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