Response 733506480

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Personal Information

Please select your State or Territory

State or Territory
Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked ACT
Radio button: Unticked NSW
Radio button: Unticked NT
Radio button: Unticked Qld
Radio button: Unticked SA
Radio button: Unticked Tas
Radio button: Ticked Vic
Radio button: Unticked WA

Which best describes your industry sector?

Which best describes your industry sector?
Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Building Commercial
Radio button: Unticked Building Residential
Radio button: Unticked Building Commercial and Residential
Radio button: Unticked Building and plumbing products
Radio button: Unticked Building Certification/ Surveying
Radio button: Ticked Architecture and design
Radio button: Unticked Engineering
Radio button: Unticked Plumbing
Radio button: Unticked Compliance, testing and accreditation
Radio button: Unticked Legal and Finance
Radio button: Unticked Specialist - disability access
Radio button: Unticked Specialist - energy efficiency
Radio button: Unticked Specialist - fire safety
Radio button: Unticked Specialist - health
Radio button: Unticked Specialist - hydraulic/ plumbing
Radio button: Unticked Student/ apprentices
Radio button: Unticked Trades and other construction services
Radio button: Unticked Education
Radio button: Unticked Community and Non-Government organisations
Radio button: Unticked Government
Radio button: Unticked General Public
Radio button: Unticked Other

Statement of the problem

1. Does the CRIS adequately identify and define the problem?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

2. Are there any other problems not considered by the CRIS?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (please explain your answer below)
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

3. Does the CRIS establish a case for amending the energy efficiency provisions of the NCC?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No (please explain your answer below)
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

Objectives and options

4. Does the CRIS present clear, well differentiated options for amending the NCC that can achieve the stated policy objective?

Please select all that apply
Checkbox: Unticked The options are clear
Checkbox: Unticked The options are well differentiated
Checkbox: Ticked The options can achieve the stated policy objectives
Checkbox: Unticked None of the above statements are true

5. Which of the options analysed have the ability to meet the stated objectives?

Please select all that apply
Checkbox: Unticked Option A
Checkbox: Ticked Option B
Checkbox: Unticked The status quo
Checkbox: Unticked None of the options
Checkbox: Unticked Unsure
Why did you make that choice? And how can the options be enhanced?
7 stars should be a minimum level for the short term, and 8, 9, 10 stars should in the roadmap for the next ten years or sooner.

6. Are there any other feasible options to address the problems identified in the previous chapter that have not been assessed in the CRIS and should be considered?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (provide detail below)
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

7. Of the options discussed in this chapter which would be the most effective at achieving the stated objectives and why?

Class 1 Option A Radio button: Checked Option A Class 1 Option B Radio button: Not checked Option B Class 1 Status quo Radio button: Not checked Status quo Class 1 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 Option A Radio button: Checked Option A Class 2 Option B Radio button: Not checked Option B Class 2 Status quo Radio button: Not checked Status quo Class 2 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Please expand on your answers below
Keeping things consistent across the industry gives clearer objectives for designers.

8. Which is your preferred option? (Answer required)

Class 1 Option A Radio button: Checked Option A Class 1 Option B Radio button: Not checked Option B Class 1 Status quo Radio button: Not checked Status quo Class 1 Other Radio button: Not checked Other
Class 2 Option A Radio button: Checked Option A Class 2 Option B Radio button: Not checked Option B Class 2 Status quo Radio button: Not checked Status quo Class 2 Other Radio button: Not checked Other
Please explain your answer below
This appears to be a simpler approach, which achieves the minimum result required for the short term.

9. What should the objectives of the residential energy efficiency provisions of the NCC be?

Please select all that apply
Checkbox: Ticked Reduce energy use
Checkbox: Ticked Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Checkbox: Ticked Improve occupant health and amenity
Checkbox: Ticked Improve the resilience of a building to extreme weather and blackouts
Checkbox: Ticked Other
If you selected other, type the objective(s) here
Reduce embodied energy of materials
Please explain your answer below
Materials such as concrete are known to add substantially to the lifetime energy cost of a building, and there needs to be transparency of this when selecting and assessing, with consideration for energy savings made for given alternatives.

