for non-residential buildings;
• Towards net zero energy resilient public communities; and
• Assessing life cycle related environmental impacts caused by buildings.

Recently completed projects include:

• Business and technical concepts for deep energy retrofits of public buildings;
• New generation computational tools for building and community energy systems; and
• Cost effective energy and carbon dioxide emissions optimisation in building renovation.

Read more here.

As of 16 April, all Victorian residents can now access the services offered by the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard. The Scorecard is a voluntary tool for rating home energy efficiency. Residents are able to contact a private assessor through the Scorecard website. Onsite data is collected by the assessor and a star rating is calculated on the spot. Residents also receive information on the performance of key efficiency elements in the home and on how the home will perform in hot conditions. They are also provided with information on how to improve the rating of the home. The tool is available for new and existing homes.

Key efficiency elements examined by assessors include the construction of the property, fixed appliances and features such as solar PV. Assessors are accredited and supported by the Victorian Government to ensure that data and calculations are robust.

More information here.

Architecture2030 is a non-profit organisation focused on transforming climate change through worldwide design of low-carbon/carbon neutral resilient structures, communities and cities.

Committed to dramatically reducing global fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions of the built environment by 2030 and beyond (the 2017 Global Status Report by UN Environment forecasts infrastructure growth by 2060 as measuring the equivalent area of the entire current building stock), Architecture2030 introduces the ZEROCode strategy for achieving new infrastructure demands with carbon neutral results.

The ZEROCode is an international construction energy standard for new commercial, institutional and mid to high rise residential buildings that integrates cost-effective energy efficiency standards with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy. The standard includes prescriptive and performance paths for building energy efficiency compliance based on current standards that are available to worldwide municipalities and building professionals. Compliance starts with meeting the minimum prescriptive or performance requirements for building energy efficiency defined by ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2016. Other existing or new standards can also be accommodated, such as the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2017, or any building energy efficiency standard that exceeds ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2016. Once the minimum energy efficiency requirements are met, then the on-site and/or off-site renewable energy is calculated to achieve zero-net-carbon.

ZEROCode website

Architecture2030 website

As Energy Ministers prepare to meet to discuss the National Energy Guarantee, a survey commissioned commissioned by the Property Council of Australia (PCA), the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) shows that investing in energy efficiency is the most popular policy that governments can introduce.

In February 2018 these groups commissioned YouGov Galaxy to survey on the views of Australians on energy policy,.

Energy Bills & Energy Efficiency: Survey of Community, which demonstrates that the majority of Australians want governments to focus on ‘common sense’ energy efficiency and help reduce energy bills for households and businesses. Some key results are:

• 83 per cent of voters in the survey want governments to invest in energy efficiency
• Voters were more divided on whether government should invest in new coal-fired generators, with just 4 per cent net support
• More voters opposed than supported reducing incentives for renewable energy and energy storage, with 16 per cent net opposition

Voters supported a wide range of specific energy efficiency policies, including:

• 79 per cent support for incentives to upgrade commercial buildings
• 80 per cent support for minimum standards for rental homes to ensure that they are safe, comfortable and have low energy bills
• 88 per cent support strengthened minimum standards for new homes
• 92 per cent support for upgrading the energy efficiency of public buildings such as schools and hospitals

Energy Bills & Energy Efficiency: Survey of Community – full report

ACOSS media release

Energy Efficiency Council media release

Property Council of Australia media release

In a welcome step forward for the economy and the environment, draft changes to Australia’s Building Code will improve energy efficiency standards in commercial buildings.

“Energy efficient buildings cost less to light, heat, and cool, so more energy efficient commercial buildings will save Australian businesses money.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, Executive Director of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

“These very welcome new standards will also reduce carbon emissions, helping Australia meet our obligations under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.”

The draft Code also includes significant new measures to improve compliance with energy efficiency standards for new homes; however, minimum energy performance standards remain the same for residential buildings.

“There is an opportunity right now to be truly ambitious about the energy performance of Australian buildings. Technology has provided new ways to save energy, and for buildings to generate their own energy. With energy bills rising, this would be a great time to lock in better performance for future homes as well as commercial buildings.”

ASBEC and ClimateWorks Australia have released The Bottom Line report, which shows that stronger energy efficiency standards for residential buildings could save households up to $150 per year in energy costs.  The report showed that a delay of just three years in implementing stronger energy performance standards for new homes risks locking in $1.1 billion in energy costs by 2050.

“The measures in the draft update to the National Construction Code are a vital step forward,” said Suzanne.  “Even stronger standards for the energy performance of all Australian buildings are both possible and advantageous to businesses, homeowners, the environment, and the economy.”

Public submissions on the draft changes to residential aspects of the National Construction Code close this week, on 13 April.  Submissions on commercial energy efficiency close on 20 April 2018.

Read Full ASBEC Media Release

National Construction Code 2019 Public Comment Draft

The Bottom Line – household impacts of delaying improved energy requirements in the Building Code

The Australian Labor Party has released a policy focused on increasing business investment in energy saving projects. The policy, Australian Investment Guarantee, will allow all Australian businesses to immediately deduct 20% of investment in eligible depreciable assets over $20,000.  Eligible assets include assets that lower energy use and improve energy efficiency. The policy is designed to be easily accessible to all businesses and will operate through the Australian tax system.

In 2016, ASBEC’s Low Carbon High Performance report called for the introduction of green depreciation, to accelerate uptake of energy upgrades to existing commercial buildings and we welcome this policy.  The Property Council of Australia has also supported the policy as a ‘powerful tool for accelerating energy efficiency gains across different industries, but especially in the built environment.’ The Energy Efficiency Council has noted that it will allow businesses to immediately reduce energy bills by investing in energy upgrades.

Energy Efficiency Council media release on the policy here.

Property Council media release on the policy here.

Infrastructure Australia have released Future Cities: Planning for our growing population. This latest paper in their Reform Series offers advice for Australian governments on improving productivity and livability in Australia’s largest cities. The report offers models of long-term growth scenarios, including the functionality of the transport network, job access, green space and social infrastructure for both Melbourne and Sydney, and is supported by online interactive maps.

Infrastructure Australia is calling for the Australian Government to take a greater leadership role in the global competitiveness of Sydney and Melbourne, including setting national objectives and introducing greater structures and accountability in investment. The report recommends the implementation of a framework that would incentivise the delivery of national benefits within Australian cities.

Key findings in the report include:

• Unplanned growth delivers the worst outcomes for Australia’s fastest growing cities.
• We need to use existing infrastructure in our largest cities more efficiently.
• Land-use and infrastructure planning can help to address inequality of access across our largest cities but supporting social and economic policies are also required.
• As our largest cities grow and densify, green and public spaces play an increasingly important role in maintaining liveability.

Recommendations for Australian Governments include:

• improve the quality and accessibility of community engagement at the strategic planning stage of a city’s development.
• focus on outcomes rather than outputs when developing the policy and regulatory frameworks that respond to changing technologies and services.
• prepare metropolitan resilience strategies which establish clear policy, regulation and guidelines for strengthening the resilience of the planning, coordination and construction of our cities as they grow.
• work collaboratively to establish a stable national framework to response to climate change and reduce emissions in line with our international commitments.

Read more here.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its Energy Policies of IEA Countries – Australia 2018 Review. The review notes Australia’s rich energy resources but also the increase in energy security concerns. It highlights the need for a consistent national energy and climate framework to 2030/50 and the importance of increase energy efficiency measures across all economic sectors.

The report includes the following recommendations for the Australian Government relating to residential and commercial energy consumption and intensity:

• Ensuring the full implementation of the National Energy Productivity Plan, focused on improved energy end-use and emissions data collection and forecasts; understand and emphasise the role that energy efficiency will play across all relevant policy areas in the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
• Establishing a long-term vision for an energy-efficient and decarbonised building sector accompanied by regular updates of the national construction code.
• Adopting an ambitious fuel efficiency and emission standards for the transport sector, and start with light vehicles as a first step.
• Introducing measures for energy efficiency in business and industry, building upon the experiences from the Energy Efficiency Opportunities programme and through Clean Energy Finance Corporation funding of projects that also reduce GHG emissions in industrial facilities.

Read the full Energy Policies of IEA Countries – Australia 2018 Review here.

Australian Government media release on the review here.

Energy Efficiency Council media release on the review here.

Australia can cost-effectively strengthen residential energy efficiency standards in the Building Code and cut heating and cooling energy use by up to 51 per cent, according to a new report released today by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and ClimateWorks Australia.

Implementing these changes now could deliver Australians savings of up to $150 per household per year on energy bills, with savings more than offsetting additional capital costs. It could also deliver more comfortable homes, reduce stress on the electricity grid, and cut emissions by around 10.8 million tonnes to 2050 – more than the amount emitted annually by Victoria’s Loy Yang B coal-fired power station.

The Bottom Line – household impacts of delaying improved energy requirements in the Building Code report shows these savings could come from simple energy efficiency improvements such as air tightness, ceiling fans, and roof insulation.

The houses we build in coming years will be in use for decades, well beyond 2050 when Australia will need to be near net zero emissions. Buildings account for almost a quarter of national emissions, and more than half of electricity use. With half a million homes projected to be built between 2019 and 2022, delaying improved energy standards by just three years would lock in an estimated $1.1 billion in unnecessary household energy bills, and 3 million tonnes of additional emissions by 2050.

Looking further ahead, the benefits of an improved Code will add up fast. An estimated 58 per cent of Australia’s expected building stock in 2050 will be built after 2019. With buildings accounting for almost a quarter of national emissions and more than half of national electricity consumption, this makes the Code an indispensable policy tool to transition to zero emissions in line with Australia’s commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The Australian Building Codes Board has today released a proposal to update the Code energy requirements for 2019. This includes improvements to the requirements for housing, but there is no proposal to strengthen the required level of energy efficiency for homes.

“We welcome the proposed improvements in the non-residential energy requirements”, said Tony Arnel, President of the Energy Efficiency Council and Chair of ASBEC’s National Construction Code Working Group.   “If implemented, these changes could deliver significant energy and emissions benefits in the non-residential sector. The draft changes for residential buildings are also a good start.  However, our report demonstrates that greater opportunities exists to improve residential performance.”

“At a time when many families are struggling to cope with rising living costs, low standards for energy efficiency mean higher bills for Australian households. Low income households, who spend a higher proportion of their income on energy bills, stand to benefit the most.” said Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s Executive Director.

“Low energy homes put less stress on the electricity grid. If just one household makes efficiency improvements and cuts their peak demand by one kilowatt (kW) – the power used to run a small oil heater –  this would save almost $1,000 in electricity system infrastructure, reducing electricity prices for everyone.” said Tony Arnel. “In total, the proposed changes could save an estimated $1.2 billion to 2050 through avoided and deferred network investments”.

“We already know that improving Australia’s built environment provides some of the most ‘shovel-ready’ opportunities to meet our Paris Climate Change Agreement obligations. If we miss this opportunity, other sectors of Australia’s economy will need to cut emissions more. That may not be as fast or cost-effective, making Australia’s emissions reduction task more expensive overall.” said ClimateWorks Program Manager, Eli Court.

“With the threat of 50 degree days in Sydney and Melbourne, we need to consider whether our homes are ready to provide safe indoor temperatures. Air conditioning may not be enough if our homes are not built to strong energy standards.” said Suzanne Toumbourou.

“The energy requirements in the Building Code were last updated in 2010 and are next due to be updated in 2019. There is currently no plan to strengthen standards for residential buildings in this Code update. Further delay means that we will be building to 2010 standards all the way to 2022, locking in higher emissions and energy costs.” said Tony Arnel.

“This study considered only simple, ‘lowest common denominator’ energy efficiency improvements.  As leading building practitioners have shown us, with best practice design for energy efficiency, such as attention to building orientation and window sizing and placement, further low-cost improvements in energy efficiency are possible.” said Eli Court.

Read The Bottom Line – household impacts of delaying improved energy requirements in the Building Code

Download the full media release here.

The Australian Government will review the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (GEMS Act) to ensure that it remains appropriate and effective. This is the first time the GEMS Act has been reviewed. Anna Collyer, Partner and Head of Innovation at Allens will conduct the review. Ms Collyer has over 20 years of experience in the energy sector and is one of Australia’s top energy lawyers.

The GEMS Act is credited with driving significant energy efficiency improvements and cost savings for households with an economic net benefit of between $870 million and $1.58 billion. It is estimated that the Act will reduce Australia’s emissions by at least 27 mega tonnes.

Consultation will be conducted as part of the review with a range of stakeholders such as industry and consumer groups. State and territory governments, as well as the New Zealand governments will also be consulted during the course of the review. The review will consider changes in appliance and equipment use, emerging technologies, the increasing connectedness of appliances and international best practice regulation. A written report is expected to be completed by mid-2018.

Review terms of reference here.

Read more here.

The Australian Government has released a 2017 Review of Climate Change Policies. The review outlines the actions undertaken by the Government to meet its international emissions reductions targets.

The Review acknowledges that there are significant emissions reductions available in the residential and commercial sector through energy efficiency measures. The measures are recognised to be low cost and able to provide the additional benefits of reduced costs, job creation and healthier environments. The Review also notes the Government’s intention to increase minimum energy performance standards for commercial buildings in 2019 through the National Construction Code and the 2016 reduction of the mandatory disclosure threshold for commercial buildings under the Commercial Buildings Disclosure Program.

The National Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP) has a target of 40% improvement in energy productivity by 2030 with measures that include providing more efficiency incentives and tighter energy standards for equipment and electrical products. The Government is working collaboratively with state and territory governments to deliver training and information aimed at improving compliance with energy performance standards in the residential building sector.

In 2018 the Government will begin a consultation process with business, community and state and territory agencies to develop a long term emissions reduction strategy by 2020.

More information here.

The Australian Government has launched a National Cities Performance Framework. The Framework will measure and monitor the progress and performance of Australia’s largest cities and regional centres. It is designed to increase awareness of how Australian Cities are performing for all levels of government as well as for industry and community. The Framework was developed with input from the Cities Reference Group. It uses data from the most recent Australian census to profile the cities and will be updated annually.

Cities are measured within the Framework against the six Smart Cities policy priorities;

1.     Jobs and Skills

2.     Infrastructure and Investment

3.     Liveability and Sustainability

4.     Innovation and Digital Opportunities

5.     Governance, Planning and Regulation

6.     Housing

The Framework uses 46 indicators, 16 contextual indicators and 30 performance indicators, including ‘jobs accessible in 30 minutes’, ‘access to green space’ and ‘housing price to income ratio’. Indicators were chosed based on the availability of nationally consistent, comparable and reliable data. The Australian Government is currently looking to create and find further consistent and comparable data to expand the areas covered by the Framework.

More information here.

The National Cities Performance Framework Report here.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has announced a $200m investment in QIC’s Shopping Centre Fund. The investment will be used for energy performance improvements across QIC’s shopping centre portfolio in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT. Shopping centres currently account for 36% of commercial building energy consumption and less than 10% of shopping centres have attained a NABERS energy rating.

QIC is aiming for a minimum 4-star NABERS rating for all of the assets within its portfolio by 2023. New QIC developments will be designed to achieve a 5-star NABERS Energy rating. Initiatives identified to achieve the targets include LED lighting, HVAC system upgrades and energy monitoring systems.

More information here.

The Victorian Government has released an Energy Efficiency and Productive Strategy. The Strategy outlines several actions that align well with ASBEC’s Low Carbon, High Performance recommendations including:

• Improving the energy performance of rental properties;
• Strengthening energy efficiency standards for new homes;
• Working with industry to lift compliance; and
• Providing energy efficiency information for residential properties.

More information here.

The European Commission has established a voluntary reporting framework to increase the sustainability performance of buildings. The Level(s) framework uses indicators to link individual building impact with European sustainability priorities. The framework is designed for use by developers, investors, building designers, construction management, facilities managers, asset managers and building occupants.

The Level(s) framework is currently in pilot stage and is available for testing by companies, associations and public authorities. Key stakeholders in the construction sector have been invited to a full day workshop in Brussels on 4 December. The workshop will mark the beginning of the testing period for the framework.

The framework was established with broad industry and public sector consultation and is supported by a series of four explanatory videos. The framework aims to raise awareness and demand for more sustainable buildings and to improve the resource efficiency understanding of the built environment.

More information here.

The WA Government’s DesignWA, an initiative to ensure that good design is central to development in Western Australia, has published a free guide on how to choose a well-designed home. What to look for when choosing a well-designed house or apartment outlines 10 principles of good design to be considered when buying or renting a house or apartment. The 10 principles include context and character, landscape quality, built form and scale, functionality and built quality and sustainability. Each principle contains guiding questions people can ask before renting or buying.

The principle of functionality and build quality includes consideration for whether the space is adaptable over time and whether internal finishes are of good quality and easy to maintain. The principle of sustainability includes energy efficiency, with specific questions on window orientation, cross ventilation and a minimum 6 star NatHERS rating.

DesignWA is currently guided by a number of draft documents, including a Draft State Planning Policy and a Draft Apartment Design policy. These documents are expected to be finalised in early 2018.

More information here.

The Green Building Council of Australia with the Property Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), Energy Efficiency Council, Facilities Management Association of  Australia, City of Sydney and CitySwitch have released a policy framework addressing the potential opportunities presented by increasing the energy efficiency requirements for mid-tier buildings. The policy framework, Opportunity knocks: Accelerating energy efficiency for mid-tier buildings, quantifies the number of mid-tier buildings as accounting for about 80% of office buildings and 50% of floor space in Australia.

Five immediate actions are identified in the policy framework for governments:

1. Reduce the threshold required to disclose the energy performance of buildings
2. Expand disclosure requirements to new sectors with a focus on tenants
3. Support business through targeted tax incentives for building upgrades
4. Governments to lead by example through higher efficiency requirements for their own tenancies and offices
5. Invest in research to improve our understanding of energy opportunities across the building sector

Current issues in mid-tier buildings include outdated or inefficient technologies in the buildings, varied ownership structures, split incentives between owners and tenants and an absence of information between building owners and operators. These issues, or market failures, offer governments an opportunity to make mid-tier buildings a priority that can achieve significant economic benefits.

Download here.

The Property Council’s NSW Asset Management and Sustainable Development Committee, with input from AECOM, have published a policy document providing building owners with practical guidance to protect their assets in the event of extreme weather. “Climate Change Risk: What should we do to make our buildings more resilient?” contains background information on climate change and case studies in relation to three different extreme weather scenarios, extreme heat and bushfires, extreme rainfall and flooding and storm and coastal inundation.

The document is specific to the Sydney metropolitan area and offers adaptation opportunities across the three outlined extreme weather scenarios on a design and operational basis. The policy document also encourages the development of corporate climate adaptation strategies to support the implementation of climate resilience.

Read more here.

The Queensland Government has released a new Queensland Building Plan (QBP). Developed in collaboration with the Ministerial Construction Council, the QBP is the result of almost two years of industry and community consultation.

