Australian Property News

Energy rules may 'dumb down' home design

Posted on Monday, November 16 2009 at 11:30 AM

The Housing Industry Association says Australia's regulatory approach to energy efficiency for new homes is reducing consumer choice.

The association's managing director, Shane Goodwin, has welcomed the Building Ministers Forum's decision to defer consideration of the introduction of compulsory six-star controls for new houses.

Goodwin says the housing industry recognises that new homes have to play a part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

However, he says the six-star controls would have next to no effect on reducing energy consumption or emissions but would still significantly increase the cost of new dwellings.

"The industry has raised a host of concerns in response to the official regulatory impact assessment and the responsible thing to do was to allow more time for these issues to be considered carefully and the RIS (regulatory impact statement) process to be completed," Goodwin says.

"In reviewing six-star regulation, it's vital that government has regard for the impact of the controls on the supply of new housing, the competitive position of smaller-volume builders and the potential for imported building products to replace locally-made materials and local jobs."

"The government's current strategy for emissions reductions in the housing sector is untargeted. It would be appropriate for government to work with industry in developing a whole-of-house approach that targets reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from new and established dwellings."

"Australia lacks the whole-of-house assessment tools and appropriate performance benchmarks for greenhouse gas reductions that would enable builders and consumers to identify suitable solutions to achieve lower emissions in the most cost-effective way."

"The current star-rating system gives no credits or star-rating points to consumers who install renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaic cells on their roof to power a house. If consumers are prepared to invest in renewable energy to have for example, more windows, then they should be allowed to. The current regulatory approach is reducing consumer choice and will dumb-down design in housing."