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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, according to the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

Executive director of ASBEC, Suzanne Toumbourou, said energy efficient buildings cost less to light, heat, and cool, so more energy efficient commercial buildings will save Australian businesses money.

“These very welcome new standards will also reduce carbon emissions, helping Australia meet our obligations under the Paris Climate Change Agreement,” she said.

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,” Toumbourou said.

“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 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,” Toumbourou said.

“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 April 13, 2018. Submissions on commercial energy efficiency close April 20, 2018.