WA home builders gearing up for National Construction Code changes

A Property Council WA members’ briefing heard the NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating System) team has faced a tsunami of WA inquiries as changes to energy efficiency requirements draw closer.

NatHERS is delivering steady improvements in modelled performance of energy efficient housing. The tools were being refined to achieve comfort in housing across climate zones; there was awareness of a need to compare actual outcomes with modelling; to improve consumer and builder education and acknowledge variations across states. 

On the upside, NatHERS said the prevalence of double brick homes in WA presented an opportunity because if builders were to insulate the cavity as double brick walls were built, the home could get an 8-star rating. That compares with uninsulated double brick cavities, which could never get a rating of more than 6 stars.

The National Construction Code is designed to ensure consistent standards across each State and Territory.  WA has won an exemption for heating and cooling load limits to be rolled out elsewhere, but WA home builders must comply with all other energy efficiency requirements mandated under the NCC from May 1, 2020.