More than $4.8 million will be invested in speeding up the transformation of the State’s built environment towards net zero emissions, as part of the NSW Government’s Net Zero Buildings initiative.
Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean said decarbonising our built environment is a big challenge but there are also big opportunities.
“Decarbonising our homes and offices means both building them with low emissions construction materials and powering them with renewables,” Mr Kean said.
“Embodied carbon – which is the carbon emissions created when we make construction materials like aluminium, concrete and steel – is expected to become the largest source of emissions in the building sector in the coming years.
“That’s why we are developing a world-leading framework to measure and certify embodied carbon for new buildings.
“This program will boost transparency around building sustainability for investors, building owners and tenants and help to create consumer-led demand for low-carbon construction materials.”
The framework will be designed to be available nationally, developed in partnership with other governments and industry groups, and be delivered as part of the NABERS program.
“The NSW building and construction industry are already global leaders in building sustainability, with businesses participating in NABERS reducing carbon emissions at one of the fastest rates in the world, slashing energy use by an average of 33% since 2010,” Mr Kean said.
“This is about taking sustainability up a notch, and pulling a powerful lever to reduce emissions in the built environment and reduce emissions from the buildings we live, work and play in.”
The framework will initially be rolled-out to commercial buildings including offices, hotels, shopping centres and warehouses, with a view to expand to residential buildings in the future.
