NSW homes are to be naturally cooler in summer and warmer in winter under a new State planning policy to build more energy-efficient homes and buildings.
Welcoming the Department of Planning and Environment’s policy, Minister for Energy, Matt Kean said the Sustainable Buildings State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) set new standards and was expected to reduce household energy bills.
“People living in new high-rise apartments in suburban Sydney will save up to $150 a year, new Western Sydney homeowners will see a reduction of $720 a year, and our regional communities as much as $970 a year,” Mr Kean said.
“NSW is also raising the bar with this first-of-its-kind policy in energy efficiency and sustainability for new offices and hotels,” he said.
“These updated standards will keep operating costs down for owners and tenants, and give them the assurance they got what they paid for.”
Mr Kean said the Policy would allow Government to collect critical data about building performance and greenhouse gas emissions to inform future benchmarks and ensure the State kept pace with the national trajectory for low-energy buildings.
Minister for Homes, Anthony Roberts said the new SEPP set standards for energy, water and thermal performance in new homes, and established provisions to create more sustainable non-residential buildings.
“We need to ensure the places we live, work and stay in are more comfortable – all while we save people money on their power bills and contribute to our net zero target,” Mr Roberts said.
“The Policy incorporates increased energy and thermal performance standards, and the introduction of a new index within Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) to measure the greenhouse gas emissions produced in manufacturing residential building materials,” he said.
“It also introduces new energy and water standards for large commercial buildings, and requires these developments to demonstrate they are net-zero ready.”
A 19-page overview of the SEPP can be accessed at this PS News link.
