Friday 25 June 2010
THE federal government's new law to introduce energy efficiency
certificates for commercial building landlords as from 1 July 2010
has been welcomed by eco architects.
Western Australian eco architect Mr Garry Baverstock said the
legislation was a sensible move and he hoped it would soon include
residential buildings.
"The built environment constitutes between 30 and 40 per cent of
CO2 emissions so the more we move toward retrofitting existing
buildings and ensuring new ones comply with passive solar design
principles, the better," said Mr Baverstock.
Mr Baverstock said ongoing price hikes for electricity, gas and
water had seen a shift in the way people thought about their homes
and office buildings.
"People are now interested in how the orientation and materials
used to construct homes and commercial buildings can significantly
reduce their energy bills," said Mr Baverstock.
"My only concern is whether the new law will be open to
misuse.
"The ACcuRate system allows homes with air conditioners to
receive higher ratings than those without which is absurd in most
metro and south-west locations because properly designed and
constructed buildings simply don't need air conditioning," said Mr
Baverstock.
Mr Baverstock said money and legislative change were the main
motivators in changing people's behaviour.
... / Ends
Further
Information
Mr Garry Baverstock: Tel: 0419 965227 or 08-9286 3811
(Journalist) Ms Jacinta Goerke: Tel: 0412
338813