US versus Australian regulations
ICANZ Study shows Australian energy efficency regulations are far behind the USA
New requirements for the Building Code of Australia came into effect during May 2006, which included 5-Star energy requirements for homes. The BCA 2006 5-Star regulations lift R values by only R0.5 in a typical home.
This will lift Australia from around 40 percent of the USA minimum standards to just over 50 percent, not even close to the lowest energy efficient standards in the USA.
An ICANZ study has found that Australia has fallen sharply behind the U.S.A. in requirements for thermal insulation and performance of new homes in equivalent climate zones.
The study showed that Australia was lagging well behind on energy efficiency requirements compared to our leading international economic and political role model.
The study benchmarked Australian building regulations for the installation of thermal insulation in new homes against comparative U.S.A. regulations for homes in equivalent climate zones.
The city-to-city, climate-to-climate zone comparisons are startling.
Even though SA, VIC, WA and the ACT are showing real leadership by adopting the new 5 Star energy efficiency provisions recently incorporated into the Building Code of Australia, the ICANZ study shows 5 Star is not even close to the lowest energy efficient standards currently mandated in the U.S.A. for similar climatic conditions.
NSW, QLD, TAS and the NT have decided to delay the introduction of the national 5 Star building code or opted for their own state and territory regulations, which threatens to put them even further behind the energy savings measures of the U.S.A. and the other states of Australia.
The following table, summary from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between Australia and the U.S.A:
R-value of ceiling insulation required in new homes in Australia | R value of ceiling insulation required in new homes in USA (in equivalent climate zones) |
Hobart , TAS R 3.4 | Seattle, WA R 5.3 |
Melbourne, VIC R 3.4 | San Fancisco, CA R 5.3 |
Sydney, NSW R 2.5 | Bakersfield, CA R 5.3 |
ACT R 4.0 | Boston, MA R 6.7 |
Adelaide R 2.9 | Bakersfield, CA R 5.3 |
Brisbane, QLD R 1.5 | Austin, TX R 5.3 |
Darwin, NT R 1.5 | Honolulu, HI R 5.3 |
Perth, WA R 2.9 | Bakersfield, CA R 5.3 |
The new national 5 Star Building Code of Australia lifts insulation requirements from around 40 per cent of the U.S.A. minimum standards to just over 50 percent. For those states yet to adopt 5 Star the situation is even worse.
Comparison of regulatory minimum requirements for thermal insulation in new homes in equivalent climate zones – Australia vs. USA October, 2006.
Australian Capitals
Note: The thermal efficiency of building insulation (ie. its ability to resist the flow of heat) is stated in terms of R-value. The higher the R-value number, the higher the insulation's thermal efficiency.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA location in equivalent climate zones | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Darwin, NT | 1 | Ceilings | R 1.5 | Honolulu, HI | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.9 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Brisbane, Qld | 2 | Ceilings | R 1.5 | Austin, TX | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Adelaide | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.9 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.0 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 1.0 | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Perth | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.9 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.4 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Sydney, NSW | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.5 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.0 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 1.0 | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Melbourne | 6 | Ceilings | R 3.4 | San Francisco, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Hobart, Launceston, | 7 | Ceilings | R 3.4 | Seattle, WA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.4 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 5.3 | |||
ACT | 7 | Ceilings | R 4.0 | Seattle, WA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.9 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.8 | Floors | R 5.3 | |||
Additional Australian climate zones outside capitals | ||||||
Birdsville, Cunnamulla, Mount Isa, Torrens Creek, Longreach, Roma | 3 | Ceilings | R 1.8 | Charlotte, NC | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Albury, Tamworth, Moree, Dubbo, Griffith, Ivanhoe, Broken Hill, Bourke, Wagga Wagga | 4 | Ceilings | R 3.0 | Phoenix, AZ | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 2.0 | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Perisher Valley | 8 | Ceilings | R 3.5 | Boston, MA | Ceilings | R 8.6 |
Walls | R 1.5 | Walls | R 3.3 | |||
Floors | R 2.0 | Floors | R 5.3 | |||
Sources and definitions
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NSW ACT
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between NSW and the ACT and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA location in equivalent climate zones | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Grafton, Byron Bay, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, Coffs Harbour, Bellinga Shire Valley and seaboard | 2 | Ceilings | R 2.5 | Austin, TX | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 1.0 | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Albury, Cobar, Tamworth, Moree, Dubbo, Griffith, Ivanhoe, Broken Hill, Bourke, Wagga Wagga | 4 | Ceilings | R 3.0 | Phoenix, AZ | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 2.0 | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Sydney, East Sydney, Newcastle, Williamtown, Woolongong, Port Macquarie | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.5 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.0 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 1.0 | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Batemans Bay, Bathurst, Bega, Nowra, Yass, West Sydney, Grafton | 6 | Ceilings | R 3.0 | San Francisco, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.0 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 1.5 | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
