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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-15 Daily Xml
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATINGS

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:37): My question is to the Leader of the Government, the Minister for Urban Development and Planning. Will the minister advise the chamber on the introduction of six-star energy efficiency ratings for new housing in South Australia?

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) (14:37): I thank the honourable member for his question. As previously advised in this place, six-star energy efficiency requirements for new housing came into force in South Australia from 1 September this year.

Members would be aware of the COAG agreement in 2009 to raise the bar on the acceptable level of energy efficiency requirements for all new homes built across the nation from five-star to six-star energy efficiency ratings on 1 May 2011. Earlier this year the Rann government announced that it would bring forward the introduction of six-star energy efficiency requirements for all new homes from 1 September this year. At the time the government consulted with industry to provide them with the necessary time to allow these changes to take place.

As a result, South Australia is one of the first jurisdictions to adopt improved efficient energy standards, making six-star energy efficiency requirements mandatory for new homes and extensions. South Australia leads the nation in this important area of energy efficiency and housing construction.

To achieve six stars, a house will require increased levels of insulation in walls, floors (where they are not an on-ground concrete slab) and roofs, and tighter requirements on glazing and shading, depending on the orientation. The implementation of a six-star rating for new housing is expected to decrease energy loads for heating and cooling by almost a quarter of existing demands from five-star rated homes.

Reducing the energy load to cool and heat a home can save homeowners up to $340 a year from their energy bills, depending on the size of the house and the number of rooms. This is good news for homeowners, who will be able to pocket the savings; and, importantly, these lower running costs also mean a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

I know that builders and developers in South Australia have taken up the challenge, working on six-star rated designs which make the most of natural lighting and shading in a way that can help to reduce energy consumption and running costs. Further to this, restrictions on the power levels of lighting will contribute to energy use reductions.

Research and modelling undertaken by both the Australian Building Codes Board and locally through the Land Management Corporation indicate that six stars is easy for many home builders to achieve at minimal cost, provided house designs are appropriate and have good orientation. The Rann government has listened to the community in regard to the implementation of the six-star energy efficiency initiative.

We were recently alerted to the challenges faced by industry to implement the six-star energy requirements for transportable homes in South Australia. Due to the specific challenges for the manufacturers of transportable homes, the South Australian government agreed to an industry request to exempt transportable homes from the six-star energy rating until 1 May next year. This delay should provide the transportable housing industry with further time to modify their designs to meet the six-star energy efficiency requirement in all climate zones across South Australia. In the interim, the transportable housing industry will need to continue to meet the five-star energy efficiency rating.

The government recognises that transportable homes are widely used for housing across South Australia, particularly in rural, regional and remote areas. For South Australians residing in rural and remote areas, transportable homes are often not just the most affordable type of housing but for many they are the only type of new housing available. The interim arrangements for transportable homes recognise the specific challenges for this sector of the housing industry. The state government has listened, has considered it and has implemented a response that is in the best interests of South Australian homebuyers as well as industry.

In preparation for the move to six stars, the Land Management Corporation has conducted some very successful programs to inform industry of what is required to move from five to six stars: these include having a target for 25 per cent of houses in its residential land releases to meet the six-star standard (that was obviously prior to being mandated); undertaking research and advising 14 different builders at Playford Alive on the cost options in delivering six-star housing on one of its housing products; and at Light's View at Northgate, a joint venture with the Canberra Investment Corporation, requiring a minimum of six stars for all housing.

The state government has shown that it can lead the nation, moving forward on energy efficiency for new homes. Importantly, the state government has continued its willingness to listen to the views of industry and to appropriately respond after consideration of all the facts provided and implement a response in the best interests of South Australians.

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