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Decision regulation impact statement – energy efficiency of commercial buildings

  • Date:
  • Author(s)/Creator(s):
    Centre for International Economics
  • Publisher(s)/Producter(s):
    Australian Building Codes Board
Description

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has been requested to consider potential stringency changes to the energy efficiency provisions in relation to commercial buildings in the 2019 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC). More specifically, the ABCB was tasked to develop updates to the energy efficiency provisions in the NCC that are economically feasible.

The Final Decision (Regulation Impact Statement) RIS for this proposal considered the impact of proposed changes to the stringency of energy efficiency provisions in the NCC in relation to commercial buildings (Class 3, Class 5-9 buildings and common areas of Class 2 buildings).

Based on the analysis presented in the RIS, the proposed changes to the NCC is the preferred option (Option 2) to improve the energy efficiency of new commercial buildings.

Energy Action’s modelling suggests that significant energy efficiency improvements can be made in commercial buildings at a relatively modest additional cost, which is largely due to methodological change in setting the stringency, particularly for façades and glazing. If these modelling results are broadly representative of the impacts of the proposed changes to the NCC across all buildings, the Cost-Benefit Analysis results suggest that these changes could deliver significant net benefits across all jurisdictions, even if the modelled energy savings are not fully realised in practice (as appears likely based on the evidence available).

Funder
Australian Building Codes Board
Policy Quality
7
Subject(s)
Sustainable building design and construction
energy
Energy efficiency
Building codes
commercial buildings
cost-benefit analysis

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