Decision Regulation Impact Statement Energy Efficiency of Commercial Buildings

In November 2018, the ABCB agreed to implement changes to the NCC to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings. These amendments to Section J of the NCC will be available to preview from February 2019 and subject to a 1 year transition, will take effect on 1 May 2020.

The Final Decision RIS for this proposal considered the impact of proposed changes to the stringency of energy efficiency provisions in the NCC in relation to commercial buildings (Class 3, Class 5-9 buildings and common areas of Class 2 buildings).

The RIS examined options to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, including: retaining the status quo; amending the NCC as the regulatory option; and developing a handbook for voluntary use by industry as the non-regulatory option. The RIS concludes that the regulatory option is the preferred option as it has the greatest net benefit to the community.

Under the preferred option, technical amendments are to be made to the NCC:

Performance Requirements of Section J
Verification Method (JV3) and new Verification methods (JV1 and JV2), and
DTS Provisions of Part J1-J8.

The ABCB prepared the Final Decision RIS and it was assessed as compliant by the Office of Best Practice Regulation under Council of Australian Governments RIS requirements.

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