The ACT Government has announced a 10-year roadmap to achieve net zero emissions in buildings, and make them environmentally sustainable and climate resilient.
The Sustainable Buildings Pathway is designed to help Canberra’s building and construction sector transition towards international best practice, Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction, said.
It will increase minimum energy performance standard; develop a national approach to measuring and disclosing embodied carbon, and set minimum standards for new ACT commercial buildings; require building manuals for buildings to document maintenance and plan for electrification; and develop Ministerial guidelines for the use of sustainable materials for buildings under the Building Act 2004.
Ms Vassarotti said more environmentally resilient homes will be warmer and cheaper to run; reduce energy usage by up to 70 per cent; save Canberrans money on energy bills; reduce waste and water usage; improve air quality; reduce use of toxic materials (emissions from steel and cement will become the largest source of carbon emissions in the building sector in the coming decades); and lower home maintenance costs.
“Transitioning our building sector to be more sustainable is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for the industry to showcase their innovation,” Ms Vassarotti said. “I encourage the local industry and the community to look at the strategies outlined in the Pathway so we can work together to make smarter and more sustainable building and renovation choices.”
Master Builders ACT said it supports any pathway that helps future-proof the building and construction industry and Canberra’s built environment. In its opinion, the ACT Sustainable Buildings Pathway aligns with the goals of the Master Builders Sustainability Goals to 2050, including a net zero and resilient built environment. However, the MBA says that the government must work with the industry.
Acting CEO Ziad Zakout said: “We need to ensure that the pathway is clear and direct so that builders and clients can plan for the future and understand what the cost implications or benefits are.
“We also need to remember that we are in the midst of a housing shortage and are already falling short of Housing Accord targets. With this in mind, it is critical that any new reforms are cost neutral to avoid piling on costs and creating even more roadblocks to building the homes and infrastructure Canberra needs.
“With the operation of buildings accounting for half of Australia’s electricity use, and almost a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, there is an obvious need to transition towards greener building practices.
“MBA ACT is committed to working with the local construction industry and the ACT Government to tackle the challenges of electrification, reduce carbon emissions in building products and promote sustainable practices.
“Collaboration will be key to the success of this pathway, and we must bring local industry along on the journey. We look forward to working closely with the government, and the local building industry, to transition towards a more sustainable built environment for Canberra.”
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council and the Green Building Council of Australia endorsed the policy.
