An alliance of more than 100 property, community, health and environmental organisations has today issued a forceful call to the country’s Building Ministers to lift the energy efficiency of new homes built in Australia.

The powerful joint statement, released two weeks ahead of a National Building Ministers meeting, proposed that the changes would increase the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from a 6 to 7-star energy rating and have the potential to slash the average household energy bill by up to $576 a year, according to the Federal Government’s analysis.

The public call was led by the Property Council of Australia, Renew, the Australian Council of Social Service, the Green Building Council of Australia, the Energy Efficiency Council, Energy Consumers Australia, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, and the Climate Council, with the statement signed by more than 100 organisations including architects, health advocates, property developers, charities and social housing providers urges the Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers to use the meeting to confirm amendments to the National Construction Code.

“With Australia’s National Construction Code sitting idle for ten years, Australia has let itself fall further and further behind international standards, and now is the time to catch up with the rest of the world,” said Property Council Chief Executive Ken Morrison

The proposal would reduce household energy bills, poverty and inequality, ease the long-term cost of living, and address climate change. It would also lift the minimum thermal performance for new homes from 6 to 7 stars (under the NatHERS rating system); introduce a “whole-of-home” energy budget, lower the cost of grid upgrades by up to $12.6 billion and cut emissions by up to 78 million tonnes by 2050.

“By strengthening energy provisions in the National Construction Code and mandating the implementation of a 7-star minimum energy standard, Australia’s governments have an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to reducing emissions, as well as reducing the cost of living and improving building quality and comfort for Australian householders,” said Climateworks Centre Cities Lead Margot Delafoulhouze

The proposal results from a 3-year collaborative process led by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and would build on the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings which was agreed to by all Commonwealth, state and territory energy Ministers in 2019.