The QBP outlines measures to address non-conforming building products as a matter of priority by implementing measures such as a chain of responsibility law and establishing the Building Products Advisory Committee.

The QBP also addresses the sustainability of buildings with the aim of assisting to achieve zero-net emissions by 2050. Several of these align directly with ASBEC’s recommendations in Low Carbon, High Performance. Actions include:

• Implement measures to improve the sustainability of Queensland Government buildings, reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, in line with Queensland’s climate change commitments.
• Develop building-related strategies to support the 30% emission reduction target by 2030 and pathways work in the Queensland Climate Transition Strategy (QCTS).
• Develop Queensland Development Codes to provide appropriate standards for green roofs and green walls and to guide maintenance of the energy efficiency features in commercial buildings.
• Drive the national agenda to improve the sustainability performance of new privately-owned dwellings and commercial buildings by updating the National Construction Code.

Read more here.

The EU Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) have adopted amendments to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), advancing energy efficient renovations of existing buildings, and including infrastructure to support electric vehicles in new buildings and building energy performance monitoring.

The extensive amendments include:

• the addition of human health protection in the commitment to a sustainable and decarbonized energy system;
• a statement that it is ‘vital’ that current buildings are highly energy efficient to near zero energy standard;
• that Member States to deliver clear guidelines and measurable targets and outcomes for the worst performing building stock and for energy poor consumers. Member States are asked to consider the application of requirements for specified levels of energy performance for rental properties;
• consideration of nature based solutions including street plantings, green walls and green roofs; and
• a high level of ambition to decarbonise building stock with the suggestion of building with wood as a means to reduce the embodied energy of buildings.

The amendments are designed to boost energy efficiency renovations in the long term and will enable public bodies to invest in high performing buildings by providing a clear strategy to ensure buildings are energy efficient by 2050. The ambitious targets are expected to create millions of jobs within the Union, specifically for small to medium sized businesses.

More information here.

A new approach to infrastructure business case development is urgently required if we are to maximise the value of our future investments. Peak association, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has identified twelve recommendations to reform how governments justify their infrastructure spend.

“Right now, there is a great opportunity to transform infrastructure investment decisions into a model that delivers much broader value for cities and communities.” said Antony Sprigg, Chair of ASBEC’s Infrastructure Working Group and CEO of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia.

Infrastructure projects are traditionally assessed in ways that don’t fully evaluate all costs, or leverage all benefits and opportunities.  Bang for Buck – Delivering better business cases to realise more value from our infrastructure investments outlines practical, common sense recommendations to deliver better outcomes from infrastructure spending.

“There is an abundance of data, information and wisdom that can be more consistently collected and applied, to inform infrastructure decisions that provide great and long-lasting outcomes.” said Antony.

“Tax-payers understand that the everyday amenity and liveability of our cities is in many cases underpinned by the strengths or weaknesses of past infrastructure decisions.” said Jonathan Cartledge, Chair of ASBEC’s Cities Task Group and Head of Public Affairs at Green Building Council of Australia.

“People often evaluate the relative strengths of a city and its infrastructure by the impact it has on their day-to-day lives, not through a cost-benefit ratio,” said Jonathan. “While we need to measure and understand the full range of costs and benefits, we also need methodologies that more effectively communicate these benefits, in order to build social license for ambitious projects.”

Reviewing methodologies and approaches to business case development across government, ASBEC recommends reform across four broad areas:

1. Leading with bipartisan vision across all levels of government
2. Improving infrastructure decision making
3. Understanding the method (and the madness) of business case development
4. Engaging the public in the benefits of their infrastructure investment

“In collaboration with government we aim to help deliver better outcomes for communities across Australia, and a better appreciation of the bang they are getting for their infrastructure buck.” said Jonathan Cartledge.

“The starting point is leadership that guides our infrastructure-decision making to a vision of where we want to go.” said Antony Sprigg.

Read Bang for Buck – Delivering better business cases to realise more value from our infrastructure investments

Download the full media release here.

ASBEC is proud to announce that we have been named as finalists in not one but two categories of the Banskia Awards. The Banskia Sustainability Awards acknowledge innovation, leadership and excellence in economic, social and environmental sustainability. ASBEC, in partnership with ClimateWorks, has been announced as a finalist in the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Award category and the Communication for Change Award, for our Low Carbon, High Performance report.

The award ceremony will take place on 1 November 2017 in Sydney.

Read more about the Award finalists here.

The Australian Government has launched the National Carbon Offset Standard for Buildings and the National Carbon Offset Standard for Precincts. The standards have been developed in partnership with the Green Building Council of Australia and the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) and expand the voluntary program that already applies to organisations, products and services. Certification for carbon neutrality will be accessible at low cost through the Green Star and NABERS rating systems.

The standards are designed to support cities, councils and businesses to achieve carbon neutral certification and will provide building owners and managers with the ability to demonstrate and be recognised for their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. They can be used to measure, reduce and offset emissions, The standards can also be used to report and audit emissions.

Read more here.

Read the GBCA media release here.

RMIT University’s Centre for Urban Research has released a report, Implementing Sustainability in the Built Environment, that examines existing planning and building systems in relation to their sustainability goals. The report looks at ways to improve current policy and regulatory frameworks and implementation.

Existing policies and best practice was reviewed and researchers found that despite sustainability goals being present in government strategy documents, the building codes and planning systems in place are not achieving these goals. NSW is highlighted as the only Australian state or territory without serious gaps in sustainability legislation and enforcement.

Four key issues are outlined in the report as challenges and opportunities to implementing sustainability in the built environment.

1. The gap between the planning and building system;
2. Weaknesses in the planning system;
3. Governance, inconsistencies and coordination; and
4. Improving the system – networks and advocacy.

The report calls for building and planning regulations to contain clear and enforceable standards and for increased collaboration between all levels of government.

More information here.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has released a new policy platform to address Australia’s housing crisis. Improved Housing Outcomes – for affordable, sustainable housing.

“We know Australia is in the grip of a housing crisis.  A growing population and skyrocketing house prices mean living affordability and housing security is being stretched to the limit.” said Rebecca Douthwaite, Chair of ASBEC’s Housing Policy Working Group and Policy Manager – Housing & Planning, Property Council of Australia.

“But there’s no one single solution to housing affordability.”

ASBEC’s members from across the built environment have nominated a package of policy fixes needed to resolve housing affordability issues and deliver high quality, well designed homes to meet Australia’s diverse needs.

“First, we need to work to a plan. Future infrastructure needs to be scoped and delivered in the right places. Diverse medium and high density urban housing should be built along transport corridors and near amenities. Incentives to build the right type of homes are needed, while planning assessment for higher density developments must also be simplified.” said Rebecca.

While the sticker price of homes is important, the costs of heating, cooling and lighting our houses are also crucial, along with the costs of travel to work and services.

“The key to cheaper running costs is improved energy efficiency,” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou. “Not only are more energy efficient buildings more comfortable and healthy, but they have the added bonus of being a fast and cost effective way to reduce emissions as well!”

“Public understanding of the benefits of energy efficient housing is limited, so education is required. Governments also need act to improve conformance and compliance with the energy performance standards for buildings in the National Construction Code.  If not, people won’t get the homes they’re paying for.” said Suzanne.

Facilitating density is also vital, so that people can be connected to employment and amenity, whilst accommodating growing populations. However, introducing high density housing to existing communities is a fraught process. It is critical to engage local from the start.

“We can fix the critical issues relating to living affordability, and deliver a diverse range of well designed, well located, affordable, sustainable housing for all the Australians who need it. said Rebecca Douthwaite. “But we’ll need to act on the priorities identified by the building sector in ASBEC’s Improved Housing Outcomes platform.”

Read Improved Housing Outcomes – for more affordable, sustainable housing

Download the full media release here.

The 2017 GRESB Real Estate Results name the Australian and New Zealand real estate markets as the world’s most sustainable. 850 property companies, real estate investment trusts, funds and developers took part in the assessment. This is an increase of 12% in the participation rate from 2016. A 45% increase from 2016 was seen in the voluntary reporting of Health & Well-being module.

Australia and New Zealand’s regional score was 73, down from 74 in 2016. The global average is 63 in 2017 up from 60 in 2016. 66 Australian companies reported to GRESB this year compared to 55 in 2016. The increase is a direct result of increased investor demand for environmental, social and governance related disclosures.

Lendlease’s Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial was ranked first out of all of the 850 companies and funds globally for the third time. Lendlease’s International Towers Sydney Trust and One International Towers Sydney Trust were also names the most sustainable development funds globally. Dexus Wholesale Property Fund was recognised as a global leaser for diversified office and retail groups and Stockland ranked number one in global listed companies for the diversified office and retail sector.

More information here.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide have highlighted poor minimum thermal performance standards as a contributing factor to Australia’s higher mortality rates in cold weather than in heatwaves. Other factors identified include the impact of housing that is built with a focus on maintaining cool temperatures in summer and fuel poverty.

Based on interviews conducted in Adelaide the researchers found that when the cost of energy was considered mostly affordable, the poor thermal performance of houses meant that heating was on for long periods of time and did not have lasting affects when turned off as houses lacked insulation or window seals. Other interview participants found the heating bills were unaffordable and resorted to extra layers of clothing or blankets to manage the low temperatures.

The researchers suggest that there needs to be a capacity developed to identify people who would be adversely affected by cold housing and assistance offered to those who are particularly vulnerable. A focus on improving performance standards for new homes and retrofit schemes for older homes is also recommended.

More information here.

The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has released a report titled Future of HVAC – in a Net-Zero World. The report is based on a foresighting workshop with experts and practitioners from HVAC as well as representatives from building services and associated industries. The workshop focused on gaining insight into the form that HVAC will take in the net-zero building sector of the future.

The report is designed to provide an early warning of both barriers and opportunities in coming years and to provide evidence for use by government policy makers. Workshop participants were asked to consider how the energy intensive approach to HVAV in buildings could be altered to assist in the delivery of net-zero buildings.

Findings include the need for building regulations to assess true performance and to target net-zero energy as well as the need for mandatory energy disclosure of existing buildings. Other findings include the need for:

• Training and education initiatives to assist stakeholders in understanding the risks and opportunities of a net zero building;
• Increased research into low-emission HVAC and better support for innovative technology and approaches;
• Increased investment in Australian research for Australian innovations in HVAC; and
• Government and industry support for demonstration projects that incorporate innovation and commercialisation of low-emission HVAC technologies

More information here.

A report produced by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), the Brotherhood of St Laurence and The Climate Institute titled Empowering disadvantaged households to access affordable, clean energy calls on the Australian Government to assist people on low-incomes to access affordable, reliable and clean energy. The report identifies the need to improve household efficiency and productivity along with other policies such as stronger consumer protection and cheaper clean energy to resolve the increasing issue of energy poverty.

The report focuses on achieving five outcomes:

1. Electricity priced efficiently, including integrated climate policy
2. Informed and enabled consumers
3. Energy consumed efficiently and productively
4. Robust consumer protections
5. All households have a capacity to pay their energy bills

The ability to pay electricity bills is linked firstly to income and then to housing. Energy Efficiency was found to be critical providing the multiple benefits of reducing costs, reducing emissions, improving health and wellbeing and reducing the need for concessions. The report acknowledges a shift from centralised base load/peaking grid to a more decentralised and diversified grid. While household solar capacity is expected to rise and provide cost savings to householders an increasing divide is predicted between householders who can afford solar panels and those that can’t.

Investments in access to technology, better consumer frameworks and consumer education are identified as critical to addressing the issue but are also recognised to be limited for reasons of cost, low literacy levels, housing situations and complex lives. The report calls for governments, regulators and decision makers to prioritise factors outside of the national energy market in an effort to provide an easing of energy stress.

More information here.

COAG Energy Council has agreed to a timeline to implement 49 of the 50 recommendations put forward in the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market. The actions taken by the Energy Council are expected to increase supply security and reliability and to lower emissions and costs to consumers.

Recommendations agreed to include:

• The establishment of an Energy Security Board to monitor the health, security and reliability of the NEM;
• The introduction of energy security requirements for Transmission Network Service Providers (TNSPs) and generators to ensure that generators are sufficiently resilient;
• The provision of greater transparency on price and availability of long-term electricity retail contracts for large consumers;
• New rules for competitive metering under the NEPP that will enable better negotiation of deals from energy service providers;
• An improvement in the supply reliability and a reduction in energy costs in the NEM through effective demand response;

The Australian Government is considering a Clean Energy Target and Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT are commissioning the AEMC to provide advice on this matter.

More information here.

The 12^th Energy Council Meeting Communique here.

The Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ) has released a guidance note on smart cities standards and frameworks. The guidance note is designed to raise awareness as to what standards and frameworks are currently available for smart cities and to provide foundational information on global smart cities standards and frameworks. The guidance note has been prepared in collaboration with the Professional Construction Strategies Group (PCSG).

Key smart city elements used to categorise the standards in the document include:

• Building Information Modelling
• Internet of Things
• Sustainable communities
• Smart cities frameworks and process standards

Three levels of standards, strategic, process and technical, are listed in the document. Strategic level standards are considered most relevant to government bodies with process and technical level standards of relevance to management positions.

The guidance note is the first step to building a culture in the built environment industry that will embrace the value of standards and support the advancement of standards.

More information here.

The Changes Associated with Efficient Dwellings Project report was commissioned by the Department of the Environment and Energy and produced by the Moreland Energy Foundation. The project conducted an independent study into how the introduction of the 6 star energy efficiency standard has been responded to by industry.

A qualitative research component including 17 interviews and a survey with 187 respondents was conducted with industry representatives and stakeholders participating. A quantitative component was also conducted with 58 dwellings examined with regards to the costs of achieving a 6 star or beyond performance ranting.

Key findings in the report include:

• The majority of stakeholders agreed that an increase in the level of specification in glazing and insulation were the main changes in response to BCA 2010.
• Views with regards to the level of cost incurred by the BCA 2010 varied from less than $2000 to more than $5000.
• Incremental cost analysis showed fairly consistent cost increases for Class 1 dwellings at $2700 for a 150sqm dwelling.
• Stakeholders were in general agreement that costs could be managed more effectively with the implementation of alternative strategies however competing priorities such as daylight amenity and orientation restrictions were also recognised.
• Industry capacity was acknowledged as a significant factor in the management of increased costs associated with the stringency increase.
• A learning rate is evident in the research with an annual learning rate of 7.5% per year observed.
• The application of the increased costs combined with the observed learning rate suggest that 7 star dwellings could be cost effective when using an indicative cost benefit analysis.

The report notes the difficulty in sourcing drawing and specifications data from industry as an issue with regards to confidence in the results presented. The report authors recommend further research be done in the area of setting trajectories and improving compliance.

The report will help to inform the further development of building energy efficiency via Measure 31.2 of the National Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP).

More information here.

An interim report has been released by the Australian Government on a National Cities Performance Framework.  This Framework is designed to allow governments to better target, monitor and evaluate cities policy and will be a key document in City Deals.

The National Cities Performance Framework Interim Report outlines three objectives for each policy priority identified in City Deals. The six City Deals policy priorities are:

• Jobs and skills
• Infrastructure and investment
• Liveability and sustainability
• Innovation and digital opportunities
• Governance, planning and regulation
• Housing

The Framework also outlines 12 contextual indicators and 41 performance indicators that relate to Australia’s largest cities as well as Western Sydney. Indicators were chosen from a wide range of existing indicator frameworks and datasets. Key indicator frameworks include the Australian Bureau of Statistics Measures of Australia’s Progress, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Liveability Ranking.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) welcomed the interim report and in particular the online indicator dashboard which will provide accessible data to assist in understanding how Australian cities are performing.

Input to the Interim Report is invited via a survey document with regards to the indicators identified for measuring performance against policy priorities and what additions in features, indicators or coverage should be added. The deadline for input is 18 August.

More information here.

GBCA media release here.

A new project led by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and ClimateWorks Australia will develop a long-term industry-led vision for how the National Construction Code can deliver energy and emissions savings alongside financial benefits for building owners and occupants.

In an Issues Paper published today, the project notes that buildings contribute more than half of our country’s electricity consumption and almost a quarter of emissions in Australia.  Energy requirements for new construction in building codes are key to driving energy and emissions outcomes. Leading jurisdictions around the world, including countries, states and cities across North America and Europe, have established long-term targets of net or near zero energy buildings, to drive innovation, investment and market transformation in the property and construction sectors.

“At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing and energy policies are under critical review, better buildings can ease the strain on our wallets and take the pressure off our ageing infrastructure”, said ASBEC Executive Director Suzanne Toumbourou.  “And with climate change starting to bite, they can ensure our emissions meet our obligations under the Paris agreement.”

Australia’s building standards are governed by the National Construction Code. The Code is updated every three years.  The next changes will be implemented in 2019.

ASBEC and ClimateWorks Australia have partnered on a project to develop an industry-led, evidence-based pathway for the adoption of ambitious long-term targets for the energy performance requirements in the National Construction Code.

“It’s vital for Australia’s energy future that the changes to the National Construction Code help to drive more affordable and more widespread energy efficient buildings.” said Tony Arnel, Chair of ASBEC’s National Construction Code Working Group and Global Director of Sustainability at Norman Disney & Young.

“By 2030, buildings built after net next Code changes could make up more than a quarter of all Australia’s building stock. By 2050, this could increase to more than half of the total stock. There’s great potential to take the pressure off our power stations and power lines, save money and lower emissions – but we need the right standards in place.” said Tony Arnel.

“Our building industry – from architects and engineers to developers and builders – has the knowledge to help steer these changes in the direction that will address Australia’s challenging energy landscape. That’s why we’re working together on an industry-led vision.” said Suzanne Toumbourou.

ASBEC and ClimateWorks will publish an interim report on project findings in November 2017 and a final report on cost benefit analyses and a policy pathway in March 2018. This work aims to help inform the policy considerations and future directions of the COAG Energy Council’s National Energy Productivity Plan.

“Right now, Australia is at an energy crossroads. We can take the shortcut to a secure and low-cost energy future via better buildings, or go the long way round.” said Tony Arnel.

Read the Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory Project: Issues Paper

Download the full Media Release

The Residential Buildings Regulatory Impact Methodology has been prepared by HoustonKemp Economists for the Department of the Environment and Energy. The methodology evaluates the costs and benefits of potential increases in the stringency of the energy efficiency provisions in the NCC.

NCC energy efficiency provisions were last considered in 2009. The methodology used in 2009 has been re-examined and necessary revisions have been recommended to reflect current best practise. The Methodology recommends a high-level cost benefit approach to any regulatory impact statements and outlines five key steps for an economic evaluation of proposed changes.

