Water Efficiency in Residential Buildings

• The housing industry acknowledges the need to build environmentally responsible housing and land developments through reducing demand for water and, where appropriate, identifying alternative water sources to potable water where appropriate.
• Voluntary, market-based solutions (such as our successful GreenSmart program) must be encouraged, before government contemplates regulations, as a more effective means of generating innovation and new practices in water efficient housing and land development.
• Where regulation is necessary to achieve water efficiency in housing, HIA supports minimum necessary regulations through the Building Code of Australia, the National Plumbing Code (AS 3500) and associated standards referenced by the BCA.
• Any new water efficiency regulations must be developed according to the Council of Australian Governments’ principles for regulatory best practice.
• Building standards for water efficiency should not be incorporated into planning regulations. Any state based regulations should be pursued through a variation to the BCA, justified through a proper cost benefit analysis, and based on a proven difference due to geographical, geological or climatic conditions for a variation.
• The installation of water efficient fixtures and fittings in existing housing should be promoted to reduce water usage.
• HIA supports minimum water efficiency ratings for toilets, taps, showers and household appliances through an extension of the Water Efficiency Labelling Standards Scheme (WELS) and the National Plumbing Code.
• HIA supports the use of the WaterMark Certificate Scheme (WMCS) for the labelling of all water fittings and fixtures in residential buildings to complement efficiencies gained through the subdivision design and water infrastructure supply which incorporates alternative water supply for potable and non potable uses in both new and existing homes.
• Federal and State governments should provide support through the upgrading and development of new infrastructure which will introduced additional water supply, is more water efficient in design and delivery, and reduce the demand on potable water supplies for non-potable uses.
• Federal and State governments should coordinate rebates to existing and new home owners for the installation of improved hot water services, rainwater tanks and any other water alternative water saving technologies.