BASIX good but needs adjustment for West Australians
19/Jul/2006
The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) today welcomed the Western Australian Government’s new research into the cost impact of mandatory sustainability targets for new homes, and the attitudes of new homebuyers to the measures.
The research found that mandatory sustainability targets for new homes had the overwhelming support of Western Australian new homebuyers and cost between $175 to $3,000 to achieve.
Dennis D’Arcy, ICANZ President said, “The government has shown leadership in energy efficiency standards for new buildings by supporting and adopting the national Building Code of Australia (BCA) 5 star energy efficiency provisions. This is consistent with the goal to achieve national consistency.
ICANZ also supports the government’s most recent move to broaden its requirements on energy and water. However, while BASIX as initiated in NSW is a commendable broad based program it may not meet equivalent energy efficiency standards offered by the current national BCA 5 star minimum standard requirements.
“We urge the Western Australian government to ensure 5 Star minimum energy efficiency standards are at least maintained.
“In our view BASIX has some shortcomings in the value given to the building fabric and requires adjustment to be comparable to 5 Star regulations in Western Australia,” Mr D’Arcy said.
"It’s important to address the energy consumption of high energy features such as clothes dryers and hot water systems. BASIX addresses these issues. But these nonpermanent features should not be substituted for permanent energy efficient measures that are low cost and easy to fit during construction.
"For example, residential buildings have an average life span of over 60 years. In that time the ownership will change 8 – 10 times. It makes sense to make permanent building features, such as the building fabric, energy efficient during construction so that it will cater better for the needs of diverse occupants over the entire building life," Mr D’Arcy said.
Mr D’Arcy said, “An energy efficient home cannot be achieved without insulation making it the most important component in building sustainability.
“Energy efficient building materials, such as insulation and high technology glazing, are a permanent part of the home and give long-term integrity to building energy efficiency. The right insulation installed correctly is a permanent part of the building fabric. It delivers improved comfort and health for the occupants while reducing greenhouses emissions without additional cost for the typical 60 years life of the building”.
He added that the research findings of the cost benefit analysis and the public opinion survey are concordant with research conduced in other parts of Australia. For example a detailed study by the Victorian Building Commission found that the direct cost of achieving a 5-Star House Energy Rating for an average 250sq.m house is just $1,500.
A recent Victorian government survey also found that almost 90 per cent of householders living in a 5 Star home for 12 months or more would definitely recommend a 5 Star rating home to others.
Additionally, a recent consumer survey reported in Money Magazine (March 2006) showed that home buyers not only want greater comfort levels and reduced water and energy costs, but are even prepared to pay up to 8 per cent more to get it.
Mr D’Arcy said, “The findings once again show that sustainable housing is both a low cost and highly popular initiative and the West Australian government as shown leadership in establishing sound credentials for the implementation of better energy efficiency regulations.”
