Construction Efficiency Opportunities: Setting the Foundation for Net-Zero Energy Homes in Australia Tomi Winfree 2009 International Building and Construction Fellowship Fellowship funded by Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC) ISS Institute Inc DECEMBER 2012 © ISS Institute T 03 9347 4583 Level 1 F 03 9348 1474 189 Faraday Street [email protected] Carlton Vic E AUSTRALIA 3053 W www.issinstitute.org.au Published by International Specialised Skills Institute, Melbourne Extract published on www.issinstitute.org.au © Copyright ISS Institute December 2012 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Whilst this report has been accepted by ISS Institute, ISS Institute cannot provide expert peer review of the report, and except as may be required by law no responsibility can be accepted by ISS Institute for the content of the report or any links therein, or omissions, typographical, print or photographic errors, or inaccuracies that may occur after publication or otherwise. ISS Institute do not accept responsibility for the consequences of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any person as a consequence of anything contained in, or omitted from, this report. Executive Summary Australia will begin to meet the government’s emission reduction targets, in part, when builders and tradespeople construct high performance buildings to energy efficient design specifications based on proven construction techniques, tested products and technology solutions leading to net-zero energy homes. Designers, builders and tradespeople have an opportunity to significantly contribute to high-efficiency construction through design construction methods and technological solutions, while reducing builders’ costs through material and labour efficiency. These efficiencies are gained by: • Understanding and applying systems and life cycle thinking • Understanding and implementing building science methods to increase construction and resource efficiency while decreasing operational energy demand and securing structural durability, as well as ensuring the health and safety of the construction team and the occupants • Fully valuing the necessary add-on high technology solutions that harness natural resources to complete net-zero energy buildings. A number of the key strategic training areas are currently being developed, revised, or are in need of development and revision, across industry sectors as a result of changes in government policy and regulations. This offers an opportunity for training to be developed to support a consistent long-term approach using industry standards that bridge the built environment from design, construction to the performance testing buildings post-construction. In Australia, there are few peak bodies providing training in the area of sustainable or green building with even fewer offering domestic green building training specific to tradespeople, project and site managers, builders, and developers. The most closely related national training standard is ‘Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures’, which is a great introduction to passive design, home sustainability approaches and material selection. This training could be broadened to meet industry needs with a further integration of building science principles and practices with a systems approach to construction. Although, additional accredited training for new and/or existing homes also requires integrated project management and trade specific knowledge and skills supporting technology integration for energy efficiency and net-zero energy homes, and lastly post-construction home performance assessments. Existing building practitioners and the next generation of practitioners require knowledge and skills to build airtight, high-efficiency homes with adequate air exchanges through ventilation to avoid future liability suits, increased health risks and deterioration of our building stock due to inadequate moisture management. We must look at going beyond the current design and introductory levels of building resource efficiency and expand into high-efficiency construction through building science practices to mitigate our local and global risks. Our building practitioners currently require foundation and advanced-level building science knowledge and skills with hands-on training delivery to meet the expectations of industry, government and, most importantly, our homeowners in the immediate future. This Fellowship report highlights American programs, training and practices that could further advance Australia into the next generation of net-zero energy homes through collaboration and support across: • Government policy and incentives • Research and workforce development • Education and demonstration projects • Industry standards, metrics, certification, and public recognition of best practice. Table of Contents i Abbreviations/Acronyms iii Definitions 1 Acknowledgements 1 Awarding Body – International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS Institute) 2 Fellowship Supporter 2 Fellowship Sponsor 2 Supporters 7 About the Fellow 9 Aims of the Fellowship Program 11 The Australian Context 16 SWOT Analysis 19 Identifying the Skills Deficiencies 20 Benefits to Australia 22 Industry Drivers 25 The International Experience 25 Thinking Big: A New Community Development 27 Greyfield Land: Community Re-development 29 Working Together: Researchers, Industry, Educators and Government 35 National Green Building Standard 40 Building Science 45 University Led Continuing Professional Development 47 Industry Led Continuing Professional Development 55 Living Hazards: Indoor Air Quality 57 Industry Energy Authorities: Technical and Consumer Support for High Performance Homes 60 Awarding Best Practice 62 Tracking Progress Nationally 65 Knowledge Transfer: Applying the Outcomes 67 Recommendations 67 Education, Training and Mentoring Recommendations 71 Integrated Design 75 Industry and Professional Associations Recommendations 79 Government Recommendations 82 Community Recommendation 82 ISS Institute – Further Research 85 References 91 Additional Resources Table of Contents Abbreviations/Acronyms 93 Attachments ACH Air Changes per Hour 94 Attachment 1: Builder’s Challenge Dual Certification Overview AIA American Institute of Architects (USA) 96 Attachment 2: NGBS Scoring for New Construction Overview 98 Attachment 3: Winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA - Example 1 Community College ASID American Society of Interior Designers (USA) (Similar to VET) BASIX Building Sustainability Index 100 Winners from the 2009 NAHB EVHA - Example 2 102 Example 3 CA California 104 Attachment 4: Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University Overview CAT Customer Advanced Technologies (SMUD) CES Continuing Education Systems (USA) CGP NAHB Certified Green Professional (USA) CO2 Carbon dioxide COAG Council of Australian Governments COTE Committee on the Environment (USA) CPDA Canal Park Development Association, Inc. (USA) CPSISC Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation D.C. District of Columbia DEEWR Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) DIISRTE Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) EEBA Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (USA) EE-Oz ElectroComms and Energy Utilities Industry Skills Council EER Energy Efficiency Ratio E-Scale EnergySmart Home Scale (USA) EVHA EnergyValue Housing Awards (USA) HERS Home Energy Rating System (USA) HIA Housing Industry Association ILO International Labour Organization ITUC International Trade Union Confederation JD Juris Doctor (professional graduate law degree) (USA) LCA Life Cycle Assessment LEED Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (USA) LEED AP LEED Accredited Professionals (USA) MASCO American manufacturer of home improvement and new home construction materials i Abbreviations/Acronyms Definitions MBAV Master Builders Association Victoria Advanced framing MMBtu Million Metric British Thermal Units System of engineering for house framing developed in the 1960s by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and currently used to reduce the amount of wood and labour MSA Manufacturing Skills Australia (Industry Skills Council) requirements, thereby reducing construction costs, while increasing thermal efficiency and maintaining NABERS National Australian Built Environment Rating System structural integrity through highly levels of insulation and reduced thermal bridging (note: also referred to as ‘optimal value engineering’). 1 NAHB National Association of Home Builders (USA) Air barrier NFEE National Framework for Energy Efficiency Layer applied to the building envelope to separate the internal air from the external air, creating a barrier, NCS National Centre for Sustainability to support control of the internal environment within a building, often combined with a vapour barrier. PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company (USA) Brownfield (USA) RAIA Royal Australian Institute of Architects Underutilised commercial or industrial land often contaminated, requiring an environmental cleanup of RESNET Residential Energy Services Network (USA) hazardous waste and pollutants before being redeveloped. RMIT Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Previously used land or sectons of industrial or commercial facilities which require re-development. SEER Seasonal Energy Efficiency