In May 2018, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore wanted new commercial developments to reach a 5.5 NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) Energy Star Rating in a drive towards zero carbon emissions in Sydney CBD. But, how much of an impact will this make on Sydney's CBD area from a environmental sustainability perspective?

Suntuitive's dynamic thermochromic self-tinting glazing has many benefits such as elevated mood, increased levels of concentration and higher productivity. However, a common question is: does it perform as well in cold climates as it does in warm?

Suntuitive brings the future to life with smart, self-tinted window glazing. When installed to residential or commercial buildings this technology provides improved climate control and greatly enhanced energy efficiency for both single and double glazed window systems. Other benefits of this thermocromic dynamic glass technology are noise reduction and glare moderation resulting in more expansive views.

In its simplest explanation, retrofitting refers to the addition of new features and technology to older houses or buildings. Examples of retrofitting strategies include:

Major Upgrades to Section J

As the ESD industry changes and new practices emerge and become more commonplace so must the rating systems which assess them, therefore in 2019 major updates to section J of the NCC will occur intended to create massive energy and greenhouse gas emissions savings. These updates are aiming to target common areas in buildings class 2,3, and 5 through 9 through which cost saving and ecologically beneficial goals can be met.

With the industry reaching new material heights, creating products which are physically beneficial to the environment, rating tools are now taking the next step towards aiming for totally sustainable and healthy development. Rating tools are now attempting to assess another crucial aspect of the ESD world, that being the social sustainability of buildings. Different from the pragmatic physical aspects of creating an environmentally sustainable development, rating tools such as Greenstar assess the social and psychological impact of buildings and how through considered design the health and wellbeing of the occupant can be taken into consideration.

The Evidence of Suitability method using the Deemed to Satisfy Provisions of Part J of the Energy Efficiency section of the NCC Volume 1 (formally the BCA) have been chosen as the most appropriate method to assess the compliance of the proposed development.

In response to growing concerns around greenhouse emissions, the Australian Government introduced a coordinated national approach in July 2000.

This approach focused on two key directions.

First, mandatory minimum energy performance requirements were implemented through the Building Code of Australia (BCA), ensuring all new buildings meet a baseline standard.

Second, the industry was encouraged to adopt voluntary best practice initiatives, allowing for innovation and higher performance outcomes beyond compliance.

These measures were supported by theNational Framework for Energy Efficiency(NFEE), a national agreement between Australian governments aimed at improving energy efficiency across the country. The objective was clear: unlock economic value through smarter energy use, while delivering cost-effective outcomes.

To support this transition, working groups were formed across government, industry, and community sectors. Their role was to contribute to the development of the BCA Energy Efficiency Provisions.

Recognising the impact of buildings on national emissions, theAustralian Building Codes Board(ABCB) and theAustralian Greenhouse Officeformalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding.

This led to the development of the Energy Efficiency Provisions now known asSection J of the National Construction Code (NCC)— applying to both commercial and residential buildings across Australia.

To read more about Section J, click here