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Information last reviewed at:
05 September 2007

Building Sustainability

Sustainability is included as an objective in the ABCB Intergovernmental Agreement. The ABCB has identified energy, water, materials and indoor environmental quality as issues to be considered under the sustainability objective.

The ABCB and the Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DE&WR) Australian Greenhouse Office have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose of investigating and, if deemed appropriate, developing cost effective and nationally consistent initiatives that are the minimum necessary to achieve building sustainability objectives efficiently.

Energy efficiency provisions have now been introduced into the BCA for all buildings. Click here for more information on energy efficiency.

The DE&WR have completed scoping studies to investigate measures for improving the water efficiency of buildings and to investigate measures for improving the environmental sustainability of building materials.

When considering the options discussed in these scoping studies, the provisions of the ABCB Intergovernmental Agreement will be followed, including the Principles and Guidelines for National Standard Setting and Regulatory Action by Ministerial Councils and Standard-Setting Bodies.

In response to Ministerial requests, another project currently underway is investigating options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hot water systems in dwellings. This work is being undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the ABCB Intergovernmental Agreement.

Although there are many sustainability tools currently available, their place (if any) in a national sustainability implementation model is unclear. The ABCB and the Planning Officials Group are undertaking a study of various sustainability tools available, including the NSW Building Sustainability Index (BASIX). When completed, this study will help to inform governments about the suitability of the various sustainability tools.

Document Links

http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/buildings/publications/water-efficiency.html

http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/buildings/publications/building-materials.html