Page 30 - Climate Control News November 2018

Stricter energy efficiency standards
AUSTRALIA'S HVACR INDUSTRY HAS BEEN WARNED TO PREPARE FOR MUCH STRICTER ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS IN 2019.
AND IT ISN'T just one standard the industry needs to prepare for but several revised codes that are currently under review.
The biggest change relates to the new section J of Volume 1 of the National Construction Code (NCC). To be published in February 2019, the new code must first be approved by the Australian Build- ing Codes (ABCB) Board later this month. Ac- cording to an ABCB spokesperson commercial buildings to be targeted include the common are- as of apartment buildings (Class 2 buildings), Class 3 buildings and Class 5 to 9 buildings.
In a statement, the ABCB said: “Further changes are proposed to the commercial energy efficiency requirements, which are aimed at in- creasing the flexibility of the requirements and the number of compliance options available. This will promote innovation, reduce red tape for industry and improve interpretation and com- pliance with the NCC provisions.”
The ABCB has also updated its NCC Hand- book to provide practitioners with sufficient knowledge to successfully apply energy efficien- cy requirements for multi-residential, commer- cial and public buildings.
The Australian Sustainable Built Environ- ment Council (ASBEC) has come out in support of stronger energy standards under the NCC.
ASBEC executive director, Suzanne Toum- bourou, said the building code needs to be zero carbon ready.
“The council welcomes improvements to the 2019 NCC to advance energy performance in commercial buildings and adjustments for resi- dential buildings,” she said.
The deputy director of Swinburne University's Centre for Urban Transitions, Professor Peter Graham, said new standards are necessary.
In fact, he said the goal should be net zero en- ergy building codes before 2030.
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