Also, green landscaped roofs (i.e. not paved rooftop gardens) should be included as an approach to reduce overall energy use in the building framework, to encourage their use.

Framework for analysis

10. Are there any assumptions or parameters used in the analysis that should be different?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (please provide details below)
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

11. Should thermal bridging in timber-framed buildings be incorporated in the analysis?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (please explain how below)
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Ticked Unsure

12. Is it reasonable to assume that industry’s response to the proposed changes will be to select the lowest cost alternatives in every case?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No (please expand on your response below)
Radio button: Unticked Unsure
Please explain your answer below
Many industry interests are run only for developer profit, (eg. investment funds, real estate developers, construction firms), and there is currently no incentive to improve on the sustainability, user environment, liveability, etc.
Until there is a system that can reward those investments, the code must mandate their inclusion or they will be 'value managed' from nearly every project.

13. How would industry most likely respond to the proposed whole-of-home changes under each of the proposed options?

Class 1 Install what is cheapest to meet the requirements (the cheaper of more efficient appliances or PV) Radio button: Not checked Install what is cheapest to meet the requirements (the cheaper of more efficient appliances or PV) Class 1 Continue to install the same equipment and install PV (to meet the energy budget) Radio button: Checked Continue to install the same equipment and install PV (to meet the energy budget) Class 1 Continue to install the same equipment and improve the thermal shell Radio button: Not checked Continue to install the same equipment and improve the thermal shell Class 1 Switch to using a performance solution Radio button: Not checked Switch to using a performance solution Class 1 Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 1 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 Install what is cheapest to meet the requirements (the cheaper of more efficient appliances or PV) Radio button: Checked Install what is cheapest to meet the requirements (the cheaper of more efficient appliances or PV) Class 2 Continue to install the same equipment and install PV (to meet the energy budget) Radio button: Not checked Continue to install the same equipment and install PV (to meet the energy budget) Class 2 Continue to install the same equipment and improve the thermal shell Radio button: Not checked Continue to install the same equipment and improve the thermal shell Class 2 Switch to using a performance solution Radio button: Not checked Switch to using a performance solution Class 2 Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 2 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Please explain your answer below
Minimal change to the contractors' operation / workflow / costing / supply chain, etc.

On Class 2 there is obviously less opportunity for roof space to accommodate PV panels, so alternative appliances would be used in most cases.

14. How would industry most likely respond to the proposed thermal fabric changes under each of the proposed options?

Class 1 Substantially maintain existing home designs, and improve the performance of materials like insulation and windows Radio button: Checked Substantially maintain existing home designs, and improve the performance of materials like insulation and windows Class 1 Change building designs – reduce window sizes Radio button: Not checked Change building designs – reduce window sizes Class 1 Change orientation of living rooms within the home Radio button: Not checked Change orientation of living rooms within the home Class 1 Switch to using a performance solution Radio button: Not checked Switch to using a performance solution Class 1 Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 1 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 Substantially maintain existing home designs, and improve the performance of materials like insulation and windows Radio button: Not checked Substantially maintain existing home designs, and improve the performance of materials like insulation and windows Class 2 Change building designs – reduce window sizes Radio button: Checked Change building designs – reduce window sizes Class 2 Change orientation of living rooms within the home Radio button: Not checked Change orientation of living rooms within the home Class 2 Switch to using a performance solution Radio button: Not checked Switch to using a performance solution Class 2 Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 2 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Please explain your answer below
Class 2 developments are more tight on time frames and focus on certainty, sub/contractors avoid using performance solutions.

