ENERGY EFFICIENCY

New Energy Efficiency provisions have been added to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) which require new dwellings and additions to comply with the provisions set out in Part 3.12 of the BCA.

The Shire of Gingin is required to check compliance against these provisions and the onus is on the builder to demonstrate that the new dwelling or additions complies with the various elements of Part 3.12 of the BCA. Compliance can be achieved in two different ways, namely:

OPTION 1:

By complying with the provisions of the BCA known as the Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) provisions. These include:

• Roof, Wall and Floor Insulation;
• Air Movements Requirements to Habitable Rooms;
• External Glazing requirements to each storey;
• Roof Lights;
• Building Sealing of chimneys, external doors and windows and exhaust fans;
• Garage (Class 10A) Attachments; and
• Building Services.

The minimum information that is required to be submitted for compliance against the Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions of the BCA is a completed Energy Efficiency Checksheet with supporting information in the form of a compliant External Glazing and Ventilation Calculator and Air Movement Data Sheet.

View BCA Energy & Water Efficiency Conformance Checksheet and Declaration here.

A website for the External Glazing and Ventilation Calculator (with the Air Movement Data Sheet) is: www.buildingcommission.wa.gov.au.

Please note that the checksheet is available in hard copy from the Shire of Gingin Administration Office, however, the external glazing calculator is an EXCEL spreadsheet and automatically calculates compliance and, as such, is of no use in hard copy form.

OR

OPTION 2:

By providing Council with an Energy Efficiency Rating from an accredited assessor using the FirstRate energy rating software. Accredited assessors are now listed on a newly created National Assessor Register. The register and the accreditation of WA assessors is administered by the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) on behalf of the Sustainable Energy Development Office (SEDO). For more information about this option please visit the SEDO web site at: http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au

To download a copy of the qualified assessors list for First Rate Assessors, please visit the ABSA web site at the following link: www.absa.net.au/findass/find.aspx.

Further information on Energy Efficiency can be obtained from the following sites:

• For further information on the Building Code of Australia Energy requirements: www.buildingcommission.wa.gov.au

• Greensmart is a voluntary government/building industry initiative to look for ways in which new houses can be designed, constructed and maintained in a more environmentally responsible way. The project is being led nationally by the Housing Industry Association and looks at such diverse details as minimising building construction waste, garden design and building materials components and construction methods for houses.

• Look for a Greensmart Builder on www.greensmart.com.au

• Looking to save money on Energy Efficient household equipment and appliances? Check out the Star Rating and how much you could save: www.greenhouse.gov.au/community_household.html