The five key steps are:

1. Identify compliance pathways
2. Select representative dwellings
3. Estimate impact of proposed changes on energy use
4. Estimate the dwelling health and wellbeing implications
5. Aggregate based on projects of expected uptake

Key recommendations that differ from the 2009 methodology include:

• A 20-30 year costs and benefits evaluation time frame
• Discount rates of 5-7% and conduct sensitivity at 3-10%
• An estimation of the costs and benefits for a number of different dwelling types in different climate zones

The Methodology also recommends changes to key modelling inputs to capture benefits and evaluate costs. Recommendations estimating benefits that differ from the 2009 methodology include:

• Estimates of reduced network and generation costs
• Estimates of reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Associated health, safety and amenity benefits for dwelling occupants

Recommendations estimating costs that differ from the 2009 methodology include:

• Enforcement costs
• Building compliance costs

The Methodology notes gaps in the current evidence base and recommends a continuation of research be conducted to expand the evidence base from which the methodology can draw upon when evaluating the costs and benefits of changes to the NCC.

More information here.

Leaders at the World Sustainable Built Environment conference (WSBE), held in Hong Kong, have called on the building sector to decarbonise by 2050 in order to keep global warming below two degrees.

The building sector is not currently on track to meet the temperature target set out in the Paris Agreement, with new building floor area surpassing energy efficiency improvements.   However tools and technologies exist to reduce its carbon emissions. Energy performance standards are a priority for construction, renovation and building equipment, in order to lead the market towards energy efficiency solutions that are cost effective.

The need for better data for building products was called for, to address issues with product comparison and new technologies. Urban leaders were also urged to explore adopting new financial models and information systems to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment.

More information here.

More about the WSBE here.

From 1 July all commercial building spaces of 1000m² or more must have their energy efficiency rating disclosed when selling, leasing or subleasing. The extension to the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program from 2000m² to 1000m² means that another 1000 commercial office buildings are affected by the CBD requirements.

Building owners and real estate agents  advertising properties for lease or sale are required to place the buildings NABERS Energy star rating on all advertising material. The changes are expected to result in over $50 million in energy savings and 3.5 million tonnes of emissions reductions over five years.

The extension to the CBD were determined after an independent review of the program which found it was a successful means to deliver significant benefits at minimal cost to both the industry and the government. The review also found that the program created positive behaviour change in regards to energy efficiency in buildings.

More information here.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has developed a Low Emissions Technology Roadmap to inform the 2017 Climate Policy review. The report examines the technology options available to Australia to allow it to meet the emissions commitments undertaken in the 2015 Paris Agreement. The economic opportunities provided by technology options presented are also included.

Four pathways are outlined in the report which details the risks and opportunities of each pathway. Key findings include the identification of mature technologies currently available in the building sector as having the potential to significantly improve energy productivity. The technologies include efficient lighting, heat pumps, improved building envelopes and higher efficiency in appliances and equipment.

The Roadmap will be considered by the Australian Government as part of the Independent REview into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market as well as the 2017 Climate Policies review.

More information here.

The CEFC has released a new resource: Energy in Buildings: 50 Best Practice Initiatives.

This report, commissioned by the CEFC and produced by Norman Disney & Young, is intended to assist property owners and managers improve the energy performance of buildings, helping to reduce costs and position them for a low carbon future.

The report identifies 50 best practice initiatives across a range of property sectors and indicates the climate zones where the initiatives are likely to deliver the most positive benefits.

Importantly, the report indicates the upfront cost premium and payback period for each initiative, 16 of which could typically pay back within 5 years and a further 20 within 10 years. Many of the initiatives are also affordable on an upfront cost basis: about one third, in a new-build scenario, would require an additional cost less than 0.1% of overall asset value.

Read more here.

A new report by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), shows that there are currently 500 net zero commercial buildings and 2,000 net zero homes around the globe (well under 1 per cent of all buildings worldwide), requiring a monumental and coordinated effort by businesses, governments and nongovernmental organisations to bring the building sector within striking distance of Paris Agreement targets.

In From Thousands to Billions – Coordinated Action towards 100% Net Zero Carbon Buildings By 2050, WorldGBC calls for a dramatic and ambitious transformation towards a completely zero carbon built environment, through the dual goals of:

• All new buildings must operate at net zero carbon from 2030
• 100% of buildings must operate at net zero carbon by 2050

Read more here.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) has released a report titled Best Practice Policy and Regulation for Low Carbon Outcomes in the Built Environment. The report was prepared by Strategy.Policy.Research and examines Australia’s best practices in energy and carbon performance policy and regulation in comparison to other OECD countries. The report found Australia has some examples of best practice policy and regulation but that there was plenty of room for improvement.

Australia’s barriers and opportunities to the adoption of best practices are outlined, as are a proposed set of optimal measures and an indicative implementation pathway. Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), Commercial Building Disclosure and the NABERS ratings tools are identified as measures that could be expanded and/or updated. The lack of a forward trajectory for regulatory settings in the National Construction Code is highlighted as contributing to regulatory uncertainty. The report recommends a comprehensive review of national regulatory and policy measures estimating the delay in adopting building efficiency opportunities at $43 billion over 10 years.

The report was used to inform discussions at the CRCLCL National Forum: Regulating the Transition to a Low Carbon Built Environment in Canberra.

More information here.

Recent changes to the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program mean that as of 1 July 2017 1000 square metres will become the mandatory disclosure threshold on commercial office buildings. The threshold is currently 2000 square metres.

 The CBD Program requires that energy efficiency information is provided when a commercial office space is listed for sale or lease. The CBD program ensures that any prospective buyers or tenants are kept informed and that the energy efficiency of large office buildings is improved.

 More information here.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA),the Passive House Institute (PHI), and the Australian Passive House Association (APHA) have agreed to a new partnership to promote ultra-low energy buildings. The organisations will be working together to develop guidelines for a recognisable Passive House certification within Green Star. They will also be hosting site tours and workshops as professional development opportunities.

The GBCA will update the Green Star – Design &As Built rating tool to recognise a Passive House pathway that would achieve credits in the areas of ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ and ‘Thermal Comfort’.

Passive House (Passivhaus) is a voluntary building standard. A typical Passive House is comfortable, energy efficient and affordable, using 80% less energy than a standard home. There are over 80 000 Passive House buildings worldwide in both cold and hot climates.

More information here.

Professor Ken Maher has received the 2017 UNSW Alumni Award for Design, Engineering and Sustainability.

The UNSW Alumni Awards for Achievement are awarded in recognition of outstanding professional achievements, outstanding contributions to the community, exceptional leadership or civic, cultural and charitable or volunteer involvement. Awards are presented in the areas of arts and culture, business and innovation, design, engineering and sustainability, medicine and health, social impact and public policy, science and technology, and sports and sports administration.

More information here.

The proposed PRIME Innovation Hub for Affordable Heating and Cooling will act as a key mechanism to assist the HVAC&R industry to transition to a low emissions future. The Innovation Hub would also stimulate job growth and showcase innovations in the industry.

PRIME has been established after five years of industry consultations. It is a whole of industry pathway to a low emissions future and is supported by AIRAH and the CSIRO. The proposed Innovation Hub would provide virtual and physical spaces for designers and educators to access knowledge, develop skills and build capacity with the aim of enabling the acceleration of product development by small to medium Australian enterprises.

The Innovation Hub aims to:

• create over 200 jobs from new products and services;
• retain Australian entrepreneurs in Australia;
• get innovative low-energy designs applied in at least 10 major construction projects; and
• establish Australia’s only dedicated undergraduate major in Buildings Services.

More information here.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a report titled Market-Based Instruments for Energy Efficiency. The report was commissioned by G7 energy ministers and is the first global overview of its kind to examine the growth and impact of market-based instruments (MBIs) that target energy efficiency. The key policy design issues that were associated with the MBIs successful implementation are also examined in the report.

MBIs such as auctions, energy efficiency obligations on utilities and white certificate programs offer policy makers access to cost effective efficiency gains by allowing the market actors the ability to choose the most suitable measures and delivery methods. Since 2005 the number of MBIs worldwide have quadrupled. The investment generated by MBIs has also rapidly increased during this period.

The report outlines a number of key policy design issues such as:

• The need for MBIs to work within existing policy frameworks
• The need for obligations and auctions to have well crafted rules
• Flexibility within the programme design to allow for savings to be delivered across a broad range of customers and fuels
• Rules need to be as simple as possible but as complex as necessary
• Monitoring, verification and evaluation is a vital component for the integrity of the programmes

More information here.

Consult Australia have released the Australian Digital Built Environment Principles at the Smart Cities Forum in Sydney. The Principles were developed in consultation with hundreds of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. The Principles are a point of reference for work and policies to be aligned to. They have been created within a technical context and are designed to be:

• Beneficial
• Usable
• Deliverable
• Accessible
• Authoritative

Consult Australia said “The Principles are a policy tool created within a technical context that enable stakeholders to focus on those actions that will help to ensure the delivery of long term benefits”.

More information here.

The NSW Government has published information about increased BASIX Energy Targets, which will come into effect across the state in July 2017.

These changes are designed to respond to changes in construction design and new technologies and will be more in tune with the national building standards in the Building Code of Australia.

The increases in energy targets for houses and low-rise units will increase by 10%, with a 5% increase for mid and high-rise units. There will also be changes to the settings for thermal comfort heating and cooling. The changes are expected to be achievable at little or no additional cost and will continue to assist NSW in delivering energy efficient housing.

The Government is also considering what further changes should be made to BASIX and what other energy efficiency measures should be adopted. The Minister for the Environment is seeking feedback on the Draft Plan to Save NSW Energy and Money. In relation to BASIX, the Plan asks:

• how to improve BASIX through future reviews of the targets;
• higher target increases in selected high-growth land release areas and in specific local government areas with participating Council;
• additional information on BASIX certificates to help consumers understand the benefits of homes with best better design standards that more energy efficient.

More information here.

The guidelines for the $50 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program have now been released. The program is seeking innovative, technology based projects that offer solutions to urban problems. The program encourages local governments, the private sector, research organisations and not for profit bodies to work together with the goal of improving the liveability, productivity and sustainability of cities suburbs and towns.

The program has two separate components:

• Grants
• Incubation

The incubation package is open to local governments. Local governments who are not familiar with smart cities and smart technology are invited to register for the Future Ready incubation Package. This package is not part of the grant program however it supports capability building in local government and offers opportunities for collaboration with industry.

Grant applications close on 30 June 2017.

More information here.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has launched a discussion paper titled A carbon positive roadmap for the built environment. The paper was launched at the Green Cities 2017 conference in Sydney. The paper invites industry feedback on how the built environment can assist in meeting the Australian greenhouse gas emissions targets.

To meet these targets the GBCA believes that all new buildings need to be net zero emissions by 2030 and all existing buildings need to be net zero emissions by 2050. The GBCA has identified four key priorities:

1. Promoting energy efficiency through passive design and efficient systems;
2. Driving investment in resilient, renewable energy infrastructure;
3. Increasing markets for net zero carbon products, materials and services;
4. Promoting offsets for remaining emissions

The GBCA said “We believe this approach will be a cost-effective pathway for buildings and portfolios, and will also achieve other positive outcomes for Australia – such as efficient, comfortable and healthy buildings, energy security and a thriving renewable energy industry, jobs growth in emerging sectors, and enhanced biodiversity.”

The ideas in the discussion paper and feedback from industry will be used to develop a ‘Carbon Positive Roadmap’. Industry feedback is invited until Friday, 28 April.

The discussion paper can be downloaded here.

More information here.

The Victorian Essential Services Commission has announced an increase to feed in tariffs from 1 July 2017. Businesses and households who feed power back into the electricity grid will be paid 11.3 cents per kilowatt hour. This rate is currently set at 5 cents a kilowatt hour. The change is in recognition of the social and health benefits provided by renewable energy.

The 6.3 cent increase is broken down into 3.8 cents per kilowatt hour as a wholesale market price increase and 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour for the avoided social cost of carbon. The change is expected to benefit 130 000 Victorian households.

More information here.

The Victorian Government has released Victoria’s Climate Change Framework which sets out the Government’s long term vision on climate change as well as setting an interim emissions reduction target. The Framework has a vision of net zero emissions in a climate-resilient Victoria by 2050. The Framework also addresses how action on climate change affects jobs, cost of living and health, the steps the Government is taking to commence the transition to net zero emissions and the challenges being a net zero emissions economy faces.

More information here.

Victoria’s Climate Change Framework here.

The COAG Energy Council has released a set of principles for a National Collaborative Approach to Residential Building Ratings and Disclosure, supporting the 2016 National Energy Productivity Plan Annual report. The COAG Energy Council recognises the ability for improvements in energy productivity within Australia’s new and existing residential buildings to lower costs for households while also improving comfort, reducing energy use and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The Council also recognises that current minimum standards, while necessary, are unable to drive large scale improvements.

A lack of information in regards to the energy performance of residential buildings is highlighted as leading to buyers or tenants, as well as property owners, being unclear about the value and benefits of energy efficient buildings. Other market barriers identified in the publication include information asymmetry between buyers and sellers and split incentives for owners and tenants of rental properties.

Ratings and disclosure schemes have been shown internationally to be an essential part of driving change in this area, however the publication also recognises the importance of a consistent, coherent and flexible approach. An Australia wide collaborative approach to residential building ratings and disclosure is hoped to provide information that will enable home owners, buyers and tenants to better understand the value of a building’s energy performance.

ASBEC welcomes the publication of the principles which align with our call for a nationally harmonised approach to residential ratings.

The principles can be downloaded here.

The Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market, or Finkel Review, has released a Preliminary Report. The Review, which was instigated by COAG Energy Ministers in October 2016 is to advise the government on a national reform blueprint for the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The Preliminary Report recognises the rapid changes that have occurred in the energy market, particularly in relation to wind and solar photovoltaic energy generation. It also recognises a decline in the demand for energy from the NEM with increasing energy efficiency and self-generation as well as a reduction in the consumption of energy from the industrial sector.

The Preliminary Report also identifies Australia’s transition to a lower emissions economy with energy generation being the largest single source of emissions. The Review aims to be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform the NEM providing resilience and enabling better services.

The Preliminary Report sets out observations and questions to guide consultation on the design of a new blueprint.

Seven key themes have been identified in the Report. These are:

1. Technology is transforming the electricity sector
2. Consumers are driving change
3. The transition to a low emissions economy is underway
4. Variable renewable electricity generators, such as wind and solar PV, cn be effectively integrated into the system
5. Market design can support security and reliability
6. Prices have risen substantially in the last five years
7. Energy market governance is critical

The Preliminary Report also outlines a number of key questions. Submissions are welcomed in regards to these themes and their associated questions or to any of the more detailed questions that are contained throughout the Preliminary Report.

The public consultation process will include meetings to be held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney. The meetings include both public meetings and meetings with specific organisations.

The full report and information on the consultation sessions here.

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has launched a road map aimed at doubling the energy productivity within the Built Environment by 2030 (2xEP). The roadmap has been drafted in consultation with built environment stakeholders and contributions.  Further comments are welcome.

The proposed measures cover four broad strategy areas: traditional energy management (efficiency), system optimisation, business model transformation and value creation/preservation. The roadmap also proposes to reframe the conversation around energy productivity by placing the consumer at the centre of the conversation.

ASBEC has worked closely with A2EP to ensure alignment and consistency with the recommendations in the Low Carbon, High Performance report.

More information here.

The Australian Government has announced a new National Cities Performance Framework, to be developed in 2017, to assist in developing smart cities policy and allow the public to see how cities are progressing.

Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor also announced the formation of a new Cities Reference Group to assist with inquiries on City Deals and the publishing of feedback on the Government’s Smart Cities Plan launched earlier in the year.

The Government has also released a submissions report on the Smart Cities Plan.

ASBEC has welcomed the proposed National Cities Performance Framework, which could track progress, incentivise best practice and support long-term evidence-based policy development for Australia’s major cities.

“Cities are the economic drivers of the nation, providing jobs and housing over 60 per cent of Australia’s population, along with economic, cultural and social exchange centres and a doorway to the world.” said ASBEC Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou. “It is vitally important that the progress of Australia’s major cities is measured and reported, to drive best practice and enable better policy making.”

ASBEC has long called for transparent and consistent indicators to be applied across Australia’s major cities.  Indicators for the National Cities Performance Framework should draw core categories which include:

• Economic prosperity
• Sustainable land-use and transport
• Natural resources
• Green infrastructure & ecosystem health
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Resilience
• Health and liveability
• Social inclusiveness
• Good governance
• Housing diversity & supply

Benchmarking indicators should be developed in consultation with stakeholders and encourage public debate about city performance.

Existing, reputable rating tools such as NABERS, IS rating tool and Green Star align with many of the indicators and can be used to measure progress across a range factors.

“The proposed National Cities Performance Framework is a very good measure of the Australian Government’s commitment to more productive, sustainable and liveable cities.” said Ms Toumbourou. “ASBEC looks forward to participating in the Government’s Cities Reference Group as a positive consultation mechanism across industry, government and the community.”

Read ASBEC’s media release here.

Read the Australian Government’s media release on cities benchmarking here.

Read the Smart Cities Plan Submissions Report here.

The Australian Government has released the terms of reference for its review of climate change policies. The review will be led by the Department of Environment and Energy and take place in 2017 building on work already underway such as the Finkel Review and the National Energy Productivity Plan. The Government will be seeking public submissions throughout the review from business and community.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) welcomed the review saying “the broad-ranging nature of the review should create opportunities within sectors that have not been able to take advantage of existing government policy.”

The Property Council of Australia (PCA) also welcomed the review, in particular the recognition of sector-by-sector opportunities and the integration of climate change and energy policy.  Citing ASBEC’s Low Carbon, High Performance report, the Property Council stated “the built environment can deliver $20 billion in energy savings by 2030, up to one quarter of Australia’s national emissions target and over half the Government’s energy productivity target.” The PCA is urging the review to take up policies that will address the current obstacles for the property sector to utilise the Emissions Reduction Fund.

The Minister’s media release here.

GBCA media release here.

PCA media release here.

EY, the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia have released the results of new research in a document titled “Will the Australian property sector seize the upside of disruption”. The research builds on EY’s previous research on “the Upside of Disruption”. 550 property industry executives and 15 real estate CEO’s were involved in the research.  

The executives were asked to assess global megatrends with regards to their likelihood and were also asked what their own organisation’s were doing to prepare for the forecast changes. The six megatrends identified were:

1. Digital Technologies
2. Compromised cybersecurity
3. Robotics
4. Smart future
5. The sharing economy
6. Autonomous transport

The Property Council stated “Disruption is occurring and will occur and it either means new entrants transforming the way the industry does business, or existing market participants anticipating and preparing for change.”

The Green Building Council of Australia stated “Green building was a disruptive force a decade ago, and Australia’s industry seized the opportunity. We are well placed to embrace the next wave of disruption to drive greater efficiencies in energy and material usage, to enhance the resilience and liveability of our growing cities, and to deliver homes and workplaces that are more sustainable, as well as smarter and safer.”

More information here.

The NSW Department of Planning & Environment has announced increases to the BASIX energy targets as of July 2017. The increases recognise the importance of energy efficiency measures within homes in both decreasing energy use and costs to consumers. The changes were announced in the paper released by the Minister for the Environment in October titled “A Draft Plan to Save NSW Energy and Money”. The increases will see energy targets for houses and low-rise units increase by 10% and high-rise units to increase by 5%.

