Home buyers hit for 51000 in environmental pitch - Cost of going green

Courier Mail
Tuesday 3/3/2009 Page: 11

NEW home owners will pay at least $1000 more for their houses from next year, under a Labor plan to make buildings more energy efficient and create green jobs. Queensland would become the first state to force new homes and those undergoing major renovations to meet six-star energy efficiency ratings by the end of 2010, if Labor is reelected.

All new units would have to meet five-star standards and office buildings install individual electricity meters for tenants in a bid to encourage energy savings and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Unveiling a wide-ranging green policy in Brisbane yesterday, Premier Anna Bligh said the regulations would add less than $1000 to the average cost of a new house, but the building industry described the figure as "optimistic". "On average there will be a small upfront cost in the construction of new homes, we anticipate that will be under $1000," Ms Bligh said.

"That of course is then easily paid off in reductions in electricity bills in the early part of the life of the home." In another green policy, Ms Bligh also revealed Labor would set up a "Green Door" into government giving ministers the power to fast-track ecofriendly developments with five or six-star energy ratings to boost green jobs.

Developers and body corporates would be banned from preventing owners from installing energy-efficient appliances such as solar hot water systems and new large commercial properties would have to have facilities for cyclists. Labor would also offer $500,000 to subsidise 3000 training places to boost environmentally friendly skills in the building industry.

Housing Industry Association executive director Warwick Temby said the group was concerned about the cost of some of the measures. He also called on Labor to overhaul the ratings system, saying it had been developed for Sydney and Melbourne and did not suit Brisbane's climate. It was "more expensive and in some cases just impossible" for owners to meet requirements, he said.

Under existing laws, new homes in Queensland must meet five-star energy standards and increasing it to six stars out of a maximum of 10 for the 33,000 new homes built each year could require them to have additional measures such as outdoor living areas or energy efficient appliances. Greens MP Ronan Lee yesterday accused the Government of stealing policies but indicated it may still not be enough to win preference deals.

"This Labor Government has a very poor record of delivering on policy commitments ... particularly on environmental issues," he said. LNP sustainability spokesman David Gibson said Ms Bligh was desperately chasing Greens preferences. "It's clear the only job she is concerned about saving is her own," he said.