Our strategies

Strategy: Improve the sustainability of the built environment so that it contributes to a strong economy, positive living environments and effective communities

What we will do

The Department will ensure sustainability issues are to the forefront in its work to develop the regulatory framework for the building and construction sector.

The Department will:

• participate in the Govt³ Programme
• continue its programme of action under the Urban Design Protocol
• develop sustainability indicators for building and housing
• promote energy efficiency through changes to the Building Code and increasing consumer awareness
• commission research.

Why we will do it

Intermediate Outcome

- Buildings and homes that perform well in the New Zealand environment and contribute to sustainability
- Homes and buildings that meet the changing needs of New Zealanders and contribute to strong, effective communities

Regulating the building and construction industry must take account of issues of sustainability, in line with the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and the expectations of the Government and the wider community.

The Government has a strong commitment to sustainable development. To that end, the Government has a programme of action to set directions and outline the initial actions it will take. The Department will support the Government's focus by working on energy efficiency and sustainable households. Partnerships with other organisations are at the heart of the Government's approach to sustainable development.

The Building Act 2004 requires considering sustainable development and the effects of buildings on their users' health. Two important ways to achieve this are by clearly defining the performance requirements of buildings with respect to how they use resources and how they generate and manage waste products. These initiatives need government policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use materials sensibly, use energy and water prudently, and use appropriate materials.

The initiatives being advanced include the following.

• Govt³ Programme: This programme, established by the Ministry for the Environment, helps government agencies improve the sustainability of their social, economic and particularly environmental bottom-line performance. We are a signatory to the programme. Our commitment requires preparing an action plan that considers our ongoing practices for, at least, managing waste, cleaning, buying and using consumables, and printing.
• Urban Design Protocol: The Department is a signatory to the Urban Design Protocol (Ministry for the Environment, March 2005). The Protocol states: 'Becoming a signatory to the Urban Design Protocol ...recognises [an organisation's] role in helping set an example for others in their sector... Signatories commit to putting the Urban Design Protocol into effect by developing, monitoring and reporting on a set of actions specific to their organisation.' We are participating in these and associated initiatives.
• Sustainability indicators: Using sustainability indicators encompassing economic, social, cultural and environmental factors is a common and effective means of setting targets and recording performance. The Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand, among others, use sustainability indicators to monitor performance against a range of factors. We are considering developing sustainability indicators for building and housing. This work is at an early stage, but will support our other commitments to sustainable development.

In promoting energy efficiency:

• the current Building Code sets performance requirements for the amount of energy to be used for heating a house, and the energy efficiency of hot water heating and storage
• the current Building Code sets performance requirements for building performance, but does not specify how to meet those requirements
• the Acceptable Solutions published by the Department set out the means to comply with the current Building Code for designers and other building practitioners
• the review of the Building Code will examine all aspects of energy use and energy efficiency in the design of new buildings and renovation of existing ones
• we have identified areas where changes to the Building Code and Acceptable Solutions could be made in the interim.

How we will do it

This strategy involves the Department:

• establishing, maintaining or participating in a range of forums and working groups that enable the participants to share information and address sustainability issues
• monitoring and reporting on sector information (as well as developing our capability to monitor the sector, we will actively contribute to a better understanding of the significance of the building and housing sector to the Government's housing outcomes. This includes the sector's capacity to meet increasing demands for high-quality, sustainable and affordable housing, and developing a better understanding of the factors that affect the supply and cost of housing.)
• maintaining awareness of national and international research developments and promoting improved coordination of housing and building research in New Zealand.

What we will deliver

We will continue to work with the Ministry for the Environment and local government to contribute actively to the Government's work on Sustainable Households and the Urban Design Protocol. These initiatives are part of the Sustainable Development for New Zealand Programme of Action.

An important component of this work is addressing issues around building design and construction that take a broader 'whole of lifecycle' perspective on resource use, including energy efficiency. This is about creating buildings and homes that deliver a quality environment, that work well in the future and that are consistent with the efficient use of resources.

With the notion of sustainable development becoming more widely understood, buildings are increasingly likely to take account of environmental, social and economic values.

We will give priority to ensuring the Building Code addresses energy efficiency and sustainability to meet the principles contained in the Building Act 2004.

Over the next 3 years we will:

• develop a sector monitoring strategy to improve the Department's and the Government's understanding of the sector, including supply and demand in the housing market
• work with the local government sector through forums such as the Department/Local Government Governance Group, the Regional Authority Working Group, the Deputy Secretaries Group, and other advisory and working groups
• collect, analyse and disseminate industry and market (building and housing) performance data
• collect and disseminate recent local and international building research and performance information relevant to New Zealand conditions and buildings
• develop an evaluation strategy to ensure the Department's services and regulatory interventions are effectively contributing to the Government's outcomes and objectives for the sector
• influence, coordinate and commission research into the building and housing sector.

In 2007/08 we will:

• develop a framework for addressing sustainability issues in the building and housing sector
• implement the priority energy efficiency review projects
• develop and implement a plan for the Department under the Govt³ Programme.

How our outputs link to the strategy

Output Class	Output
Building Act 2004 Implementation	Public Information and Education
Building Regulation and Control	Building and Construction Monitoring, Research and Evaluation Public Information and Education
Sector and Regulatory Policy	Sector, Industry and Market Monitoring