Basix energy targets increased July 1st 2017

For those new to the building process...

A BASIX certificate is required if you are lodging a residential Development Application in NSW. This includes new homes or for any alteration and addition of $50,000 or more to an existing home. The certificate shows each individual job's efficiency commitments made, in relation to energy, water, and thermal comfort requirements and confirms that the proposed development will meet the Government sustainability requirements.

What changes are proposed?

The NSW Government has announced that the BASIX energy target will increase by 10% for houses for houses and low-rise units by 5% for mid and high rises. There will also be stricter requirements for thermal heating and cooling.

These changes do not apply to already lodged projects or for those under construction. BASIX certificates generated up to 30 June 2017 also have a three-month validity period in which they may be lodged with the consent authority and not be subject to new targets.

Why change the BASIX energy requirements?

Existing homes in NSW use around 17% of our State's Global Energy Consumption. There is to be an expected 1.8 million homes built over the next 40 years. The increased BASIX targets reflect the changes in construction design and technology. Homes can be built with less reliance on energy, saving over half a billion dollars over the next 50 years.

For more information on how the NSW Government plans to meet the savings target, see A Draft Plan to Save NSW Energy and Money