The ACT has welcomed a change in the National Construction Code which will see all new homes built in the Territory after October next year reach the new seven-star energy efficiency rating which comes into effect then.
Celebrating the outcome of a recent Building Ministers Meeting, Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction, Rebecca Vassarotti said the changes would also see minimum accessibility standards enforced to ensure all new homes would be designed for people and planet.
“Ministers agreed to update the National Construction Code to raise the energy efficiency requirement from six stars to seven stars, with a 12-month transition phase from the publication of the updated National Construction Code in October 2022,” Ms Vassarotti said.
“Ministers also agreed to a 12-month transition for minimum accessibility standards, which was agreed to be added to the National Construction code in April 2021,” she said.
“With a climate emergency upon us, changes to our minimum energy efficiency standards must be made fast, but fairly.”
Ms Vassarotti said she made the ACT’s position clear during the meeting, “so I am delighted that a 12-month transition was agreed to”.
“The homes we build today will stand for many decades, so it is vital that we build homes that are climate-resilient, comfortable and accessible,” the Minister said.
“I believe 12 months is sufficient time before the introduction of these new standards, giving them time to prepare and adjust,” she said.