ACT, | 7 | Ceilings | R 4.0 | Seattle, WA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.9 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.8 | Floors | R 5.3 | |||
Goulburn, Orange, Armidale | 7 | Ceilings | R 3.0 | Seattle, WA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 2.0 | Floors | R 5.3 | |||
Perisher Valley, Thredbo | 8 | Ceilings | R 3.5 | Boston, MA | Ceilings | R 8.6 |
Walls | R 1.5 | Walls | R 3.3 | |||
Floors | R 2.0 | Floors | R 5.3 |
VIC
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between Victorian and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA location in equivalent climate zones | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Swan Hill, Mildura, Wangarratta, Wodonga, Shepparton, Echuca | 4 | Ceilings | R 3.2 | Phoenix, AZ | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 |
| Walls | R 2.3 | ||
Floors | R 0.3 |
| Floors | R 2.3 | ||
Anglesea, Bairnsdale, Benalla, Bendigo, Colac, Dandenong, Geelong, Horsham, Melbourne, Portland, Sale, Traralgon, Warrnambool | 6 | Ceilings | R 3.4 | San Francisco, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 |
| Walls | R 2.3 | ||
Floors | R 0.3 |
| Floors | R 3.3 | ||
Ballarat, Bright, Hamilton, Ararat | 7 | Ceilings | R 4.0 | Seattle, WA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.9 |
| Walls | R 2.3 | ||
Floors | R 0.8 |
| Floors | R 5.3 |
QLD
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between Queensland and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA Location in equivalent climate zone | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Cairns, Cooktown, Normanton, Townsville, Weipa | 1 | Ceilings | R 1.5 | Orlando, FL | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Labrador, Mackay, Rockhampton, Maryborough | 2 | Ceilings | R 1.5 | Austin, TX | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Birdsville, Cunnamulla, Mount Isa, Torrens Creek, Longreach, Roma | 3 | Ceilings | R 1.8 | Charlotte, NC | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.5 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Toowoomba, Warwick | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.3 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.9 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 |
WA
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between Western Australian and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA location in equivalent climate zones | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Broome, Derby, Christmas Island Exmouth, Karratha, Wyndham, Port Hedland, Cocos Island | 1 | Ceilings | R 2.2 | Honolulu, HI, Orlando, FL | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.4 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Carnarvon, Halls Creek | 3 | Ceilings | R 2.4 | Charlotte, NC | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.4 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Balladonia, NorthanWagin, Meeratharra | 4 | Ceilings | R 3.2 | Phoenix, AZ | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Perth, Esperance, Bunbury, Geralton | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.9 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.4 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Pemberton, Albany | 6 | Ceilings | R 3.4 | San Francisco, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 3.3 |
NT
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between the Northern Territory and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA Location | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Darwin, Katherine | 1 | Ceilings | R 1.5 | Honolulu, HI, Orlando, FL | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.9 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Alice Springs, Elliot, Renner Springs, Tenant Creek | 3 | Ceilings | R 2.3 | Charlotte, NC | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 0.9 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | Nil | Floors | R 3.3 |
SA
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between South Australian and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA location in equivalent climate zones | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Maree, Leigh Creek, Cook, Oodnadatta, Tarcoola, Port Augusta, Whyalla | 4 | Ceilings | R 3.2 | Phoenix, AZ | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 2.3 | |||
Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Renmark, Ceduna, Lobethal, Loxton, Ellinston | 5 | Ceilings | R 2.9 | Bakersfield, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.0 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 1.0 | Floors | R 3.3 | |||
Bordertown, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Victor Harbour, Kingscote, Narcoorte | 6 | Ceilings | R 3.4 | San Francisco, CA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.7 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 3.3 |
TAS
The table below, extracted from the ICANZ study, shows the wide gulf in energy efficiency regulations that has developed between Tasmanian and equivalent U.S.A locations.
Australian Location | BCA Climate Zone | Building Component | Australian Insulation R-value required | USA location in equivalent climate zones | Building Component | USA Insulation R-value required |
Burnie, Bicheno, Deloraine, Devonport, Flinders Island, Hobart, Huonville, King Island, Launceston, Oatlands, Rossarden, Smithton, New Norfolk, Orford, St Marys, Zeehan | 7 | Ceilings | R 3.4 | Seattle, WA | Ceilings | R 5.3 |
Walls | R 1.4 | Walls | R 2.3 | |||
Floors | R 0.3 | Floors | R 5.3 |