Answers to Questions

ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATINGS

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (6 May 2010).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management): I have been provided with the following information:

1. The State Strategic Plan target to increase the energy efficiency of houses by 10% is over a 10 year period. Accordingly the contribution of the incremental increase from 4 to 5 stars in 2006 is relatively small. However, as the number of new houses having this level of energy efficiency, or higher, increases as a proportion of the total housing stock the new standards will contribute towards the State Strategic Plan target, including reducing emissions by 60% of 1990 levels by 2050.

2. Changes to building requirements are as a matter of common practice not applied retrospectively. To do otherwise would require homeowners and investors to continually modify their houses to meet new building standards. Other mechanisms are used to encourage the upgrading of existing buildings. In the case of energy efficiency The National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, which has been adopted by COAG, requires the phasing in of mandatory disclosure of building performance at the time of sale or lease. South Australia is working with other jurisdictions on this and a Regulation Impact Statement is currently being prepared for public consultation. Another measure is South Australia's Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme under which energy retailers are required to deliver energy efficiency measures and energy audits to households.

3. The 2007 State Greenhouse Gas Inventory indicates that residential energy emissions amount to approximately 4 mega tonnes or 14% of South Australia's emissions. It is worth noting that since 2003 all new houses have been required to have a minimum level of energy efficiency, starting at four stars, and these now count as existing buildings.

4. In South Australia the efficiency standards for hot water systems in new houses are the same as those for replacement water heaters in existing houses and are determined by the type of heater, the capacity of the heater and the climate zone. The requirements for electric and gas boosted solar hot water systems are:

(a) An electric boosted solar heated water service or heat pump heated water service (air sourced or solar boosted) with a single tank and a volume of 400 litres or more and not more than 700 litres—

(i) At least 38 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 3; and/or

(ii) At least 36 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 4.

(b) An electric boosted solar heated water service or heat pump heated water service (air sourced or solar boosted) with a single tank and a volume of more than 220 litres and less than 400 litres—

(i) At least 27 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 3; and/or

(ii) At least 26 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 4.

(c) An electric boosted solar heated water service or heat pump heated water service (air sourced or solar boosted) with a single tank and a volume of not more than 220 litres—

(i) At least 17 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 3; and/or

(ii) At least 16 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 4.

(d) An electric boosted preheat solar heated water service with a series connected instantaneous booster or a second tank and a preheat tank volume of 200 litres or more and not more than 350 litres—

(i) At least 38 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 3; and/or

(ii) At least 36 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 4.

(e) An electric boosted preheat solar heated water service with a series connected instantaneous booster or a second tank and a preheat tank volume of more than 110 litres and less than 200 litres—

(i) At least 27 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 3; and/or

(ii) At least 26 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 4.

(f) An electric boosted preheat solar heated water service with a series connected instantaneous booster or a second tank and a preheat tank volume of not more than 110 litres—

(i) At least 17 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 3; and/or

(ii) At least 16 Renewable Energy Certificates in zone 4.

(g) A natural gas or LPG boosted solar heated water service with a total tank volume of not more than 700 litres and at least 1 or more Renewable Energy Certificates in any zone.

(h) A wood combustion boosted solar water heater, with no additional heating mechanism and a total tank volume not more than 700 litres.

In these requirements Renewable Energy Certificates are those issued under the Commonwealth Government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Target Scheme and the climate zones are those according to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4234 for Heated Water Systems—the Calculation of Energy Consumption.

The water heater requirements for South Australia for 2010 are the same as those used in 2009, with the addition of climate zone 4 to make provision for the South East and Kangaroo Island.

5. Six star houses can be built for either no or a very small additional cost provided they have a good design with all of the main living areas facing north. Accordingly the new provisions encourage people to choose affordable houses with good energy efficient design and construction while still allowing some flexibility regarding how the six star level is achieved.