The Government is currently seeking feedback on the paper, specifically in regards to further changes to BASIX and other energy efficiency measures that could be adopted.

More information and submissions here.

The draft National Carbon Offset Standard for Buildings and Precincts are open for public consultation until 10 February 2017. While Australia’s property sector ranks highly according to the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark in the delivery of low carbon buildings the standards will establish clear frameworks for removing emissions from buildings by setting rules for measuring, reducing, offsetting and reporting emissions.

The Standards were drafted by the Department of the Environment and Energy in consultation with NABERS and the GBCA

The GBCA and NABERS will host a webinar on the draft standards on Friday,16 December. GBCA announced the draft Standards  saying “clear standards and guidelines are essential as we transition to a zero carbon economy”.

More information and submission details here.

The NSW Government released a new NSW Climate Change Policy Framework and announced a $500 million ‘Environmental future funding package’.

The Climate Change Policy Framework sets out two aspirational objectives:

• achieving net zero emissions by 2050
• NSW being more resilient to a changing climate

Two draft climate change and energy savings documents have been released for public consultation:

• Climate Change Fund Draft Strategic Plan
• A Draft Plan to Save NSW Energy and Money

Several of the recommendations outlined in Low Carbon, High Performance have been picked up in the Draft Plan to Save Energy and Money, including:

• Advocating for the Australian Building Codes Board to introduce robust, cost-effective standards for new commercial buildings(LCHP Recommendation 2.1)
• Supporting the GEMS program by advocating to the COAG Energy Council that the work be better resourced. (LCHP Recommendation 2.4)
• Improving energy efficiency for tenanted homes, potentially through performance standards, such as meeting minimum energy efficiency ratings before properties can be leased  (LCHP Recommendation 2.5)
• A mechanism for new State significant developments and major infrastructure to achieve higher sustainability and energy efficiency standards and/or implement cost effective energy-saving opportunities; and Minimum energy performance standards for hotels used by government for accommodation and events in metropolitan areas. (LCHP Recommendation 3.1)
• A program to support local councils to apply GREP and target facilities and assets which consume large amounts of energy. (LCHP Recommendation 3.2)
• Continue the Home Energy Action Program for vulnerable households (LCHP Recommendation 3.12)
• Advocating for the Commonwealth Government to require commercial buildings other than medium to large office buildings (such as retail buildings and data centres) to disclose their energy performance under the CBD program.  (LCHP Recommendation 5.3)
• Introducing a program to enable home owners and investors to assess energy efficiency performance ratings and display a rating at the point of sale. (LCHP Recommendation 5.4)

The Climate Change Fund Draft Strategic Plan also picks up on several of the State-level recommendations outlined ASBEC’s Built Environment Adaptation Framework, including improving information on local climate change impacts; improve building standards and planning requirements to take into account the impacts of climate change; and unlocking funds for local communities to respond to climate change.

The NSW Climate Change Policy Framework can be downloaded here.

The Climate Change Fund Draft Strategic Plan can be read here.

A Draft Plan to Save NSW Energy and Money can be read here.

Feedback is invited and can be given here.

The Winners for the Australian Technologies Competition 2016 have been announced.  The awards showcase technology companies who are delivering solutions to sectors such as energy, resources and cities. ASBEC sponsored the ‘Smart Cities’ Award which was won by Independent Products for their work in providing energy saving technology innovations in the HVAC sector. The iP Kenetik technology solution uses the waste water created by air conditioners to reduce energy consumption. The system can be retrofitted to most split system air conditioning and refrigeration units. As well as winning the ‘Smart Cities’ category Independent Products also won the Australian Technology Company of the Year Award.

More details and winner of the Awards can be found here.

More information about Independent Products can be found here.

Australian cities and urban areas face more challenges than ever before. A growing and increasingly urbanised population is putting increased pressure on cities, infrastructure and the housing sector. How can our built environment handle these demands, as well as dealing with climate change and emergency events like natural disasters and extremist acts?

The answer lies in urban resilience: the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt and grow no matter what kind of stresses and shocks they may experience.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has released a set of fact sheets on urban resilience for three segments:

1. Cities – Population growth is providing challenges in managing demands on available space, transporting people and goods, and keeping communities safe, cohesive, fulfilled and happy.
2. Infrastructure – Maintaining and expanding the critical infrastructure that provides Australians with high-quality utilities, transport, healthcare and other essential services will require significant investment from governments.
3. Housing – Available, affordable housing with access to employment, services and facilities is a major issue.

The Chair of ASBEC’s Resilience Task Group, Adrian Piani said the fact sheets were designed for organisations involved in the planning, design, delivery and operation of the built environment.

“ASBEC’s aim is to help built environment sector professionals embed resilience thinking into their decision-making, and begin a discussion with stakeholders and supply chains.” Mr Piani said.

The fact sheets were developed by the ASBEC Resilience Task Group in collaboration with specialist resilience advisers from integrated infrastructure firm, AECOM.

“Each fact sheet provides a series of questions organisations can work through,” said Kieran Power, AECOM Senior Consultant – Sustainability and Resilience.

“They provide a practical way for organisations to self-assess and gain an understanding of what resilience means to them and the projects they deliver.”

ASBEC President Prof Ken Maher noted this initiative is part of ASBEC’s focus on community wellbeing and a more sustainable future.

“By understanding the principles of urban resilience, organisations can discover opportunities to contribute to a better quality of life for Australians.” said Prof Maher.

“Urban resilience is not just about dealing with problems – it improves the wellbeing of communities by enhancing economic, environmental and social outcomes. It is a model for good times as well as bad.”

Download the full media release here.

Download the Resilience and the Built Environment Fact Sheets:

ASBEC Resilience Fact Sheets – Cities

ASBEC Resilience Fact Sheets – Housing

ASBEC Resilience Fact Sheets – Infrastructure

Congratulations to our President Ken Maher who was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Architecture & Design 2016 Sustainability Awards held in Sydney on 13 October. Already a recipient of the Australian Institute of Architect’s Gold Medal (2009) and Australian Award in Landscape Architecture from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (2010), Ken received a standing ovation at the ceremony.

The award recognises Ken’s “undying and frankly excitable commitment to improving the built environment in Australia over the course of his career”.

More details about the awards can be found here.

Winners of the 2016 Australian Urban Design Awards have been announced. In announcing the awards the jury were impressed by both the number of entries and the calibre.

The four category winners are:

Australian Award for Urban Design, Delivered Outcome – Large Scale

• Sydney Park Water Re-Use Project (Sydney, New South Wales)
  TurfDesign Studio and Environmental Partnership with Alluvium, Turpin + Crawford Studio and Dragonfly Environmental

Australia Award for Urban Design, Delivered Outcome – Small Scale

• Bowen Place Crossing (Bowen Place, ACT)
  Lahznimmo Architects and Spackman Mossop Michaels
• The Goods Line (Sydney, New South Wales)
  ASPECT Studios, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, CHROFI and
  Gartner Rose

Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts – Large Scale

• Turramurra Community Hub Masterplan (Sydney, New South Wales)
  CHROFI in association with Ku-ring-gai Council
• Green Square Town Centre (Sydney, New South Wales)
  City of Sydney

Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts – Small Scale

• WGV at White Gum Valley (White Gum Valley, Western Australia)
  CODA Studio, Urbis, Landcorp and Josh Byrne and Associates

Congratulations to all winners and commended projects.

The full list of winners can be found here.

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will be undertaking work this 2016-17 financial year on work aimed at advancing the Energy Efficiency Provisions in the National Construction Code (NCC). The work will look specifically at the energy efficiency initiative with a view to changes being considered for inclusion in the NCC 2019.

Two separate working groups have been established, a Residential working group and a Commercial working group. ASBEC will join representatives from organisations such as the AIA, PCA and HIA to work on issues such as Performance Requirements, Verification Methods, Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions and supporting education material.

There will be an opportunity for public comment on the proposed changes in early 2018.

More details here.

An infographic of work to be undertaken can be downloaded here.

Newly released GRESB data shows that Australian and New Zealand companies and funds have continued to outperform their international peers in the areas of environmental, social and governance performance.

GRESB noted that some of Australia’s success was due to Australian companies and funds being uniquely open to exchanging experiences and insights with competitors and frequently working together to address new issues. Collaboration and competition between companies and funds was also highlighted as a driver to for companies and funds to attain higher levels of performance.

In recognising Australia’s continued achievement Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) said that investors expected reliable data on energy efficiency and sustainability when making investment decisions, emphasising the challenge for the industry to keep raising the bar whilst working towards zero carbon.

A snapshot of the report can be read here.

The GBCA media release can be read here.

Researchers from RMIT, in conjunction with the Victoria State Government, have released a report that challenges the traditional cost benefit analysis of sustainable housing. The report authors argue that traditionally the ongoing costs of heating and cooling homes, as well as greenhouse gas emissions and benefits to health and wellbeing that sustainable house can provide have not been taken into account.

The study was conducted over a three year time period and focused on a small sustainable housing development in Horsham, Victoria. The sustainable housing was compared to seven control houses in the same suburb and to a technical model of standard industry practice.

The study found that the re-sale value of the sustainable housing was higher and that the utility consumption was consistently lower than the control houses.

Read the full report here.

Federal and State governments have announced funding for a new rating tool for apartment buildings that will support emissions reduction goals and reduce power costs by encouraging higher standards for energy efficient systems in new builds and retrofits.

The tool will be developed by the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) and run as part of the Australian National Energy Productivity Plan to help achieve a 40 per cent increase in national energy usage productivity. The tool will use a six star scale to rate apartments based on an assessment of central services energy performance and potential retrofits for lighting, HVAC systems, hot water systems and more.

Current tools for the commercial office sector have proven effective, with emissions savings so far equivalent to 160, 000 cars off the road and over $100 million in power costs. NABERS has also expanded awareness of energy efficiency benefits, including improved wellbeing for occupants and leaseability.

The tool will be under development for the rest of 2016, with a pilot expected to run in 2017.

Media release here.

The Victorian Labor Government has announced the reinstatement of the Greener Government Buildings Program (GGB) to improve the state’s energy efficiency performance. The GGB will receive a $33 million investment over two years to improve government buildings and infrastructure, including:

• LED technology installed in all freeway lighting.
• Solar power and LED lighting installed in regional healthcare facilities and 200 schools.
• New lighting plus upgrades to heating and cooling systems for Gordon TAFE and Peninsula Health facilities.

The upgrades aim to improve the quality and efficiency of public hospitals and educational facilities, create hundreds of jobs across sectors, and deliver a stronger Victorian budget. Along with the recently launched Take 2 Pledge Program, the initiatives are estimated to abate 25, 000 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, and result in up to $100 million in savings that would more than offset the initial investments.

The Energy Efficiency Council welcomed the announcement which aligns with their 2016/17 priorities for government action, and sees Victoria join NSW and South Australia in delivering on best practice energy efficiency programs.

Premier’s media release here.
EEC media release here.

The Government, together with the states and territories, has committed $18 million towards the Nation Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP). The COAG Energy Council developed the NEPP to help meet Australia’s 40 per cent National Energy Productivity Target by 2030.

Funding will go towards improving Australia’s competitiveness, reduce GHG emissions and consumers’ energy costs, with actions including:

• Improving the energy efficiency of buildings, through updated commercial building standards in the 2019 National Construction Code, the development of a case for new residential building standards, and new NABERS tools.
• A new prioritisation strategy for accelerating appliance energy efficiency standards
• An Energy Use Data Model, to support better forecasting and policy.
• Research to make energy choices easier for consumers.

Media release here.
More info on the NEPP here.

The NatHERS Administrator recently engaged ACIL Allen Consulting to undertake a review of NatHERS governance and operating model as per the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan. The current model was assessed against NatHERS vision and objectives, along with OECD’s principles of good regulatory governance and ASX’s principles of good corporate governance.

Stakeholders consulted during the process recognised NatHERS as a world leader that was set on a pathway to address critical design issues. However, it was noted that underinvestment and a lack of integration into the building design process limits the potential benefits of the scheme.

The review has provided comprehensive recommendations, and the COAG Energy Council’s Energy Efficiency Advisory Team has also produced a response and welcomes stakeholder feedback.

Comments on the future direction of NatHERS will be open until 5.00pm 2 September 2016.

The review and response are available to read here.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) aims to support the improvement of the energy efficiency of Australian residential buildings through the availability of scientifically valid, cost effective and reliable thermal performance rating tools.

A newly released paper from Tony Isaacs and Alan Pears examines traditional evaluation methods for energy efficiency policy, to explain why improvements to analysis and development are necessary, and how a fresh approach could deliver more effective outcomes.

How cautious analysis could lead to ‘do nothing’ policy – A case study of the 6-star housing Regulation Impact Statement examines the 2009 RIS for 6-star houses as an example case study, in terms of up-front costs, energy prices, discount rates, additional potential costs and benefits, and other issues. The 6-star housing standard was previously found to have marginal benefits, fuelling debate about the rationale and stringency levels of regulation for residential energy efficiency.

Their new approach to analysis found significantly higher benefits and lower costs for consumers and industry. The findings highlight the need to keep up with market changes and data availability, and to establish a consistent method for accurate and comprehensive evaluations of costs and benefits. This method aims to provide decision makers with a better understanding of the full impacts of energy policies.

Download How cautious analysis could lead to ‘do nothing’ policy.

ASBEC and the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) hosted the first National Housing Forum in July.  The Forum brought together leaders and experts to discuss opportunities and challenges for the housing sector to contribute towards Australia’s emission reduction goals.

Participants formed a united industry approach to working with government and moving forward with actionable recommendations that support the transition to a low carbon future.

Recommendations include:

1. A more ambitious building energy regulatory target to be put in place for new housing;
2. Regulation of energy standards for rental properties to protect the most vulnerable to energy poverty;
3. Disclosure of energy performance should be mandated to provide independent information and empower consumers;
4. Incentives should be established to drive the market beyond minimum regulations;
5. Greater effort should be made to engage the community through the development and promotion of exemplars, providing tangible examples of low carbon housing.

The Forum outcomes complement the findings of ASBEC’s Low Carbon High Performance and National Framework for Residential Rating reports, by further unlocking the potential emissions reductions in the built environment, and cementing the industry’s commitment to follow through with support from government.

The CRCLCL is currently funding research in South Australia to make low and zero carbon housing a reality, with positive support from communities and evidence of significant economic gains.

Full CRCLCL media release here.

The UN-Habitat’s Urban Data Portal is an online interactive tool for exploring key urban indicators across participating cities. The tool collates and analyses statistics from around the world in a simple format that allows users to visually learn about the state of cities based on their choice of indicators, in areas such as resilience, health, population, and transport. Cities and regions can be compared for further detail, and includes future projections up until 2050.

The data for over 700 cities is provided by national statistics authorities, and compiled by the UN-Habitat’s Global Urban Observatory. The original datasets are available for download and the tool can also generate infographics for project and research use.

Read about the tools’ development here and start exploring data in the portal.

The World Green Building Council has announced the new Advancing Net Zero project that will deliver on their commitment to reducing emissions from the building sector by 84 gigatonnes by 2050.

The project will start out with eight participating Green Building Councils, and partner with non-profit Architecture 2030 to provide technical expertise. The Councils will each develop action plans including national net zero certification schemes and complementary net zero training for green building professionals.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is among those involved and says their participation in the global project recognises Australia’s leadership and achievements that prove net zero buildings are possible, and a realistic path to emissions reduction. The GBCA have already committed to recognising net zero buildings and have since been working on adapting the Australian Government’s Carbon Neutral Standard for buildings and precincts.

Long-term goals of Advancing Net Zero include:

• All new buildings and major renovations are net zero in 2030, and no buildings are built below net zero standards beyond 2030
• 100% of buildings are net zero by 2050
• 75,000 professionals are trained on net zero building by 2030, and 300,000 professionals by 2050
• All GBCs which operate certification schemes have net zero rating tools in place by 2030.

WorldGBC media release here.

GBCA media release here.

Startup seed funding firm Y Combinator, has announced their $100 million research lab will fund a major project to build better cities. The investment firm is well known in Silicon Valley for launching the likes of Dropbox and AirBNB, with their success and acumen in building partnerships leading to the launch of the YC Research non-profit institution that backs innovation for the betterment of humanity.

The comprehensive project will question the role of a city, how to measure its effectiveness and how to ensure adaptability. President Sam Altman and Partner Adora Cheung have identified housing affordability as one of the main constraints for building a liveable city and unlocking the potential of residents and communities. Their aim is to explore ways to reduce housing expenses by 90 percent and rewrite city planning laws. Along with housing, the project will cover all aspects of the built environment including construction, design, energy, vehicles and transport, urban planning and policy.

Outcomes from the first phase of the research project will be publically available and will determine their next steps – all going well they hope to build a prototype city.

The project team is now seeking full time researchers as well as interest in contributing ideas.

More details in the media release.

Find out more about YC Research.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the announcement from the Federal Minister for Energy, Josh Frydenberg, on the expansion of the Commercial Building Disclosure Scheme (CBD) and improvement of appliance efficiency through the Equipment Energy Efficiency programme.

ASBEC’s President Prof Ken Maher said “The CBD scheme has led to improvements in energy efficiency and reductions in GHG emissions.  It has also been effective in raising awareness of building performance and creating a market incentive for higher-performing buildings.”

“The expansion of this program is an excellent initiative, which will engage many more commercial buildings in energy efficiency endeavours.”

The pathway set by the Equipment Energy Efficiency program aims to deliver energy savings in building appliances.

ASBEC’s Low Carbon, High Performance report has found that Australia’s building sector can deliver up to 28% of Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target and save $20 billion, if a strong suite of measures is adopted.

“An expanded CBD program and a pathway for improved appliance efficiency are both strong steps in enabling the built environment to meet its emissions reduction potential, whilst also creating healthier and more productive buildings.” said Prof Maher, “We look forward to working with policy makers on the adoption of the fuller suite of measures identified in Low Carbon, High Performance.”

Download full ASBEC Media Release.

Download media release from Minister Frydenberg.

The Coalition Government has released their Smart Cities policy that, if re-elected, will see the establishment of a Sustainable Cities investment fund, a Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, and subsequent City Deals, including Western Sydney.

The Sustainable Cities Investment Fund will provide $100 million towards precinct-scale renewable energy plants, transport management systems, green buildings and retrofits to improve affordable housing. The Fund will be administered through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and managed to ensure allocation to projects with strong business cases and a reliable pool of funding that will boost investment from the private sector.

A $50 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program for local governments was also announced, which will incentivise the use of innovative technology by councils to analyse their data and identify urban problems and their solutions.

Green Building Council Australia says it is a good start towards recognising industry recommendations and they look forward to further details on how the management process for both funds will be kept accountable and ensure best practice.

A city deal for Western Sydney is one of the first projects announced to benefit from the new funds, with a partnership between the NSW Government and local councils set to leverage the projected growth and opportunities for jobs, affordable housing and transport links, provided by the Western Sydney Airport development.

