All new homes and extensions built must meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements outlined in the National Construction Code (NCC).
An energy efficiency assessment must be carried out to check if a house meets the requirements. The measures depend on the climate zone where a house is located.
Energy efficiency requirements
Building thermal performance includes:
- reducing heating and cooling loads
- insulation in roofs, walls and floors
- adequate glazing
- building sealing and draught proofing
- adequate ventilation and air movement.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions include:
- insulating items such as ductwork and piping
- sealing heating and cooling ductwork
- improving artificial light
- efficient water heaters
- use of renewable energy sources, for example solar panels.
Thermal performance is a separate matter in the NCC and must be addressed individually.
Energy efficiency requirements as individual elements
Advisory Notice 01/16 Energy efficiency provisions and the use of solar offsets
Energy efficiency concessions
Certain requirements apply to all new elevated Class 1 buildings with a lightweight flooring system and that can be moved (including transportable buildings), regardless of whether they are constructed on or off-site:
- Houses with a floor area of 60 square metres or more will be eligible for a 5-star concession subject to a number of conditions:
(i) they are located in:
a) Climate Zone 4 as defined in the NCC (see map reference below) and
b) one of the following local government areas- Ceduna Council
- Cleve Council
- The Coorong District Council
- Elliston Council
- Flinders Ranges Council
- Franklin Harbour Council
- Goyder Council
- Kangaroo Island Council
- Karoonda East Murray Council
- Kimba Council
- Land not within a Council area
- Lower Eyre Peninsula Council
- Mid Murray Council
- Mount Remarkable Council
- Orroroo Carrieton Council
- Peterborough Council
- Southern Mallee Council
- Streaky Bay Council
- Tatiara Council
- Tumby Bay Council
- Wudinna Council
(ii) the extra energy consumed by a 5-star transportable house must be offset by installing a renewable energy source, such as an photovoltaic system. The renewable energy source's size is determined by SA Table 3.12.0.1 of the BCA (below):
SA Table 3.12.0.1 - Required minimum level of energy to be generated by an on-site renewable energy source
Climate Zone Star rating of Class 1 building 5.0 - 5.4 stars Star rating of Class building 5.5 - 5.9 stars 4 4.6 kWh/m2 3.8 kWh/m2 5 3.9 kWh/m2 3.4 kWh/m2 6 8.5 kWh/m2 7.6 kWh/m2 - Houses with a floor area less than 60 square metres, regardless of their location, will be eligible for a 5-star concession and don't need to offset the extra energy consumed.
- Houses not covered by 1. or 2. must meet 6-star energy efficiency requirements and must not offset the star rating difference with solar panels in order to comply.
Energy concession map
The concession map can be viewed in these locations:
Related information
Other websites
Documents
- South Australia climate zone map (996.1 KB PDF)
- Adelaide Hills council climate zone map (562.5 KB PDF)
- Regional council of Goyder climate zone map (499.5 KB PDF)
- Barossa council climate zone map (638.7 KB PDF)
For an alternative version of a document on this page contact the PlanSA Service Desk.
