National Energy Efficient Building Project

National Energy Efficient Building Project

The National Energy Efficient Building Project (NEEBP) is working to improve energy efficiency in new buildings, renovations and additions.

The South Australian government is managing this national project, on behalf of the Commonwealth government and all states and territories.

The NEEBP works with local government, relevant authorities and industry to develop and support greater understanding, improved trade skills and formal compliance with best practice energy efficient design, construction, services and retrofitting of residential buildings under the National Construction Code.

Phase 1 contained three projects which together involved a national review of key systemic or process weaknesses, or points of non-compliance with the energy efficiency requirements in the NCC and related issues. The full Phase 1 report can be found HERE. 

Phase 2 developed and piloted systems to improve document management and on-site auditing, and energy compliance inspections, through the following three projects:

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1. Housing energy efficiency compliance audits

2. Electronic building passport

3. Retrofits and renovations

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The final report for Project 1 (Compliance Audits) can be found HERE.

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Pitt & Sherry's final report for Project 2 (Electronic Passport) can be found HERE.

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This site is dedicated to Project 1: Pilot - New Home Energy Efficiency Compliance Inspections - which involved the development and pilot of a practical “as built” inspection process to validate compliance with the energy efficiency provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC).

Project Aim - to develop and pilot a practical “as built” inspection process to validate compliance with the energy efficiency provisions of the NCC.

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Our work on this pilot project will inform the work we are doing on the deep-dive project as part of NEEBP Phase 3.

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Project 2: Pilot Electronic Building Passport - which involved the development of an electronic tool to provide access to information around verification of energy performance, was completed by Pitt & Sherry and a team at the Queensland University of Technology. This website does not deal directly with this project but notes that their work, with the assistance of their pilot councils, will be instrumental in the current work we are undertaking in the deep-dive project as part of NEEBP Phase 3.

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We would also like to give a special thank you to:

• Cairns Regional Council

• City of Launceston Council

• City of Playford Council

For being involved with the Pilots for both the Energy Efficiency Compliance Inspections and the Electronic Building Passport.

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Project 3: Alterations and additions

Sustainability House investigated options to improve compliance and consistency in the application of the National Construction Code energy performance requirements to additions and alterations of residential buildings.

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As part of the investigation, Sustainability House:

• conducted a national survey of building industry stakeholders

• identified the current regulatory treatment of existing parts of altered dwellings

• modelled the star rating outcomes and energy costs of the various compliance pathways.

Although the scope of our deep-dive project does not cover alterations and additions, the outcomes of the deep-dive project will be relevant to all Class 1 new builds, and alterations and additions. The Project 3 report can be downloaded HERE.

Inspections to improve energy efficiency compliance

The report from Phase 1 identified a range of measures that could improve the energy performance and compliance of our housing stock.

There are a range of reasons houses fail to meet the energy efficiency provisions of the NCC. Failure to install the rated equipment or to install to the design standard are typical flaws.

Project 1 'New Home Energy Efficiency Compliance Audits' involved energy efficiency compliance inspections, during construction, to monitor for compliance against the relevant provisions of the NCC for class 1 residential buildings.

You can download the final report here and access further resources (such as the inspection checklist) from the Resources tab on the menu bar menu bar.

Working with a group of Pilot Councils, the project aimed to inspect houses at key times during construction and to pilot an inspection approach that adds value to planners, builders, owners and other stakeholders.

The following Councils worked with our team throughout the pilot to test and provide feedback on inspection resources:

• Whyalla City Council in the Upper Spencer Gulf of SA

• City of Playford in Adelaide's northern suburbs (National Growth Areas Alliance)

• District Council of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills

• Cairns Regional Council in northern Queensland

• City of Mandurah in Western Australia

• Noosa Shire Council in Queensland

• Lake Macquarie City Council in New South Wales

• Parramatta City Council in New South Wales (Sydney's western suburbs) 

• City of Launceston in Tasmania