Property Council of Australia commended the joint initiative that will create a strategic approach to building a strong economy for the area. They also praised a proposal from the opposition to allocate $400 million to Western Sydney rail, awaiting independent assessment by Infrastructure Australia, as a complementary move in the right direction.

Read the Coalition’s policy here.

UN-HABITAT has released the World Cities Report 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures, an analysis of urban development over the past twenty years. The report demonstrates that the current approach to urbanization is not sustainable for future healthy communities and environments, and urges the creation of a New Urban Agenda to build on the successes, and face the challenges of implementation of the Habitat Agenda adopted in 1996.

Governments and all decision-makers are called upon to innovate and use the positive, transformative power of cities and urbanisation to their advantage. The report recommendations form a pathway for the development of cities to meet the necessary housing, equality and emissions standards, and utilise the right methods to monitor and regulate this process. This includes population growth and the implications for social equality and housing as an integral part of city planning, along with a human rights approach to urban environment driven by united multi-level governments, to achieve low-carbon cities and urban resilience.

The Habitat III Conference to be held in July 2016, will establish the New Urban Agenda, forming strong links with complementary international agreements including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Read the World Cities Report 2016 and supporting information on the website.

Australia’s building sector can deliver up to 28% of Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target, save $20 billion and create healthier, more productive cities if a suite of targeted policies are introduced, according to a new report by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

ASBEC President Prof Ken Maher said “Buildings account for almost a quarter of Australia’s emissions. This sector must be a strong focus if Australia is to meet its international obligations under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

“Over the last decade, market leaders in the building sector have shown that rapid improvements are possible, and this report demonstrates just how much more opportunity exists.”

“Our modelling found that without further action, buildings would consume almost half of Australia’s total national carbon budget. This is not an option.”

“The good news is that major improvements are possible with the right public policies.”

Key findings of the Low Carbon, High Performance report, authored by ClimateWorks Australia, show:

• buildings account for 23% of Australia’s emissions, so strong action in buildings is essential to meet our international obligations to transition to zero net emissions by around 2050
• buildings can achieve zero carbon by 2050 using existing technologies
• in addition to $20 billion in energy savings, buildings can deliver one quarter of the national emissions target and over half of the national energy productivity target by 2030
• leading property companies have demonstrated a rapid improvement in energy performance is possible, but a range of complex barriers limits progress across the sector

Property Council of Australia Chief Executive and chair of the ASBEC’s Energy Efficiency and Emissions Task Group Ken Morrison said the report was a blueprint for government action.

“Major emissions reduction gains can be made with the property industry, but it requires a focused plan that includes regulation, strong incentives, energy market reform and market information to support transformation.”

“When we’re talking about the built environment, we’re talking about literally millions of individual home owners as well as thousands of businesses across the property supply chain.  That is a level of complexity which requires a nuanced approach.”

“Australia consistently tops international tables for green building leadership, and we have more than 1,000 low-carbon, Green Star-rated buildings around the country. While buildings generate 23 per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions, we have the technology, the skills and the knowledge to halve emissions, while also boosting the productivity, health and wellbeing of the people who live, learn, work and play in our buildings,” says Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer of the Green Building Council of Australia.

“This report makes a clear business case that the residential and commercial building sector can punch well above its weight to help Australia achieve a goal of net zero emissions before 2050.  Zero carbon buildings are not a pipedream but a reality.” said WWF spokesperson Monica Richter.

The Low Carbon, High Performance report provides a roadmap with five policy solutions to drive the transition to a zero carbon building sector and improve the living and working environment of all Australians:

• A national plan towards 2050 zero carbon buildings
• Strong mandatory minimum standards for energy performance of buildings and appliances
• Targeted incentives and programs, including: ccelerated depreciation to encourage the uptake of green plant and equipment; stamp duty discounts for the purchase of green homes and properties; and planning incentives
• Energy market reforms, to remove market distortions that undermine the business case for energy efficiency and distributed generation
• Enabling data, information, research and education measures

Prof Maher said delaying action to reduce emissions from buildings would mean a substantial amount of opportunity is lost.

“Every year we delay will cost us significantly in emissions, climate change, money, and quality of life. Installing inefficient equipment or appliances locks in excessive emissions for many decades into the future. Even five years of delay in the take-up of these opportunities could lead to $24 billion in wasted energy costs and more than 170 megatonnes of lost emissions reduction opportunities.” said Prof Maher.

“The time is now. ASBEC calls on governments to open the door to our low carbon future.”

Download ASBEC’s Media Release

Read ASBEC’s Low carbon, High Performance Summary report

Read ASBEC’s Low carbon, High Performance Full report

ASBEC welcomes the release of the Australian Government’s Smart Cities Plan, which outlines a vision for enhancing liveability, sustainability and productivity in our urban communities.

ASBEC President Prof Ken Maher said “The building sector, through ASBEC, has long called for a whole-of-government approach to planning, energy efficiency measures, infrastructure investment and urban design, to create better long-term outcomes for cities. We congratulate the Federal Government for their focus on the future of our cities, and look forward to this process leading to tangible action.”

“The City Deals model, involving a compact between all spheres of government, reflects a form of planning and infrastructure investment that supports jobs and more liveable, healthy, productive and sustainable communities.”

Of course, sustainable cities are vitally underpinned by sustainable buildings.

“Australia’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement binds us to meaningful action on reducing emissions.  A major element towards meeting this objective includes a long-term metropolitan-scale approach to city planning, essentially underpinned by efforts to improve the environmental performance of buildings.”

“Governments, industry and the community will need to work collaboratively together to deliver transformative outcomes for our cities and built environment. As one of the world’s most urbanised countries, we can’t afford not to.” said Prof Maher.

Download ASBEC’s media release here.

Read the Smart Cities Plan here.

The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC) is an online self-assessment tool to assist city planners, leaders and private organisations in the development and implementation of sustainable city strategies. It was developed to support the vision integrated urban development in cities across Europe and delivery of the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities.

The RFSC provides a step-by-step approach to managing a project for cities of any size. The tool allows you to check your strategy and monitor progress against 30 sustainability objectives based on the five dimensions – economic, environmental, social, spatial and governance.

The RFSC is currently managed by the French Ministry of Housing and Sustainable Homes, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the CEREMA, a public body in support of national and local authorities in the field of sustainable development, and the French network of planning agencies (FNAU).

Check the website for more information and inspiration.

During China’s ‘Australia Week’, the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) joined forces with the China City Development Foundation (CCDF) and Green World City (GWC), signing a collaboration agreement to develop and deploy the Green Infrastructure Finance Accreditation (GIFA) scheme. The alliance was formed after Prime Minister Turnbull announced a $100 million joint Australia-China innovation precinct and previously an agenda to drive change in Australia’s economy through innovation.

The ISCA will support the CCDF, a not-for-profit connecting technical expertise and investment capital to urban development opportunities in China, along with GWC, a global network of CEOs and experts in sustainable projects, to implement the scheme based on the ISCA’s Infrastructure Sustainability rating scheme. The voluntary scheme can be applied throughout the design and construction process, with benefits ranging from emissions reduction, enhanced infrastructure design and engaged, supportive communities. The partnership aims to bring these benefits to China as well as open up opportunities to access Australia’s expertise and services. The launch of a not-for-profit organisation to run the scheme is expected to be announced soon.

ISCA Media Release here.

The CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) has funded new research by Adelaide Living Laboratories, using data from Renewal SA’s Lochiel Park development. The findings have provided further evidence that low carbon living has significant benefits across energy efficiency, energy infrastructure, and wellbeing of residents, that outweigh the financial costs of building low carbon housing.

Lochiel Park in South Australia is an award winning green village that has successfully facilitated sustainable lifestyles of more than 150 residents and produced extensive data and research opportunities, culminating in several papers and reports gradually being released.

The most recent report analyses value propositions of low carbon housing policy to demonstrate the cost benefits for householders and State governments. The report explains the impacts and influences of a range of factors including energy, construction costs, industry standards and health & productivity, and finds multiple policy outcomes and economic benefits for a Government investor.

The CRCLCL are planning to continue the research to answer specific questions around differences in consumer energy use and types of housing precincts.

CRCLCL media release and report download available here.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT) have launched the ABC for Sustainable Cities, a glossary of terms and definitions commonly used across sectors working in the built and urban environment. The glossary was created in cooperation with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and their European counterpart, the EFCA. FIDIC is an active contributor to the UN HABITAT World Urban Campaign and advocate for sustainable development in the consulting engineering industry.

The ABC for Sustainable Cities aims to help facilitate the discussion on cities by developing a common language and providing clarity for technical and non-technical audiences. The glossary terms range from the basics such as pollution and greenhouse gases, to more recently popular jargon such as green building, urban resilience and wellbeing.

The explanations are not set international definitions, rather the developers compiled publically available definitions from recognised institutions, journals and reports from around the world and emphasised the key essential information. The document was peer-reviewed and developed in consultation with numerous international organisations and experts to further broaden the collaboration and knowledge sharing goals of the project and to ensure the definitions meet the needs of policy makers worldwide.

More information on the development process can be found on the EFCA brochure and the glossary can be downloaded from FIDIC here.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) announced a new partnership at Green Cities last week. Their memorandum of understanding will provide an opportunity to align the Green Star and WELLS rating systems and collaborate on progressing the healthy building movement.

The GBCA says that Green Star’s focus on indoor environmental quality for health and wellbeing is complemented by WELLS scientific and medical research in the area. There is increasing demand from consumers who recognise the impacts of buildings on their health and a combination of rating systems will effectively address buildings and people together.

The organisations will also work together on promoting educational initiatives and encouraging sustainable building practices, with the aim of broadening the reach of both rating systems and forming a unified approach to designing healthy, productive home and work environments around Australia.

Full media release available here.

The Australian National Carbon Offset Standard was introduced in 2010 to set requirements for businesses, products, services and events seeking carbon neutrality. It has now been updated to include sustainability certification of carbon-neutral cities, precincts and buildings.

An Expert Committee has been formed to expand the current scheme as well as work towards a carbon-neutral certification for buildings, with the first meeting to be held in April 2016. This development is hoped to result in Australia’s first certified carbon-neutral precinct or city by the start of 2017.

The GBCA, a member of the Expert Committee, praised the expansion which recognises the industry’s leadership and achievements in delivering low-carbon buildings and the capabilities to progress to zero-carbon buildings, cities and precincts. Other members of the Committee include the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System and the CRC for Low Carbon Living.

Minister for Environment Greg Hunt MP’s announcement here.
GBCA Media Release here.

The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) has launched a report on the megatrends driving Australia’s future, leading the debate on the need for a national strategy to manage population growth. Through the lens: megatrends shaping our future is part of PIA’s Journey towards 50 million policy framework for the support and advocacy of better cities.

The report identifies nine megatrends – defined as major shifts in environmental, social and economic conditions that will substantially change the way people live. These are described in terms of their impact on Australia based on current lifestyle trends and population projections. Among the megatrends are increased urbanisation, resource dependence, climate change & disaster resilience, infrastructure, and smart settlements & new technology.

The report aims to form a basis for planners and decision makers to long-term strategies for liveable cities, by considering the challenges of a population heading towards 50 million people.

PIA media release here.

Read the full report here.

Infrastructure Australia (IA) has released the first 15 year Australian Infrastructure Plan, setting out recommendations for reform and a roadmap for addressing the challenges and opportunities of infrastructure. The plan aims to reduce household costs and deliver solutions for current gaps in transport, energy, water and telecommunications services.

The Plan outlines a clear agenda for cities, including investment to address imbalances between the inner and outer suburbs of our cities, and increasing the delivery of higher density housing that in turn provides high-quality, affordable housing with close connections to infrastructure, community public spaces and world-class amenities. The delivery of consistent long-term metropolitan planning, supported by integrated governance frameworks, is also emphasised as high priority for state and territory governments.

Green Building Council of Australia says this plan meets the need for an objective, transparent approach to decision making for planning in cities, that will remain robust against changes in government.

As part of the Plan, IA has created the ‘Priority List’ of submissions from government, peak bodies and community, to clearly set out the focus of investments that meet the strategic objectives of the Plan. The projects and initiatives submitted were evaluated based on strategic fit, deliverability and economic, social & environmental value. Urban congestion, national connectivity, and corridor preservation were identified as the categories of highest priority.

Consult Australia backs the provision of a pragmatic approach that does not ignore the ‘tough issues’ and includes many of their recommendations.

Property Council of Australia is also supportive of IA’s work in providing the informed list whilst remaining cautious of the challenges the report highlights, such as having only two high priority projects ready for delivery and crucial gaps for further work in governance proposals.

Full media release available here.

Australian Infrastructure Plan and Priority List available here.

Angus Taylor has been appointed as the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister with special responsibility for Cities and Digital Transformation.

This arrangement supersedes the previous Minister for Cities and Built Environment, and will be driven through the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Mr Taylor has highlighted affordability, amenity and congestion as issues for both regional and capital cities, stating “This must be a priority for the Federal government, as a major investor in transport infrastructure.”

For more information see the Assistant Minister’s media release.

The Australian Government has launched the Clean Air and Urban Landscape (CAUL) Hub, as part of the Department of Environment’s National Environmental Science Programme. The hub has been allocated over $8 million to address the planning gaps in Australian cities, over the next six years.

Several scientific research projects will be carried out to inform future policies that will be the foundation of healthy, productive and green cities in the near future. The hub plans to collaborate with Indigenous communities in their urban design and planning research projects, to explore new perspectives and innovative strategies.

The current projects planned for the hub include:

1. Western Air-Shed and Particulate Study for Sydney (WASPSS)
2. Benchmarking Clean Air and Urban Landscapes
3. Urban Greening for Liveability and Biodiversity
4. Improved Urban Systems for Liveability
5. The Shared Urban Habitat

Further information on the National Environmental Science Programme and CAUL Hub is available on the website.

Full media release available here.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the Government’s announcement of a $250 million program to finance the development of energy efficient homes for low income earners.

ASBEC President Ken Maher said: “Given that Australia’s housing is responsible for 13% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, this is a good first step towards improving the country’s building stock.”

Further efforts are required to ensure that we meet the great potential that the building sector holds, in improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption in Australia’s homes.

“A coherent, nationally consistent framework for rating housing sustainability is essential to ensure that any efforts to improve housing energy efficiency are properly delivered, credibly verified and clearly communicated.”

ASBEC has called for a new nationally consistent rating framework for housing sustainability, consisting of three key elements: minimum regulatory performance standards in new buildings; benchmarks for market comparison of best practice sustainability performance; and communication messages explaining the value of sustainability features to renovators and homebuyers.

“Investment in long term energy efficiency should be informed by a clear regulatory, market and communications framework to ensure that value and performance are delivered.” said Prof Maher.

Download the ASBEC media release here.

The Australian Government has released the final report on the Commercial Buildings Disclosure (CBD) Program Review.

The report findings highlight the success and relevance of the program in effecting behaviour change and improved energy performance of office buildings. The focus on commercial office buildings will remain, as the program is still the principal Commonwealth Government program for the sector.

The review also demonstrated the potential for significant reductions and educational benefits, by specifically targeting mid-tier office buildings. The GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew, supports the refinement of the program’s goals, including proposed changes that would expand their reach to empower a larger range of building owners to take up opportunities for energy and cost reductions.

Public consultation is being sought until 12 March 2016, on the following proposed changes:

1. Lowering the threshold for mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency information on buildings from 2,000m² to 1,000m² to capture smaller office buildings; and
2. Extending the certification validity period for the energy efficiency office lighting assessment, (tenancy lighting assessment TLA), from one to five years.

The full report can be read here.

More information on the program and public consultation is available on the website.

The Australia Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), has today called for a new nationally consistent rating framework for housing sustainability.

ASBEC President Ken Maher said: “Housing is responsible for 13% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Improving the sustainability of our housing stock is crucial to meeting Australia’s targets for emissions reduction.”

“At the same time, with energy costs rising, greater energy efficiency in our homes will improve the cost and quality of living for all Australians.”

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 industry is clear”, said Prof Maher. “We need governments to work with us to implement a nationally harmonised sustainability ratings framework for houses.”

Such a framework should consist of three key elements: minimum regulatory performance standards in new buildings; benchmarks for market comparison of best practice sustainability performance; and communication messages explaining the value of sustainability features to renovators and homebuyers.

The Council of Australian Governments’ National Energy Productivity Plan shows that there are huge opportunities to empower consumers if we improve way we rate and disclose the energy efficiency of our homes.

At the same time, the findings of the National Energy Efficient Buildings Project highlight that Australia is falling well short of its potential when it comes to the energy efficiency of our homes.

“We know the Turnbull government is committed to improving Australia’s built environment. The very welcome creation of Australia’s first federal ministry for Cities and the Built Environment showed that. Now it’s time to act on the building industry’s recommendations and deliver the right tools for measuring housing sustainability.” said Prof Maher.

Download the full media release here

Read ASBEC’s Policy Platform on a National Framework for Residential Ratings

Read ASBEC’s Discussion Paper on a National Framework for Residential Ratings

The Residential Efficiency Scorecard is currently under development by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (VIC).

The Scorecard is a voluntary rating tool for new and existing homes, designed to provide better understanding of energy performance for householders. Assessments will be undertaken by private providers with comprehensive performance reports and practical recommendations given to householders to improve energy efficiency and cut costs.

Feedback on the Scorecard will be sought from stakeholders prior to release.

To find out more or subscribe to updates head to the website.

The Paris Agreement paves the way for a low carbon future, and the building sector stands ready to deliver a significant part of Australia’s contribution, says the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

“The value of the Paris Agreement in must be delivered through tangible actions within a critical period.” said ASBEC’s President, Professor Ken Maher.

“Buildings account for over 23 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, and offer the most rapid and cost-effective solutions to reducing emissions.” said Prof Maher.

ASBEC, a collective of leading industry organisations committed to a sustainable built environment in Australia, seeks to promote more liveable, productive buildings, through leadership in energy efficiency, resilience and urban policy.

“There are a range of measures, within our reach right now, which could significantly advance Australia’s efforts in reducing emissions,” said Prof Maher.  “These include tax incentives for green buildings; a national white certificate scheme; higher energy performance standards in the Building Code; public funding of building retrofits; and enhanced Minimum Energy Performance standards.”

ASBEC is now working together with its members, including the Property Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects, Energy Efficiency Council, Green Building Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating, Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association, Insulation Australasia and WWF, on an emission reduction roadmap to 2050.

“With a global agreement now in place, the building sector stands ready to deliver on the ambition for a more sustainable, resilient, prosperous and equitable future.” said Prof Maher.

Download ASBEC’s media release here.

Read about the Paris Agreement here.

Download the full Paris Agreement here.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council has released the National Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP).

The NEPP  provides a framework and a 15 year economy-wide work plan of new and existing measures designed to coordinate efforts and accelerate improvement to deliver a 40 per cent improvement in Australia’s energy productivity.

The objectives of the plan are to reduce costs for household and business energy users; maintain competitiveness; grow Australia’s economy; reduce carbon emissions; and improve sustainability.

