The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) has joined with the Property Council of Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects in supporting the NSW Government commitment to sustainability, with nation-leading residential energy efficiency standards, which came into effect on October 1, 2023.

The new energy efficiency standards will see NSW families be the first in the country to benefit from more energy efficient homes.

CEO of ICANZ Janine Strachan said, “NSW has set the standard and while other states are set to follow in 2024 and like NSW they need to fully commit as 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.”

Property Council of Australia NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson said, “Improving energy performance through the introduction of minimum 7-Star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) will deliver significant benefits for families right across the state.”

The Australian Institute of Architects National President Stuart Tanner said, “The Institute supports the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) when it says their members are ready to make Australian buildings climate prepared. With the built environment contributing around 40 per cent of total emissions – 27 per cent from operations and 15 per cent from materials – it cannot be ignored.”

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), which represents peak bodies across manufacturing of building materials and professional bodies that are involved with improving the thermal building envelope and providing healthier commercial and residential building stock have noted, some states had delayed their planned adoption of National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 energy efficiency standards warned Australia was falling behind international standards, and yet, industry stands ready to meet Australia’s needs for better performing homes.

Ms Strachan said 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, Ms Strachan said.