❓ Hon Tim Clifford asks about the energy efficiency of state-owned housing and future plans. The Minister for Housing provides data on existing properties and confirms new builds will meet current standards, but retrofitting existing stock is not planned due to cost.
AnsweredQoN 2614Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Liveable towns and cities section of the Climate Change In Western Australia Issues Paper, specifically the inefficiency of Western Australia's building stock, and I ask: (a) what is the energy efficiency rating of all community and state housing owned, part-owned, or managed by the State Government and will the Minister please table it; (b) what is the proposed energy efficiency rating for all community and state housing owned, part-owned, or managed by the State Government proposed in the next five financial years; and (c) what is the State Government doing to ensure better efficiency standards for all new buildings, including private and government owned?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 November 2019
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
10 days
(a) The Department of Communities (Communities) constructs all dwellings in accordance with the applicable building standards and regulations. Communities currently owns and manages 51,620 properties and part-owns (through Shared Equity) 4,904 properties. Of these, 20,694 properties have the minimum 5 and 6-star rating and were built after 2003.
Communities does not have energy efficiency data for any dwelling constructed prior to the 2003 Building Code of Australia (BCA) amendment to introduce energy efficiency requirements.
Energy efficiency provisions were first introduced into the BCA in 2003 (single and grouped housing) and 2006 (apartments). Prior to that, there were no specific provisions or requirements relating to energy efficiency. The predecessor to the BCA, the Uniform Building By-laws, also did not contain any requirements relating to energy efficiency.
In 2010, the minimum standard required in the BCA for energy efficiency in residential buildings was increased from 5 to 6 Star (or equivalent) rating assessed under the Nationwide Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
Rental Stock
Shared Equity
Total
Minimum 5 Star rating - (Dwellings that were constructed between 2003 – 2010)
8,775
-
8,775
Minimum 6 Star rating - (Dwellings that were constructed since 2010)
10,259
1,660
11,919
Total
19,034
1,660
20,694
(b) All Communities’ properties constructed over the next five financial years will be certified and meet the minimum standard of 6-star energy efficiency rating required in the BCA for energy efficiency in residential buildings.
If the BCA energy efficiency provisions are enhanced or modified, Communities will comply with the new standards as required.
Any housing acquired by Communities that was constructed from 2003 onwards meets the minimum 5 and 6-star energy efficiency rating, dependent on date of construction.
Communities has no specific plans to retrospectively upgrade the energy efficiency of any existing housing stock, noting that the cost of such upgrades can be cost-prohibitive or practically impossible.
(c) This part of the question should be referred to the Minister for Commerce.
Communities does not have energy efficiency data for any dwelling constructed prior to the 2003 Building Code of Australia (BCA) amendment to introduce energy efficiency requirements.
Energy efficiency provisions were first introduced into the BCA in 2003 (single and grouped housing) and 2006 (apartments). Prior to that, there were no specific provisions or requirements relating to energy efficiency. The predecessor to the BCA, the Uniform Building By-laws, also did not contain any requirements relating to energy efficiency.
In 2010, the minimum standard required in the BCA for energy efficiency in residential buildings was increased from 5 to 6 Star (or equivalent) rating assessed under the Nationwide Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
Rental Stock
Shared Equity
Total
Minimum 5 Star rating - (Dwellings that were constructed between 2003 – 2010)
8,775
-
8,775
Minimum 6 Star rating - (Dwellings that were constructed since 2010)
10,259
1,660
11,919
Total
19,034
1,660
20,694
(b) All Communities’ properties constructed over the next five financial years will be certified and meet the minimum standard of 6-star energy efficiency rating required in the BCA for energy efficiency in residential buildings.
If the BCA energy efficiency provisions are enhanced or modified, Communities will comply with the new standards as required.
Any housing acquired by Communities that was constructed from 2003 onwards meets the minimum 5 and 6-star energy efficiency rating, dependent on date of construction.
Communities has no specific plans to retrospectively upgrade the energy efficiency of any existing housing stock, noting that the cost of such upgrades can be cost-prohibitive or practically impossible.
(c) This part of the question should be referred to the Minister for Commerce.
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