Built environment measures include:

• Improve residential building energy ratings and disclosure
• Expand commercial building ratings and disclosure
• More liveable, accessible and productive cities
• Advance the National Construction Code
• Improve compliance with building energy efficiency regulation

Click here to read the COAG Energy Council Statement on the NEPP.

Click here to read the National Energy Productivity Plan.

The Australian Government has released a National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy, identifying priority areas with consideration to the economic, social and environmental magnitude of potential climate change impacts, their likely timing and the relative importance of early action to manage the risks.

Read the strategy here.

The built environment holds enormous potential to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, says the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).     Buildings Day at COP21, on 3 December, provides a great opportunity to highlight the leadership role of the building sector in avoiding dangerous climate change.

Buildings account for over 23 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, and a third of global emissions.

“Not only can better performing commercial and residential buildings reduce electricity bills, boost productivity and offer increased wellbeing outcomes; they hold the most cost-effective solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions.” said ASBEC’s Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou.

ASBEC, a collective of leading industry organisations committed to a sustainable built environment in Australia, seeks to promote more liveable, productive buildings, through leadership in energy efficiency, resilience and urban policy.  ASBEC advocates for a range of measures including: tax incentives for green buildings; higher standards in the Building Code of Australia; a national white certificate scheme; public funding of building retrofits; and enhancing Minimum Energy Performance standards. ASBEC is now working together with members on an emission reduction roadmap to 2050.

“Every new building can either pave the way for a more energy efficient future, or lock in long term growth in emissions.” said Ms Toumbourou.

“As a world leader in sustainable real estate practices, Australia is perfectly equipped to build a low carbon future and reap the benefits of a productive, sustainable, liveable and future-proofed built environment.”

Read more about Buildings Day here.

Download ASBEC’s media release here.

Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Deputy President of ASBEC, has been honoured with a prestigious International Leadership Award at the annual Greenbuild Conference in Washington D.C.

Now in its 13th year, the award recognises outstanding individuals and organisations that embody vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green buildings and communities.

Presenting the award, Chief Executive Officer and Founding Chairman of the USGBC Rick Fedrizzi paid tribute to Ms Madew’s ‘open mind, innovative spirit and infectious passion for sustainable development‘.

We are incredibly proud of Romilly’s achievements and congratulate her for joining the ranks of World Greats in sustainability leadership.

Read full media release.

The Australian Government’s Department of Industry Innovation and Science commissioned the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to undertake the Mid-tier commercial office buildings in Australia project, with support from Sustainability Victoria, City of Melbourne and EY.

A project takes a snapshot of the nation’s mid-tier office building sector, outlines key stakeholders, and identifies barriers and the opportunities to improve energy efficiency of up to 80,000 buildings around Australia.

Click here to read the GBCA media release.

Click here to read the full report.

Australia’s peak infrastructure body Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) – the peak body for water utilities – has presented a major report to the Commonwealth Government calling for fundamental change to urban water.
Mr Adam Lovell, WSAA’s Executive Director said, ‘Urban water needs to be better integrated in city planning including coordinated integration of stormwater to meet community expectations of our highly valued liveable cities and communities.‘

Click here to read full media release.

The Low Carbon Transport Technical Working Group has released the world’s first Low Carbon Transport Standard for climate bonds.

The proposed standard will only certify investments in transport infrastructure that are compatible with a 2°C warming outcome.

The basic requirement for a project to be certified under the Low Carbon Transport Climate Bonds Standard is that it meets the per passenger-km or the per tonne-km GHG emission thresholds. Projects likely to be eligible include:

• freight and passenger rail; infrastructure, infrastructure upgrades and rolling stock (exception: freight corridors built primarily to transport fossil fuels);
• electric, hydrogen or hybrid vehicle projects;
• cycling and bicycle infrastructure;
• high quality Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems;
• technologies that allow new low carbon behaviour e.g. car clubs or bike sharing;
• integrated multi-modal transport systems and networks.

The standard has opened a 60-day period of public consultation, investor and industry comment.

See full article here.

The City of Melbourne has committed not to invest in fossil fuels, making it the 10th and largest Australian City Council to join the global fossil free movement. The motion, which was put up by Councillor Arron Wood was passed with unanimous support.

It commits Council to:

• not investing in fossil fuel or fossil fuel aligned companies;
• call upon their default superannuation fund – Vision Super – to create a fossil fuel free investment option for its members;
• consider fossil fuel exposure when deciding which banks to award Council’s transactional banking contract when services are next tendered.

Announcing Council’s commitment, Councillor Wood said, ‘To transition to a clean energy future is not only good for the environment, it is a very smart long-term business decision.’

The Notice of Motion can be found here.

Following the decision by AIRAH’s CEO Phil Wilkinson, F.AIRAH, to step aside from the organisation’s leadership position, the AIRAH board has begun the search for a new chief executive officer.

Having provided great stewardship at the helm of the AIRAH over the past five years, Phil Wilkinson has decided to continue in the organisation, in a business-critical role across policy, strategy, stakeholder engagement and government relations.

Phil will continue as acting CEO until a replacement can be found.

Read AIRAH’s media release here.

Australia’s Capital City Lord Mayors are accelerating their push for a closer working relationship with the Commonwealth. They have travelled to Canberra to speak to federal representatives, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the new Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, Jamie Briggs about how the Australian Government and cities can work together to benefit the nation.

Current Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) Chair, Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese recognised the priority that both the government and opposition have placed on cities as major drivers of the Australian economy.

A new website – Cities Matter, makes the case for investment in city economies, infrastructure and climate change resilience.

Read full media release here.

Visit Cities Matter here.

The Urban Design Protocol: Creating Places for People is a landmark resource for better urban design in Australia.

The Protocol was created through a collaborative process led by the Australian Government, involving industry, community and all three spheres of government.

The Protocol provides twelve broadly agreed principles including characteristics of a location, people’s experience and well-being; and encourages excellence and collaboration in the design and custodianship of urban places. Custodianship of the Protocol has been transferred from the Department of Infrastructure to ASBEC and the site has now been re-launched with updated and refreshed content.

Nearly 50 organisations have pledged to be Champions of the urban design protocol. The collaborative actions will make a significant difference to the quality of our towns and cities. We encourage all organisations to join as Champions towards best practice urban design.

Visit the Urban Design Protocol website.

The NSW Government has announced three key changes to the Energy Savings Scheme (ESS), promising to save households and businesses up to $8.2 billion on their energy bills during the life of the scheme.

Changes include:

• The energy savings target will be increase from 5 per cent to 7 per cent in 2016 and progressively to 8.5 per cent by 2019. This is a 70 per cent increase in the target.
• It will be expanded to provide incentives for households and businesses to save gas.
• It will be extended to 2025.

The Energy Efficiency Council has commended the changes, noting that they “will lower bills for homes and businesses while creating more jobs in energy efficiency’.

Read NSW Government media release here.

Read the media coverage by EEC here.

The Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, Hon Jamie Briggs MP, has outlined a vision for addressing the increasing challenges facing Australia’s major urban centres, through three key policy pillars:

Long term integrated planning for more sustainable cities. 

A review of the effect of property taxes on Australia’s housing supply and demand will be undertaken by Treasury. There will also be consideration of the expansion of the current powers within the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to undertake strategic assessments in improving planning systems.

Infrastructure planning and funding for better functioning cities.

The Commonwealth Government will explore new ways to use alternative sources of funding to deliver more infrastructure projects, and encourage greater involvement in greenfield projects from the private sector.

Greening our cities for a more livable environment.

The Minister for the Environment and Minister for Cities and the Built Environment intend to work closely together on pursuing innovation in powering cities, working with the full resources of government to make our cities as efficient as possible.

Full speech is available here.

The Federal Opposition have promised to transform the way infrastructure is funded in Australia. If elected, they have undertaken to elevate Infrastructure Australia to an active participant in the infrastructure market, mobilising private sector finance, Australia’s superannuation industry and international investors to bring a national pipeline of investment online.

Consult Australia commends the vision and recognition in the announcement of the critical role of infrastructure as an economic lever to drive productivity and jobs growth.

The Property Council of Australia have also welcomed the plan, noting that such a move would depoliticise infrastructure project priorities and boost certainty around project delivery.

A conservative analysis, prepared by Infrastructure Partners Australia, assumes a $10 billion infrastructure investment will directly create approximately 26,000 jobs and add around an extra $7.5 billion every year to our GDP.

Read the ALP media release here.

Read the Consult Australia media release here.

Read the Property Council of Australia media release here.

The Energy Ministers from the G20 countries and heads of international organisations have met for the first time, in Turkey, affirming their commitment to renewable energy.

Ministers welcomed the report on the voluntary implementation of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan prepared by the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), as endorsed at the G20 Leaders’ Summit last year in Brisbane.

IPEEC Executive Director, Benoit Lebot stated, ‘Energy efficiency has finally secured the level of recognition it deserves, and is here to stay as a central piece of the G20. Energy efficiency is crucial to G20 countries, and G20 countries are critical to energy efficiency.’

The meeting focused on access to sustainable energy for all, energy efficiency, investments in energy and renewable energy. Ministers also placed high importance on energy access, international cooperation, market transparency, energy security, clean energy innovation and climate change.

Read the IPEEC media release.

Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) experience in moving from fossil fuel reliance to the goal of meeting 90 per cent of its electricity supply needs using renewable energy. The ACT’s Chief Minister has recently announced that the government is now looking at ways to increase the 90% renewable target to 100% by 2025.

In 2010 the ACT acknowledged that the best way to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As most of the ACT’s emissions come from home and office electricity use the government announced an ambitious target to source 90% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

A generous solar feed in tariff scheme for home solar quickly got the community involved. Aided by dropping solar costs, a steady stream of Canberrans have continued to install  solar, long after the subsidies were removed but it was clear from the start the heavy lifting would need to come from larger scale solar and wind power generation.

Solar and wind auctions followed with companies invited to bid to provide renewable energy for the ACT for the lowest reasonable cost.The results so far have been outstanding.

The ACT’s 20 megawatt Royalla solar farm has just celebrated its first year of operation with two others in the pipeline. A 200 megawatt wind auction secured the lowest recorded renewable energy prices in Australia and a second wind auction is now underway.

The government modelling puts the cost to households for these initiatives at about $4.50 per week offset by equivalent energy savings from an energy efficiency improvement scheme requiring energy retailers to supply energy saving devices like LED down lights and power controllers. Furthermore, the territory is benefiting from investment in local jobs, training, research and business development as part of the deal in procuring renewable energy.

Since 2011, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has called for a nationally coordinated approach to cities.  The Prime Minister’s announcement of a Minister for Cities and Built Environment is a welcome move that recognises the Federal Government’s role in and good urban policy and thriving cities.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s shift in policy on cities and urban communities.  The Prime Minister has resoundingly articulated the value of cities and their vital contribution to Australia’s productivity and prosperity.” said Ken Maher, ASBEC President.

“The appointment of a Minister for Cities and Built Environment recognises the importance of integrating city policy planning and transport, and the significance of affordable housing.”

“ASBEC members and many built environment professionals have advocated for a Minister for Cities for some time.  A long term focus on the “best outcomes in our cities” is so critical to ensuring that Australia continues to be a wonderful place to live and work.”

Read the full media release here.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) congratulates the Prime Minister on his appointment of Hon Jamie Briggs MP as Minister for Cities and Built Environment.

Our cities and urban communities represent the economic drivers of the nation: providing homes for millions, delivering and exporting our goods and services, creating jobs, providing centres of cultural and social exchange and a door to the rest of the world.

“Australia’s cities are engines of growth. Leadership and coordination at a Federal level is vital to delivering greater productivity, prosperity and a better standard of living” said Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC Executive Director.

“ASBEC and its members have long called for a Minister for Cities.  We very much look forward to working closely with Minister Briggs to leverage the strengths of industry and every sphere of government in helping to deliver more productive, liveable and sustainable cities.”

Download media release here.

Read ASBEC’s Investing in Cities here.

In August, we said goodbye to Michael Manikas, who departed from his role as CEO of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, and thus concluded his role as ASBEC’s Treasurer.

Michael was terrifically attentive and supportive in his role as Treasurer, providing great stewardship of our finances. We thank Michael for his contribution and hope for his success in all his future!

ASBEC’s Treasurer is one of the three Office Bearers for the organisation, and forms part of the Executive Committee.

We are now very happy to welcome Megan Motto in this role. Megan is the CEO of Consult Australia and has previously served as ASBEC’s Deputy President.

Megan is a leading speaker in Australia and internationally on leadership, sustainability, workplace diversity and infrastructure financing and governance reform. She was named as one of the 2014 AFR/Westpac 100 Australian Women of Influence.

The International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), in partnership with the Global Building Performance Network (GBPN) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), launched the Building Energy Codes Portal to facilitate more efficient international exchange of practices and experiences in the implementation of building energy codes.

Effective implementation of energy codes ensures that buildings are built to code-required design, leading to the deployment of technologies and construction practices needed to realise the energy savings potential in the building sector. Capturing energy savings – roughly 53 exajoules per year by 2050, would deliver a range of benefits: lower electricity and fuel costs for businesses and households; greater reliability in meeting energy demand without costly disruptions; and reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants that pose a threat to human health.

The new web portal provides information and comparison of building energy code implementation practices in 22 countries across a range of topics. The site also features a newly-established network of experts to help link code practitioners and policymakers with code implementation resources and other professionals with relevant expertise.

Click here to read more about Building Energy Codes Portal.

Australia and New Zealand continue to lead the world in sustainable real estate practices, according to the latest GRESB report.

GRESB, the global real estate sustainability benchmark, assessed 707 property companies and private equity real estate funds globally, representing 61,000 assets and USD $2.3 trillion in asset value.

The Australia and New Zealand GRESB score of 69 was significantly higher than the global average of 56, a result welcomed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Property Council of Australia.

According to GRESB, 93 per cent of our region’s companies and funds disclose their sustainability performance annually, compared with 85 per cent globally. Across Australia and New Zealand, more than half (54%) of the companies and funds obtained green building certificates like Green Star and 87 per cent have an energy rating, compared with 71 per cent globally.

Ninety one per cent of participants have introduced best practice leases that include sustainability-specific clauses, compared with 60 per cent globally.

Read the full GRESB report here.
Read the media release from the GBCA here.
Read the media release from the PCA here.

The Victorian Government has confirmed its commitment to a sustainable economy by announcing ambitious energy efficiency targets for the next five years. These targets, which form part of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Scheme, incentivise further investment in new energy technology and clean energy jobs. They also deliver cuts to household energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 million tones.

The Government extended the next phase of the scheme from 3 years to 5 years, providing more certainty to industry. The government also ramped up the target by 20 per cent over 5 years, from 5.4 million certificates in 2016 to 6.5 million certificates in 2020.

The VEET announcement was made at Victoria’s first Energy Efficiency and Productivity Summit, which brought together more than 200 manufacturers, energy efficiency businesses, the building and property sectors, local governments, energy retailers, environmental groups and energy consumers.

Resolutions from the Summit will help inform the Government’s development of its Energy Efficiency and Productivity Strategy. The Strategy, which is due for release later this year, will establish a tangible work program aimed at improving energy affordability, creating jobs and delivering a sustainable economy.

The Energy Efficiency Council welcomed the expansion of the VEET, noting that “the scheme will create jobs in Victoria and help homes and businesses save energy. The scheme makes it cheaper for homes to cut drafts and install efficient lights, heating systems and appliances.”

Read more about the VEET and Energy Efficiency and Productivity Summit here.

Read the Energy Efficiency Council media release here.

The Sydney Opera House was today awarded a 4 Star Green Star – Performance rating by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), putting the national icon among a select few World Heritage buildings that have achieved green certification globally.

The announcement was made jointly by NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant, Sydney Opera House Building Director Greg McTaggart, and GBCA Chief Executive Officer Romilly Madew on stage in the Concert Hall – a key venue in the Opera House’s sustainability strategy.

The 4 Star Green Star rating, awarded for ‘best practice’ in the industry, is an extraordinary achievement for a heritage building. It will also be critical to the Opera House’s Decade of Renewal, a sequenced program of works to update the world-renowned performing arts centre for 21st century audiences, artists and visitors.

From the installation of new energy-efficient technologies in key performance venues to the use of eco-friendly cleaning products and a robust Reconciliation Action Plan, a wide range of both environmental and social sustainability initiatives across three core areas have contributed to the Opera House’s 4 Star rating.

1. Building management, encompassing energy efficiency, sustainable heritage design, green cleaning and indoor environmental quality.

2. Environmental management, incorporating building user engagement, operational waste management, monitoring & reporting and sustainable transport.

3. Social sustainability, including the development of its Reconciliation Action Plan and the launch of its Access Strategic Plan.

For further information about the Opera House’s track record, current commitments and future plans in sustainability, you can view its 2014 – 2016 Environmental Sustainability Plan online here.

Read the full media release here.

Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target has been announced, in preparation for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) next meeting in Paris, and part of the Government’s plan to combat climate change.

Australia will commit to a 26-28 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2030.

The 2030 target will constitute a reduction of 50 per cent per head of population between 2005 and 2030, and a reduction of 64 per cent of emissions per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In 2005 Australia’s greenhouse emissions were at 612 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (MtCO2-e). Australia’s 2020 target is a reduction to 533 million MtCO2-e. The Government’s 2030 target is 441-453 million MtCO2-e. The 2030 emission reduction target will require a yearly reduction of 0.9 per cent between 2010 and 2020 and a subsequent 1.6-1.9 per cent reduction every year between 2020 and 2030. In 2012-2013, Australia’s emissions were estimated to be 549 MtCO2-e.

In order to achieve the reduction target the Government has adopted a series of policies, part of its Direct Action plan. These include the Emissions Reduction Fund and its Safeguard Mechanism, the Renewable Energy Target scheme, application of Minimum Energy Performance Standards for new appliances and buildings and the 20 Million Trees programme.

The Government also announced it would consult with the public on various policy proposals. These include:

• Developing a National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy;
• Prioritising a National Energy Productivity Plan, developed by the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Energy Ministers to increase energy productivity in Australia;
• Reviewing Australia’s emissions reduction policies between 2017 and 2018, including consultation with businesses and the community;
• Phasing down hydrofluorocarbons levels in household appliances; and
• Developing a strategy to improve the utilisation of solar power.

The Green Building Council of Australia has welcomed the Government’s commitment to address climate change but notes that more ambitious targets are required to meet Australia’s obligations and seize the opportunities of a low-carbon economy.

The Climate Change Authority recommends a 2025 target of 30 per cent below 2000 levels, with a further 40-60 per cent reduction by 2030. These recommendations align with those announced by other developed nations.

Analysis by ClimateWorks Australia has demonstrated that the energy intensity of buildings can be halved by 2050, and that Australia can achieve net zero emissions, by using technologies and processes that exist today.

Read the Australian Government statement here.

Read the GBCA media release here.

The 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development outlines the Sustainable Development Goals to be adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York in September.  These goals are a product of a two-year UN process, involving stakeholder consultation and government negotiations.

