Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
The government is seeking consultation on insulation standards. Again.
We’ve been here before, a couple of times in the last few years. After no significant changes to H1 Energy Efficiency since 2007, major changes to H1 were proposed in 2021. Increasing from three climate zones to six and requiring more insulation and better windows, was met with overwhelming positive support.
The full implementation of the new H1 standards was delayed with a staggered introduction, mostly to allow window manufacturers to get up to speed. But we got there at the end of November 2023.
Then earlier in 2024, there was talk of a rollback. There’s been quite of discussion among the industry during the year, including Minister for Building Chris Penk meeting many people and even joining discussions on LinkedIn.
Which brings us to another round of consultation. To quote MBIE:
There are a number of proposed improvements including:
- adjusting methods of compliance to reduce upfront costs of buildings and improve cost effectiveness
- options to better balance upfront cost design decisions with long term cost benefits
- checking whether removing the prescriptive Schedule Method would increase design flexibility
- relaxing the requirements in the Calculation and Modelling methods that would increase design flexibility and better enable buildings to be optimised
- looking at whether building framing ratios need to be adapted to better meet insulation specifications.
Jason Quinn has waded through the details and provided a handy summary. Check it out, and get your submission in by 28 February 2025.