15. In some cases, smaller windows are assumed to be used to constrain costs or achieve compliance with the proposal. Should the impact on occupant amenity be valued and how?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

16. Does the use of a high efficiency equipment solution as a proxy for other non-modelled solutions over/under-estimate the costs of the proposed changes for Class 2 dwellings?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes - costs will be higher than those in the table
Radio button: Unticked Yes - costs will be lower than those in the table
Radio button: Ticked No - costs will be similar to those in the table
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

17. Does the above proxy over/under-estimate the benefits for Class 2 dwellings? If so, by how much?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Yes - over-estimates the benefits
Radio button: Unticked Yes - under-estimates the benefits
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

18. Is it practical to apply the whole-of-home proposal to refurbishments?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Ticked Unsure

19. How will the proposals be applied to refurbishments in practice?

Please expand on your answer below
Existing buildings would need an energy assessment reinspection, including thermal imaging and possibly air tightness testing, to determine which existing areas would need to be upgraded along with the new build, to ensure a whole of building benefit from the improvements. If not, there are likely to be large air gaps and insulation gaps that would negate much of the insulation / thermal envelop improvements.
This extra cost would be invaluable and should reduce over time as more and more tests are carried out.

20. Would the cost of applying the whole-of-home proposal to renovations be broadly similar to the cost incurred in new dwellings?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No - costs higher in renovations than new dwellings
Radio button: Unticked No - costs lower in renovations than new dwellings
Radio button: Ticked Unsure
Please explain your answer below
As noted above, it will depend on the condition of the existing / remaining structure.

21. Would the benefits resulting from applying the whole-of-home proposal to renovations be broadly similar to the benefits received by new dwellings?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No - benefits for renovations lower than for new dwellings
Radio button: Unticked No - benefits for renovations higher than for new dwellings
Radio button: Ticked Unsure
Please explain your answer below
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22. Are the assumptions used to estimate current and future penetration of solar PV in new buildings under the BAU appropriate?

Class 1 Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 1 No - please state why below Radio button: Not checked No - please state why below Class 1 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 2 No - please state why below Radio button: Not checked No - please state why below Class 2 Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Please explain your answer. Please provide any other evidence that could be considered.
In jurisdictions where natural gas is being phased out, there will be an inevitable increase in adoption of PVs to lower operating costs, especially for air-conditioning use, in both Class 1 and 2 buildings (Class 2 largely dependent having adequate roof-space).

Early adopters of EVs have a particular interest/investment in solar power PVs, but typically they don't have that option in Class 2 apartment buildings (only Class 1 dwellings), due to a lack of shared charging infrastructure. Its unclear if this will change in the short term.

23. Do you have any information that could be used to estimate the proportion of blocks for which solar PV could not be installed?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (please provide this information below)
Radio button: Ticked No

24. Do you have any information that could be used to estimate the proportion of Class 2 apartments for which sufficient solar PV could be installed to meet the energy use budget of each individual apartment?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (please provide this information below)
Radio button: Ticked No

25. As noted in this chapter, expected decreases in feed-in tariffs would effectively increase the stringency of the proposed whole-of-home requirements under Option A over time. Do you have any views on this issue?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes (please provide your views below)
Radio button: Ticked No

Individual dwelling impacts

26. Are the cost estimates presented in this chapter reasonable?

Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.1) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.1) No - costs are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are under-estimated Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.1) No - costs are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are over-estimated Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.1) Other Radio button: Not checked Other Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.1) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.2) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.2) No - costs are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are under-estimated Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.2) No - costs are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are over-estimated Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.2) Other Radio button: Not checked Other Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.2) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.3) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.3) No - costs are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are under-estimated Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.3) No - costs are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are over-estimated Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.3) Other Radio button: Not checked Other Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.3) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.4) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.4) No - costs are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are under-estimated Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.4) No - costs are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - costs are over-estimated Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.4) Other Radio button: Not checked Other Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.4) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Please expand on your answer. If you selected no or other, what are your alternative estimates and the basis for the estimates?
They are comparitively small costs for the amount of cost savings over the buildings' life.