The Goals include the following:

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

 Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

 Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The processes for monitoring, reporting and compliance are yet to be determined; likely to take shape over the next year.

Click here to read Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council has agreed to common objectives in improving Australia’s energy productivity:

• to reduce costs for household and business energy users
• maintain our competitiveness
• grow Australia’s economy
• reduce carbon emissions, and
• improve our sustainability.

Noting that energy productivity measures can also drive a range of wider economic benefits, such as labour and capital productivity improvements to businesses and jobs in new services, the Council agreed in December 2014 to develop a new collaborative policy framework for energy productivity to ensure energy consumers can effectively manage and reduce their energy bills and are maximising the value of their energy to support a growing, competitive and sustainable economy.

The Commonwealth Government also announced in its April 2015 Energy White Paper a commitment to lead the development of a National Energy Productivity Plan (the NEPP).

In addition to collaborative measures, the NEPP may be broader, recognising opportunities in wider sectors, such as vehicles, and the roles played by the Commonwealth, all levels of government, industry and wider stakeholders.

Acknowledging the likely complementary nature of these two commitments and the benefit of a comprehensive national approach, the Council has agreed to work together with the Commonwealth to support the development of the NEPP as a coordinated national plan.

The Energy Efficiency Council’s CEO, Luke Menzel, welcomed this step as “a sensible step forward” and noting that the hard work of driving a step change in energy productivity is still ahead of us. ‘

Read the full COAG Energy Council Statement here.

Read the Energy Efficiency Council media release here.

The Queensland Government’s Better Planning proposals are an important first step to delivering better strategic planning and development outcomes, critical to securing the future productivity and liveability of communities across the State.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes a move by Queensland to implement a more effective strategic planning system, backed by a $59.4 million investment in the process.

“The Better Planning for Queensland reform proposal paves the way for more outcome-focussed, integrated strategic planning, supported by a stronger social licence for proposed urban renewal and infrastructure developments, supported by greater consistency in administration” said Jonathan Cartledge, Chair of ASBEC’s Cities Task Group.

“We encourage ongoing engagement with industry to ensure the Government’s vision is realised as reform is delivered.

“Ultimately the test for these reforms will lie in the implementation of a more ambitious infrastructure pipeline. Additional infrastructure funding will be critical in the longer-term to realise the benefits of better planning and greater productivity for Queensland.

“We look forward to working with the Government to explore new financing opportunities to support investment across the State for the benefit of all Queenslanders.”

Read the ASBEC media release here.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council today called for new investment in our cities recommending renewed action by all governments to increase the productivity, prosperity and liveability of Australia’s cities.

“With the release yesterday of the Australian Government’s long-awaited State of Australian Cities Report, the importance of investing in our cities has never been clearer“, said ASBEC President Ken Maher.

“Australia is one of the world’s most urbanised countries.  With our cities growing so quickly, we need governments to deliver policies that maximise their value and protect the ‘liveability’ we are world-famous for. With this report ASBEC has delivered clear next steps for all spheres of government” said Ken.

“Poor urban policy and design causes more than just traffic jams and air pollution. We already know Australia is sitting on a $53 billion per year cost of congestion time bomb; imagine what that means for the quality of life of the average commuter, let alone lost productivity. The greatest value can be achieved from infrastructure investment if it is integrated with the planning and design of our cities.”

ASBEC calls on the Federal Government to provide national leadership and coordination through a Minister for Cities, supporting urban infrastructure investment with state and territory governments delivering projects, planning, and measuring success through clear indicators. Local Government retains their critical link to meet the needs of their communities and deliver best practice design and sustainable local urban environments. A partnership with industry across government will support this policy, providing the expertise to identify best practice and implement it on the ground.

“For example, The Urban Design Protocol, Creating Places for People, identifies factors key to good urban design, including engaging and connecting people with each other, and increasing liveability through the design of vibrant spaces that feel safe and are easy to get around. We need to see this protocol adopted across all spheres of government in Australia.” said Ken.

Jonathan Cartledge, Chair of ASBEC’s Cities Task Group said “With a record infrastructure spend it is inconceivable that we would not have a national focus on how to maximise the value of this investment for the cities in which we live work and play. This policy framework presents an opportunity for policy-makers to achieve multiple objectives across a wide range of portfolios whether in health, the environment, business or transport policy.”

“Governments and the private sector need to work together collaboratively to deliver a 30 year Infrastructure Plan for Australia, providing a blueprint for our cities as they grow.  Consistent indicators are also needed to demonstrate the performance of our cities across the country, incentivise best practice and support long-term evidence-based policy development.”

“With so many Australians living in our cities, and so much of our health, economy and communities dependent on them, we need to act now.” said Jonathan.

Read ASBEC’s Investing in Cities: Prioritising a Cities and Urban Policy Framework for productivity, prosperity and a better standard of living.

Read the full ASBEC Media Release.

Over 30 professional bodies from around the world, including the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors, met last week at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C. to launch a major initiative which seeks to create international standards in construction measurement.

The International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) Coalition was established by non-profit organisations representing professionals in more than 140 countries. Collectively, the group aims to create overarching international standards that will harmonise cost, classification and measurement definitions in order to enhance comparability, consistency, statistics, and benchmarking of capital projects.

In an industry estimated to be worth a staggering $15 trillion by 2025 according to Global Construction Perspectives, inconsistency in something as fundamental as construction measurement and reporting can create huge uncertainty, misunderstanding, and risk.

The ICMS Coalition will continue to grow as further professional organisations come forward to join the effort to align high-level principles. By mid July 2015, the coalition will be formally launched. Industry corporations, contractors, and
key government stakeholders will also be encouraged to contribute to and lead adoption of the new international framework in their capital markets.

More information is available here.

The Carbon War Room released a study finding a link between the sustainability of buildings and the stock market performance of real estate investment trusts (REITs).

The study, commissioned by Carbon War Room to the University of Cambridge, is titled The Financial Rewards of Sustainability: A Global Performance Study of Real the Estate Investment Trusts.

REITs own and frequently operate income-producing real estate – and represent an increasing focus of energy-efficiency and renewable energy stakeholders. Modeled after mutual funds, REITs allow anyone to invest in portfolios of large-scale properties and typically offer high yields, providing investors with regular income streams, diversification, and long-term capital appreciation.

For the purpose of this study, the University of Cambridge used a dataset provided by GRESB. The data comes from the GRESB Survey of more than 442 detailed sustainability ratings for global REITs, from the period 2011–2014. The 2014 GRESB Survey covered 56,000 buildings with an aggregate value of USD $2.1 trillion.

Read the study here.

According to a new report from integrated infrastructure firm AECOM and Consult Australia, billions of tax payer dollars are being put at risk by Commonwealth and State Governments who are failing to adopt more innovative funding models for transport infrastructure projects.

The indirect beneficiaries of projects in Australia, such as property owners located close to new train stations, receive a substantial unearned and untaxed financial windfall which are effectively subsidised by the public.

According to the report’s author and AECOM technical director, Joe Langley, a significant proportion of this could be captured to repay the loans or infrastructure bonds that are used to fund the project.

The AECOM and Consult Australia Value Capture Road Map identifies billions of dollars that could be lost if Australia continues to ignore the additional indirect value created as a result of publicly funded infrastructure.

In New South Wales there is over $60 billion worth of committed projects which the Government plans to fund from the leasing of public assets.

Read the full media release here.

Download the executive summary of the report here.

Melbourne is participating in the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) challenge.  This initiative is dedicated to helping cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges of the 21st century.

Since November, Melbourne’s Chief Resilience Officer has been working with leaders from 31 metropolitan Melbourne councils and representatives from emergency management, infrastructure, community services, health and academic sectors to help address the shared challenge of what we can do to protect and improve the way of life for Melbourne communities now and for the future.

The first Preliminary Resilience Assessment, outlines nine acute shocks and 11 stresses that could weaken the fabric of the city in the future.  Many of these challenges are already on our radar including water scarcity and affordable housing. This assessment will be used to inform the development of Melbourne’s first Resilience Strategy.

Read the full report here.

A report released by ASBEC calls for a clear pathway to sustainable and productive infrastructure. The report compiles the views of 35 key representatives of the building sector, government and academia.

“Australia needs sustainable and productive infrastructure – but our current infrastructure planning processes suffer from short term thinking, politicisation, and funding constraints. The solution is a truly visionary, 30 year plan that can spot the gaps and priorities across the nation.” said ASBEC President Ken Maher.

“We know infrastructure is vitally important to Australia’s economy. Right now, governments need to work collaboratively with the private-sector to release new funds for infrastructure investment based on independent, transparent advice supported by broad cost-benefit analysis.”

“This investment is needed to ensure business investment can support our growing population and the changing realities of a society where household energy consumption and car use is declining, while extreme weather events become more common through the impact of Climate Change.”

“But there are major challenges we must overcome. Politicians find it hard to look beyond the 3 or 4 year election timetable, whilst taking too long to make critical infrastructure decisions, with scoping projects and tender processes stretching the timetable out to years. We need to take the long view. Infrastructure Australia plans to release a 15 year plan, but we believe a 30 year plan would better.”

ASBEC has identified that the pathway to the productive, sustainable infrastructure Australia needs should include:

• A 30 Year Infrastructure Plan developed by Infrastructure Australia with 5 year review cycles, augmented by a National Spatial Masterplan.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Engagement informing the design and delivery of the Infrastructure Plan, founded in collaboration between community, industry and government.
• Five Pathways guiding the implementation of the plan: Engagement, Planning, Decision, Funding and Execution.

Read the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council: Pathway to Productive and Sustainable Infrastructure Workshop Report

Download the full ASBEC media release.

The Australia Award for Urban Design is the premier award for excellence and innovation in all elements of urban design in Australia. The winning project, partners and stakeholders are held in high esteem within the industry, among peers, and they are widely recognised in the media.

The Award intent and scope is broad and invites entries for design initiatives, projects, built developments, and publications, that will make a significant difference to the places, spaces, buildings and infrastructure of our cities

Entries close at 4pm on Thursday 30 July. A one-day urban design forum that will coincide with the AAUD presentation will be held in Melbourne in mid-September.

The Australia Award for Urban Design is hosted by the Planning institute Australia, with support from the Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Green Building Council of Australia, Consult Australia, the Australian Urban Design Forum, Engineers Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council.

Download the 2015 Nomination Kit here.

NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman has called for nominations for the 16th Green Globe Awards, celebrating outstanding environmental achievements across NSW.

“The Green Globe Awards are NSW’s biggest and most important sustainability awards, with 17 award categories covering a range of resource, business, community and individual sustainability initiatives,” Mr Speakman said.
“This year we’ve added a new Residential Sustainability Award to showcase property owners, architects and builders who are creating comfortable homes that work with their environment.”

The Awards will be presented at a gala night hosted by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in early October.

Nominations are open until Monday 13 July 2015.

To enter your project or program, go to environment.nsw.gov.au/greenglobes.

The Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), Australia’s peak body for energy efficiency, cogeneration and demand management, has appointed Luke Menzel as CEO.

Luke was Acting CEO of the EEC in 2014, and has played a central role at the EEC since he joined in 2012 as the Manager, Sector Development.

The former CEO, Rob Murray-Leach, taken on a new role, focussing on policy as the new Executive, Policy and Advocacy.

Rob Murray-Leach was the founding CEO of the EEC from 2009 to 2015. During his leadership the Council developed rapidly, and drove major gains for the sector, including tripling annual investment in energy efficiency in government operations.

Read more here.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has announced a formal partnership with GRESB, the leading global standard for portfolio-level sustainability assessment in real estate.

GRESB assesses environmental, social, and governance (ESG) attributes and performance of property funds around the world. In 2014, GRESB covered 637 funds representing AUD2.7 trillion in property value. The GRESB benchmark addresses issues including corporate sustainability strategy, policies and objectives, environmental performance monitoring, and the use of high-quality voluntary rating tools such as NABERS.

NABERS is the most widely used building rating tool in Australia, with over 2,000 accredited ratings every year, including ratings for offices, hotels, shopping centres and data centres. The program has also been licensed in New Zealand. The 2014 GRESB Survey results confirmed that Australia and New Zealand lead the world in overall sustainability performance.

For information on GRESB, and how to participate in the 2015 Survey, please go to www.gresb.com.

For further information on NABERS, please contact Frank Roberson at francis.roberson@environment.nsw.gov.au.

The Climate Bonds Standard for Low Carbon Green Buildings has been launched and Australian buildings are in an unmatched position to lead the world in attracting low-carbon investment.  The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is pleased to announce that a NABERS Energy rating report is immediately suitable as acceptable data for reporting under the Climate Bonds Standard.

The Climate Bonds Standard is a Fair Trade-like labelling scheme for bonds, designed to make it easier for investors to work out what sorts of investments genuinely contribute to addressing climate change.

This means that Australian commercial property owners now have the opportunity to leverage the low carbon credentials of their buildings to attract new and competitive sources of funds from large scale institutional investors seeking low carbon investment options.

To qualify for a Climate Bonds certification for Low Carbon Green Buildings, proceeds must be dedicated to buildings that are able to demonstrate very low carbon emissions in operation for the life of the bond. Specifically, these buildings must be in the best 15% of buildings in a local market when it comes to carbon intensity (kgCO2/m2). This carbon intensity is published on each NABERS Energy rating report as a supplementary indicator to the NABERS Energy rating.

The demand for environmentally responsible investment has been growing in both Australia and overseas and fuelled the rapid growth the green bonds market, which trebled in size in 2014. The first Climate Bond issued by NAB (AUD $300m) in 2014 doubled in size due to strong investor demand. More broadly, at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014 investors representing USD$43 trillion of assets under management made public commitments to climate related investment.

More detail on the new Climate Bonds Standard for Low Carbon Green Buildings is available here.

At the 4th Nobel Laureates Symposium on Global Sustainability, Nobel Laureates signed a memorandum calling upon cities to tackle the dual challenge of population growth and climate change and seize the opportunity to lead the transition to sustainability.

The distinguished scientists noted that cities around the globe need to re-invent themselves if they want to be a safe home for generations to come, and that national and internationally agreed greenhouse-gas reduction targets need to guide and support local action.

Read the full memorandum here.

Read the media release from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research here.

Rocky Mountain Institute offers a practice guide for calculating and presenting the true value of a highly efficient and sustainable building.

Energy efficiency projects in the United States and around the world are attractive investments, but receive far less attention and capital than they deserve. This is in part due to a narrow definition of their value that typically focuses on saved energy costs. Investors often ignore additional value—a robust land of untapped opportunity that sits just beneath the surface of the saved-energy-cost tip of the value iceberg—to their own financial detriment. Including all value created by highly efficient buildings when investing will enable more low-energy buildings and retrofits—particularly deep retrofits.

Deep retrofit value is the net present value of all of the benefits of a deep energy and sustainability investment. The Deep Retrofit Value Guide documents the compelling logic of how deep energy efficiency and sustainability retrofits create value and introduces RMI’s Deep Retrofit Value models, providing the foundational methodology necessary to calculate and present value to retrofit decision makers.

The Deep Retrofit Value guide is the latest instalment of resources RMI provides for driving the greater adoption of deep energy retrofits. The Retrofit Depot Guides to Managing and Identifying Opportunities for Deep Retrofits are available to plan and implement your deep retrofit. Also available are the RMI-partner Green Building Finance Consortium which houses Value Beyond Cost Savings: How to Underwrite Sustainable Properties and an extensive Research Library where you can find any study relevant to building the investment case for efficient and sustainable buildings. Visit the Retrofit Community page to view a list of other organisations that provide valuable resources for deep retrofits.

DOWNLOAD the Executive Summary
DOWNLOAD the Full Report

On 21 April, the US House of Representatives gave final approval to a bill focussed on improving energy efficiency in buildings and water heaters.

The bill is intended to create incentives for federal mortgage writers to incorporate energy-efficient heating and cooling systems into the value of a home, establish training programs in energy-efficiency construction, create programs to increase the energy efficiency of manufacturing supply chains, and direct the Energy Department to work with manufacturers on energy-efficient technology.

Read the full details on the Congress website.

Read an article outlining the bill in the New York Times.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has forged a new partnership with the Australian Supply Chain Sustainability School to fast-track the industry’s green skills.

The Australian Supply Chain Sustainability School, launched in March, is an online learning forum designed to help the construction sector build critical mass and expand its sustainability knowledge and skills base.

This national initiative, based on the successful Supply Chain School currently operating in the UK, is being supported by a number of industry leaders and funded by the state governments of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Read more here.

On 22 April 2015, Sustainability Victoria (SV) will release a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from parties to own, maintain and distribute the FirstRate5 House Energy Rating Software.

Interested parties will be encouraged to provide submissions which will be evaluated by an independent panel. SV will seek to ensure that the new owner is willing to maintain and improve Firstrate5 while continuing to provide ongoing support to users.

Successful respondents will subsequently be invited to engage in a closed Request for Tender (RFT) process.

The public Call for Expressions of Interest will be available online at www.tenders.vic.gov.au for a period of five weeks, from 22 April and closing on 27 May 2015.

Read more here.

CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology have released an online tool to assist in understanding and applying climate change projections for impact assessment and adaptation planning.

Climate Change in Australia is designed to show projections from up to 40 climate models for different regions, years and emissions scenarios, providing unprecedented access to climate change projection data.

Explore the Climate Change in Australia tool.

Read an article in The Conversation about the tool.

The Australian Government has released the Energy White Paper, aimed at providing certainty and confidence in energy policy.

The White Paper sets out a policy framework that aims to deliver competitively priced and reliable energy supply to households, business and international markets.  The main themes are:

•  Increasing competition to keep prices down:
  • Implementing energy market reforms in collaboration with the States and Territories
  • Rolling out cost-reflective tariffs to reduce cross-subsidies between consumers
  • Encouraging further privatisation of state-owned electricity assets
  • Conducting an assessment of competition in the national wholesale gas market
• Increasing energy productivity to promote growth
  • Aiming to improve national energy productivity by up to 40 per cent by 2013
  • Developing a National Energy Productivity Plan
• Investing in Australia’s energy future
  • Streamlining the approval and regulation of energy resources projects
  • Attracting foreign investment into Australia’s energy sector
  • Improving workforce productivity and enhancing the quality of skills and training
  • Increasing research into innovative technology that supports the energy and resources
    sector

The Energy Efficiency Council has welcomed the Government’s decision to make Energy Productivity one of its top three energy priorities, highlighting key areas that should be addressed to unlock energy productivity:

• Take urgent action on tariff reform.
• Save over $1 billion of taxpayers’ dollars over two decades by improving the energy efficiency of government agencies.
• Retain and strengthen the Commercial Building Disclosure program, which helps prospective buyers and tenants find efficient buildings.
• Establish programs to help industry save energy.
• Carry out long-overdue reforms to Australia’s energy markets to reduce the supply-side bias that have resulted in excess generation capacity and gold-plating of the grid.

Read the Energy White Paper.

See media release from the Energy Efficiency Council.

