With energy efficiency at the forefront of all building activity today, its not surprising to learn this driving theme has elevated the importance of thermal efficiency.
For the insulation and ducting industry the focus is on cutting Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
Just recently Australia's insulation industry issued a statement in support of a national plan to reduce emissions in Australia's building sector to zero by 2050.
Under the Paris Climate Change Agreement which was formally signed in April this year, Australia has committed to transition to zero emissions.
Currently, the national building sector contributes about a quarter of Australia's national greenhouse gas emissions so it represents a major opportunity for emission reductions.
A new report titled “Low Carbon, High Performance” shows how Australia's building sector can deliver up to 28 per cent of Australia's emission reductions.
This is in addition to saving $20 billion by 2030 and creating healthier, more productive cities using a suite of targeted policies.
Insulation Australasia, which represents Australian and New Zealand insulation manufacturers, fabricators and installers, is a member of the Energy Efficiency and Emissions Task Group.
It was established by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) to develop and implement the national plan.
ASBEC recently released the Low Carbon, High Performance report which was authored by ClimateWorks Australia, an independent research organisation founded to accelerate emission reduction in Australia.
Key report findings support the need for strong action by the building industry to meet international obligations.
Insulation Australasia chair Scott Gibson said the report clearly outlines a policy roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
"The building sector can reduce emissions right now by more than half with the introduction of improved levels of energy efficiency and an 'envelope first' path to net zero,” he said.
“This path starts with improved envelope insulation and glazing. After which the optimisation of services and appliances, coupled with the decarbonisation of the grid via renewable energy closes the gap to a net zero building.
"The technology is already here and in use, however strong policies and urgent action by Federal, State and Territory governments are critical to addressing existing barriers and accelerating outcomes.
“We must urgently set strong mandatory minimum standards, create targeted incentives, reform the energy market, ensure available data is more readily accessible and further expand research and education measures."
Gibson said just five years of delay in implementing these opportunities in buildings could lead to $24 billion in wasted energy costs and over 170 megatonnes of lost emission reduction opportunities by 2050.
“Australia's thermal performance requirements are low compared to Europe and there's an opportunity to improve these for implementation in updates planned for the National Construction Code for introduction in 2019,” he said.
"There is also an urgent need to address the issue of product compliance and the 'as built as designed' issues on site, to ensure stated building energy efficiency performance is delivered as designed.
“Any reforms, including increased building envelope thermal efficiency and the introduction of the ASBEC Low Carbon, High Performance road map will be nullified without proper policing and enforcement of product compliance by our state regulators."