27. Are the changes in energy consumption presented in this chapter reasonable?

Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.9) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.9) No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.9) No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.9) Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 1 - Option A (Table 5.9) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.10) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.10) No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.10) No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.10) Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 1 - Option B (Table 5.10) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.11) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.11) No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.11) No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.11) Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 2 - Option A (Table 5.11) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.12) Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.12) No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are under-estimated Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.12) No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Radio button: Not checked No - the value of changes in energy use are over-estimated Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.12) Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Class 2 - Option B (Table 5.12) Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure

Economy-wide impacts

28. Can you provide estimates of the costs to redesign buildings and alter building products that would be incurred by industry to meet the proposed new NCC requirements?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No

29. Are there any other costs (e.g. transition costs) not identified for builders and other stakeholders in transitioning to the proposed new NCC requirements?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes - please provide details below
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

30. In terms of the realisation of the energy savings, which of the scenarios modelled is most likely to occur if the proposed changes are made to the NCC?

Option A Full realisation of modelled energy savings Radio button: Not checked Full realisation of modelled energy savings Option A Medium realisation scenario Radio button: Checked Medium realisation scenario Option A Low realisation scenario Radio button: Not checked Low realisation scenario Option A Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Option A Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Option B Full realisation of modelled energy savings Radio button: Not checked Full realisation of modelled energy savings Option B Medium realisation scenario Radio button: Checked Medium realisation scenario Option B Low realisation scenario Radio button: Not checked Low realisation scenario Option B Other - please explain below Radio button: Not checked Other - please explain below Option B Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Expand on your answer here. What factors will affect the realisation of modelled results?
Existing building conditions and in-construction cost cutting / undocumented changes invariably reduce the overall gains from the legislative changes.

31. Do you agree with the conclusions reached for the energy market impacts?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

32. Are there any other assumptions or parameters that should be included in the sensitivity or breakeven analysis?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes - please outline them below
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

33. What is the most appropriate value for avoided greenhouse gas emissions (carbon price)?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked No value ($0)
Radio button: Unticked Resource cost of carbon (based on the current cost of abatement, represented by the price of an Australian Carbon Credit Unit - $16.55 per tonne of carbon as at December 2020) - as used in the CRIS.
Radio button: Unticked A value less than the resource cost of carbon
Radio button: Ticked Social cost of carbon (based on the future costs associated with emissions. A medium scenario of the average estimate of the future social cost of climate change produced by the United States Government is around $74.89 per tonne of carbon in 2021 - approx. 4.5 times higher than the resource cost used in the CRIS).
Radio button: Unticked A higher social cost of carbon value
Radio button: Unticked Other
Radio button: Unticked Unsure

Other impacts

35. Will improvements in the following areas be realised?

Occupant health Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Occupant health Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Occupant health No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Occupant health Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Occupant amenity Improvement of... Radio button: Not checked Improvement of... Occupant amenity Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Occupant amenity No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Occupant amenity Unsure Radio button: Checked Unsure
The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Stability of the electricity grid Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Stability of the electricity grid Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Stability of the electricity grid No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Stability of the electricity grid Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Bill stress Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Bill stress Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Bill stress No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Bill stress Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Improvement of... Radio button: Not checked Improvement of... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Unsure Radio button: Checked Unsure
Economic stimulus Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Economic stimulus Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Economic stimulus No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Economic stimulus Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Occupant health Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Occupant health Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Occupant health No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Occupant health Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Occupant amenity Improvement of... Radio button: Not checked Improvement of... Occupant amenity Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Occupant amenity No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Occupant amenity Unsure Radio button: Checked Unsure
The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... The resilience of buildings to extreme weather and blackouts Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Stability of the electricity grid Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Stability of the electricity grid Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Stability of the electricity grid No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Stability of the electricity grid Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Bill stress Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Bill stress Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Bill stress No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Bill stress Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Improvement of... Radio button: Not checked Improvement of... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Unsure Radio button: Checked Unsure
Economic stimulus Improvement of... Radio button: Checked Improvement of... Economic stimulus Deterioration of... Radio button: Not checked Deterioration of... Economic stimulus No change in... Radio button: Not checked No change in... Economic stimulus Unsure Radio button: Not checked Unsure

36. Can you provide objective evidence to enable any of the benefits that have not been quantified to be quantified?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No

37. Are there any other unintended consequences not described in the CRIS that are likely to arise from the proposed options?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Unsure