A new partnership between the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the US-based Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) will showcase Australia’s flourishing green building capabilities to global investors and decision-makers.

GBIG is an online platform featuring data and case studies on green building projects, portfolios, people and places around the world.

GBIG currently includes 1.3 million activities representing more than 200 types of certifications, awards, case studies and disclosures in over 5,000 geographic locations.  Professionals can use this information to understand markets and drive projects toward higher levels of achievement and performance.  GBIG complements the GBCA’s Green Star project directory.

Read more about this partnership.

The Bus Industry Confederation has released a policy paper entitled Moving People, Connecting Neighborhoods: The 20 Minute City.

A ‘20 minute city’ is one in which most people are able to undertake most activities needed for a good life within a 20 minute walk, cycle or public transport trip from where they live. Transport is a very important lever for taking action to achieve a metropolitan area that consists of a series of smaller 20 minute cities, each of which might comprise one or more neighbourhoods. The paper focuses mainly on the roles of density, supportive public transport requirements and walking in achievement of the 20 minute city.

This paper puts forward that a neighbourhood structure embedded in a 20 minute city, with good local and regional transport choices, is likely to promote many positive outcomes in terms of personal and societal wellbeing, enhance liveability (which is already a strong international brand for our cities), as well as being cost effective to service and supportive of increased economic productivity. Flow on effects will include lower traffic congestion levels, improved health outcomes, lower accident costs, reduced emissions (greenhouse gases and air pollutants) and greater social inclusion.

Read Moving People, Connecting Neighborhoods: The 20 Minute City.

See more policy papers on Moving People.

The positive effects of high performance buildings on people’s health, wellbeing and productivity needs much greater public promotion, leading building industry partners of the CRC for Low Carbon Living’s Closing the Loop Project  concluded following workshops held in conjunction with the Green Cities 2015 conference.

Internationally renowned green design architect and researcher Professor Vivian Loftness of Carnegie Mellon University, who spoke at the conference and took part in the workshops, outlined the power of implementing the triple bottom line plus the financial, environmental and human benefits of good design choices.

Brett Pollard, Head of Knowledge and Sustainability at HASSELL said that there was plentiful research and evidence from academic experts such as Professor Vivian Loftness, however the message about the benefits was still not getting through to people who are procuring buildings.  “Ultimately if you construct a building that does not take advantage of the evidence, organisations and businesses are missing out on the opportunity to create workplaces that are healthier and more effective,” he said.

Lauren Haas, Australasia Sustainability Manager for Brookfield Multiplex added: “For business, a low performance building can mean disengaged employees with low performance, higher levels of absenteeism and many thousands of dollars wasted per year in lost productivity. If office workers, students or patients in hospitals are more informed about what can be achieved through high performance buildings they can help drive demand for these buildings.”

The Closing the Loop project will continue to work with leaders like Vivian Loftness and other industry partners to develop measures such as public promotion of high performance buildings to that our built environment and its occupants have positive outcomes for business and the community.

Read more about the Closing the Loop project here.

Urban sprawl costs the American economy more than US$1 trillion annually, according to a new study by the New Climate Economy. These costs include greater spending on infrastructure, public service delivery and transportation. The study finds that Americans living in sprawled communities directly bear an astounding $625 billion in extra costs. In addition, all residents and businesses, regardless of where they are located, bear an extra $400 billion in external costs. Correcting this problem provides an opportunity to increase economic productivity, improve public health and protect the environment. The report identifies specific smarter growth policies that can lead to healthier, safer and wealthier communities in both developed and developing countries.

The report, Analysis of Public Policies that Unintentionally Encourage and Subsidize Sprawl – written for the New Climate Economy by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, in partnership with LSE Cities—details planning and market distortions that foster sprawl, and smart growth policies that can help correct these distortions.

Read the full report here.

Read more about the New Climate Economy here.

The Green Building Council of Australia has formed a new partnership with GRESB, the leading global sustainability benchmark for real estate portfolios, to advance reporting on environmental, social and economic performance in Australia’s real estate sector.

The partnership allows Australia to play a meaningful role in the global discussion around benchmarking, and will provide investors with more reliable data on energy efficiency and sustainability to inform their decision-making.

GRESB assesses the environmental, social and governance performance of property funds globally, including corporate sustainability strategy, policies and objectives, environmental performance monitoring, and the use of high-quality voluntary rating systems such as Green Star.

In 2014, GRESB covered 637 funds representing $2.1 trillion in property value. Australia had 44 participants, with a gross asset value of $131 billion.  The 2014 GRESB results confirmed Australia and New Zealand lead in overall performance, with Lend Lease and ISPT announced in a list of 11 global leaders.

Read more about this partnership here.

Australia could nearly double its energy productivity by 2030, with half the potential increase achieved through energy efficiency activities in our homes, offices, buildings, vehicles and industries. This includes simple measures like using LED lighting and more efficient heating and cooling systems to the automation of some industrial processes and improving energy data systems.

A new report by Climate Works Australia has found that energy productivity could dramatically increase without major structural changes to the economy, using available technologies.  This would deliver significant benefits to the economy and a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The report found Australia could increase its economic output from 24.3 cents of GDP in 2010 to 47.9 cents of GDP in 2030 – a 97 per cent improvement.  A further 36 per cent of the potential can be realised by switching from old fossil fuel generation to more efficient technologies such as gas co-generation and renewables and reducing energy losses that occur through the energy distribution process.

ClimateWorks says an ambitious national energy productivity target similar to the one introduced in the United States would help accelerate improvements across the economy.

Energy efficiency is generally a cost saving, and while increasing electrification and moving away from old fossil fuel power stations involves increased investment today, these costs are continuing to fall.

Read more about Australia’s Energy Productivity Potential and download the report here.

Buildings are the largest energy consuming sector in the world, and account for over one-third of total final energy consumption and an equally important source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Achieving significant energy and emissions reduction in the buildings sector is a challenging but achievable policy goal.

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Transition to Sustainable Buildings presents detailed scenarios and strategies to 2050, and demonstrates how to reach deep energy and emissions reduction through a combination of best available technologies and intelligent public policy.

This IEA study is a guide for decision makers, providing informative insights on: „

• cost-effective options, key technologies and opportunities in the buildings sector; „
• solutions for reducing electricity demand growth and flattening peak demand; „
• effective energy efficiency policies and lessons learned from different countries; „
• future trends and priorities for ASEAN, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United States; „
• implementing a systems approach using innovative products in a cost effective manner; „
• pursuing whole-building (e.g. zero energy buildings) and advanced component policies to initiate a fundamental shift in the way energy is consumed.

Key near-term recommendations for the buildings sector include:

• Aggressive measures and policies to encourage renovation and energy efficiency improvements need to be implemented to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.
• Moving to a secure and sustainable energy system will require the widespread deployment of existing, fully commercial technologies and the further development of a range of new technologies, which are currently at different stages of maturity.
• Achieving significant energy and CO2 emissions reduction is a challenging policy goal. Ensuring that all available options are tapped will require unprecedented effort and co-ordination among a diverse set of stakeholders, including policy makers, technology developers and household consumers, with often conflicting goals.

This publication is part of the Energy Technology Perspectives series and one of three end-use studies, together with industry and transport, which looks at the role of technologies and policies in transforming the way energy is used.

Read the full Transition to Sustainable Buildings report here.

Visit the IEA website for interactive tools and more extensive data coverage www.iea.org/etp/buildings

Australia’s federal, state and local governments can free up an estimated $2.5 billion in additional funds over the next 15 years through improved purchasing decisions and processes for professional services supporting infrastructure delivery.

A new report, Economic Benefits of Better Procurement Practices, commissioned by Consult Australia, and undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics, finds significant savings for governments just by buying smarter.

The report has found that direct savings of around 5.4% can be achieved across governments’ procurement of professional services supporting the delivery of new infrastructure, with flow-on savings estimated at up to $87 million per year.

The report identifies seven next steps to shift the direction of procurement. This includes establishing procurement teams with a mix of skills, reallocating resources to better focus on project objectives and removing contract clauses that do not stack up. The report also calls for the development and application of limited liability guidelines, verification of brief information and streamlining compliance processes. Governments should also evaluate and adapt procurement frameworks to encourage innovation.

Read the full Consult Australia media release here.

Read Economic Benefits of Better Procurement Practices here.

Insulation Australasia (IA) has welcomed the findings of a hard-hitting government report, which calls for wide-ranging reforms to Australia’s culture of ‘non-compliance’ at all levels of the building industry.

Australia’s building industry, including domestic constructions and additions, as well as many sectors of commercial development, are falling short of mandatory performance standards – with dramatic consequences on the energy efficiency of the country’s built environment.

The release of the ‘National Energy Efficiency Building Project’ Final Report, a 260-page examination of the building industry in relation to construction practices and code compliance, vindicates hearsay that energy efficiency is frequently a sacrificial lamb to expediency and cost cutting.

The report, produced by consultants pitt&sherry in conjunction with Swinburne University of Technology for Department of Development – Government of South Australia (for all States and Territories), identified shortcomings at all levels of building construction, including inadequate or highly subjective energy efficiency assessments, product switching and materials substitution, poor initial planning guidelines regarding ‘best practice’, weaknesses in Codes based on ‘as designed’ rather than ‘as built’ outcomes, poor monitoring of projects for Code compliance, and inadequate customer knowledge or awareness.

IA supports tough initiatives to address poor practices throughout the building industry, and ultimately improve energy efficiency as a means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. IA, therefore, supports the report’s recommendations for an overhaul of the entire industry, including mandatory product certification (testing as well as labelling), tighter documentation of full-project Code-compliance, rigorous scrutiny of adherence to specifications, and limited divergence from approved designs.

Meaningful reform will pose tremendous challenges, as a high degree of cooperation will be needed between different agencies, peak bodies and the wider building community to overturn current poor practices.

Read full media release from Insulation Australasia here.

Under new legislation in the UK, landlords will be required by law to bring the energy efficiency rating of their property to a standard (“Band E”) energy performance rating by 2018.

Financial support is available through the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation, to support improvement efforts.

The UK Government estimates this legislation will enable up to 1 million tenants in rental properties to benefit from warmer homes that cost less to heat.

See media release from the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change here.

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the new government of Queensland and their commitment to ensure planning schemes address the risks of natural disasters and climate change.

In their policy platform, the Queensland ALP committed to working with Local Government “to ensure that planning schemes appropriately respond to the risks posed by natural disasters and climate change”.

“We welcome the fact that the incoming government of Queensland takes the risks of natural disasters and climate change seriously,” said ASBEC Executive Officer Suzanne Toumbourou.

“An increase in general temperatures, due to climate change, has been predicted across Australia, with an ensuing upsurge in extreme weather events. Queensland has suffered many such events in recent years, including bushfires, drought, storms and floods.”

The built environment is at significant risk from the impacts of climate change and related extreme weather events. The estimated overall replacement cost for Australia’s built environment is in excess of $5.4 trillion with significant economic, social and environmental risks.

“Australia’s continuing prosperity is dependent on our resilience to these events. ASBEC’s Built Environment Adaptation Framework outlines the ways that federal, state, territory and local governments, industry, academia and the community sector can deliver effective resilience and adaptation strategies.”

ASBEC is calling for a review and reform of existing regulation to remove barriers to climate change adaption, as well as an integration of climate change considerations into strategic planning and planning policy measures to provide certainty for industry and the community.

“Managing risk in the built environment is absolutely crucial and ASBEC’s Built Environment Adaptation Framework provides a plan of action for all sectors. We look forward to engaging constructively with the new Queensland government as they work to achieve this.”

Download full media release HERE.
Download ASBEC’s Built Environment Adaptation Framework HERE.

The Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) today announced the appointment of Tony Arnel to the position of EEC President.

The EEC is Australia’s peak body for energy efficiency, cogeneration and demand management. Mr Arnel assumes the reigns from Rob Thomson, who has stepped down as President after almost two years in the role.

Mr Arnel is Global Director of Sustainability at leading engineering consultancy firm Norman Disney & Young. He is currently a trustee of the Sustainable Melbourne Fund, an initiative of the Melbourne City Council created to accelerate the retrofitting of existing buildings by making funding available to building owners. He is the former Chair of both the Green Building Council of Australia and of the World Green Building Council. Between 2000 and 2012 he served as the Victorian Building Commissioner.

Over the past decade Mr Arnel has been a leader in the Australian and international efficiency debate, advocating for efficient buildings as a means of reducing emissions and improving economic growth.

Read more here.

The ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index explores the three demands of People, Planet and Profit to develop an indicative ranking of 50 of the world’s leading cities.

European cities come top of the overall rankings, with Frankfurt in first place, followed by London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.  Whilst no Australian cities made it into the top ten, Sydney was ranked at #11 and Melbourne #17.

In a rapidly urbanising world, the way in which cities are planned, built, operated and redefined has a huge social, environmental and economic impact.  City leaders need to find ways to balance the demands of generating strong financial returns, being an attractive place for people to live and work in, whilst also limiting their damage to the environment.

The research examines 50 cities from 31 countries ranking them across a range of indicators to estimate the sustainability of each city.  The index categories are:

• People – social performance including quality of life
• Planet – environmental factors like energy emissions and pollution
• Profit – business environment and economic performance

In total, 20 input indicators were taken into account to compile the Sustainable Cities Index, comprising nine for the People sub-index; six for the Planet sub-index and six for the Profit sub-index (property prices appearing twice).

ARCADIS is a global natural and built asset design & consultancy firm, supporting UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world.

For more information, go to the ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index website.

Download the full report here.

Now, more than ever, people want to know where their ‘stuff’ comes from, how projects are bankrolled, and where funds are invested.

The demand for transparency is sending shockwaves along entire supply chains.  Selling a product – whether that’s a pair of shoes or a building – is no longer about ‘biggest, fastest, cheapest’, but also about what is best for people and best for the planet.

In this context, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) has become the short-hand for responsible investing.  The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), which now reports on US$2.1 trillion in value, finds that more than half of those companies surveyed include certified green buildings in their portfolios.

The signposts are all pointing in one direction – towards the colour of money being green.

At Green Cities 2015 the ‘Show me the Money’ session will present advisors and analysts, who will share how they’re valuing investments and why their investors are taking sustainability seriously.

The world is interconnected, and investors increasingly understand that ESG is the next evolution of investment.  Connect with us to explore these issues at Green Cities 2015. www.greencities.org.au

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) announces the appointment of their new president Ken Maher – a leading architect and Professor of Practice in the Faculty of Built Environment at the University of NSW.

Professor Maher is a past Chairman and current Fellow of multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm HASSELL, and a recipient of the Australian Institute of Architecture’s highest accolade, the AIA Gold Medal, as well as the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ Australian Award for Landscape Architecture. His long standing commitment to a sustainable future is evidenced through his role as a founding board member of the Green Building Council, and his commitment to the value of design excellence in the built environment has been recognised through several Sulman Medals and Sir Zelman Cohen awards for projects he has lead within HASSELL.

“I’m delighted and honoured to accept the presidency of ASBEC which is unique as the peak collaborative forum for organisations that champion sustainable, productive and resilient buildings, communities and cities.” said Professor Maher.

“ASBEC’s current focus is on informing the future of cities and regions through understanding the role of resilience, developing a sustainable built environment framework, informing sustainable housing and infrastructure, as well as ensuring appropriate skills development – all crucial to a sustainable built environment for the future at a time when climate change is clearly having an increasing impact.”

“I look forward to working with the leaders in the built environment sector to deliver policy, research, dialogue and actions to improve the value of the places we inhabit.”

In acknowledging the excellent work of outgoing president The Hon. Tom Roper over the past six years Professor Maher noted “Tom has overseen the operational revitalisation of ASBEC and many of the organisation’s most significant and influential initiatives including the Second Plank Report, the Built Environment Climate Change Adaptation Framework, and an Industry Roadmap for Net Zero Emission Homes.”

“In recognition of his time, wisdom and phenomenal dedication to the progress of a sustainable built environment, am delighted to announce ASBEC’s council have voted to make Mr Roper a Life Fellow of the organisation.”

Professor Ken Maher will commence as President of ASBEC on 3 February.

Download the ASBEC media release here.

The Alsace Energivie Competitiveness Cluster has released a high level platform on how the building and construction sector can effectively boost CO2 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.

Given that the building and construction sector accounts for about 35% of the world’s CO2 production and more than 40% in OECD countries, there is great potential for emission reductions.

The Energivie Manifesto: Buildings at the core of the Energy Transition, developed by a panel of 22 international experts including the Planning Institute of Australia and CRC for Low Carbon Living, sets out to propose practical recommendations to scale up the investment needed to achieve dramatic change.

The manifesto outlines six key targets:

1. Reinforcing multi-stakeholder perspectives (public and private sectors, NGOs, civil society, etc.)
2. Identifying and supporting industrial innovation, whatever its scale and whatever the size of the companies concerned
3. Reaching our goals and obtaining universally-applicable results through a focus on local solutions
4. Acting now before scaling up to the next level and planning for the future
5. Recognizing the need for result-oriented codes and standards able to develop over time, their application and monitoring
6. Connecting knowledge, skills and professional networks

Forty proposals are also listed, including:

• Define clear and operational CO2-limitation-oriented targets
• Recognize that building stock is a key component of CO2 reduction
• Embark on the 3 stages in the green construction improvement process
• Prioritize lifecycle assessment of building materials
• Harmonize norms and standards
• Include values other than just energy cost savings in the retrofit decision making process
• Locate new developments in places that are accessible to high capacity transit
• Move from a building to a district dimension
• Ensure that building and construction are not treated solely on the basis of ndividual projects, but on a city-wide scale
• Redefine the role of building and construction professionals

Download the full Manifesto here.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has released case studies that provide information on planning and design for home renovation projects, outlining:

• high performing energy efficient design with a significantly better Star Rating can be delivered within the typical home renovation project budget
• improved energy efficiency will contribute to lower fuel bills, enhanced comfort and liveability, not to mention potentially higher resale value when it’s time to move
• the building designer focuses attention on insulation levels; window detailing, sizing and location; internal zoning, location of living areas; effective sealing and weather-stripping
• water efficiency improvements are simple to incorporate into the renovation design with an increasingly wide range of suitable products available.

The case studies are based on the two most predominant building styles for typical home renovations in metropolitan Melbourne.

Read more and download the case studies here.

The National Energy Efficient Building Project (NEEBP), released the Phase 1 National Energy Efficient Building Report this month, highlighting stakeholder concerns that compliance with the National Construction Code’s energy performance requirements is generally poor, and that Australia’s energy performance is far from best practice.

Despite many positive trends in building energy efficiency in Australia, including increased availability and affordability of energy efficient buildings, both in the residential and commercial sector, stakeholders feel that compliance is poor and building energy performance is very much short of best practice.  This results in higher energy use, higher emissions and higher overall costs for owners and occupiers.

Phase II of this project, which will run until June 2015, will focus on improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings during construction and renovation.

This work is led by the South Australian Department of State Development on behalf of the Australian Government and all States and Territories.

Read more about the National Energy Efficient Building Project here.