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Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings

The Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings and its Addendum (the Trajectory) were agreed by all Commonwealth, state and territory energy ministers in 2019.

The Trajectory is a national plan that aims to achieve zero energy and carbon-ready commercial and residential buildings in Australia. It is a key initiative to address Australia’s 40% energy productivity improvement target by 2030 under the National Energy Productivity Plan. 

The Trajectory outlines policies to deliver cost-effective energy efficiency improvements to homes and businesses. The aim of the policies are to:

  • lower energy bills
  • contribute to energy security and affordability
  • reduce carbon emissions
  • improve people’s comfort and health
  • reduce wastage for the wider economy
  • assist in lowering peak demand.

Trajectory update

On 7 July 2023, the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council agreed to update the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings by the end of 2024.

The updates to the Trajectory will:

  • support the delivery of a low energy, net zero emissions residential and commercial building sector by 2050
  • consider the success of the existing program
  • help develop the policy pathway for the building sector to achieve net zero by 2050.

A stakeholder reference group (SRG) has been established to engage on the Trajectory update process. It consists of:

  • energy consumers
  • the energy-efficiency sector
  • the building and property sector
  • the appliance and technology sector
  • the energy supply sector
  • gas suppliers
  • environmental organisations
  • energy consultants
  • universities
  • the Australian Government
  • state and territory governments.

If you are interested in engaging on the Trajectory update process, you can sign up for updates.

See the presentation slides from the SRG briefing on 4 October 2023 (PDF 1.0 MB).

For an accessible version of the presentation slides please email EnergyEfficiencySecretariat@dcceew.gov.au.

See the question and answer responses from the SRG briefing on 4 October 2023 (DOCX146 KB)

Trajectory work streams

The Trajectory identified a suite of policies divided into three core areas. The work streams under each core area are:

The Trajectory identified a suite of policies divided into three core areas.

Enabling mechanisms that provide the foundations for improvements and underpin other policies. These are:

  1. Practical guidance for consumers
  2. Supply chain development
  3. Energy ratings and tools

Targeted building policies overcome specific market barriers that occur at the different stages of a building’s life. These are:

  1. Energy efficiency requirements for new buildings and renovations
  2. Energy efficiency disclosure
  3. Minimum rental requirements
  1. Improving HVAC performance
  2. Improving energy efficiency in government operations

Supporting measures assist with cost-effective transition and complement the targeted building policies. These are:

  1. Apartments and strata titled buildings
  2. Financial incentives
  3. Vulnerable households
  4. Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS)
  5. Data collection and analysis
  6. Other targeted initiatives

Read more

Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings

Residential building initiatives

Commercial building initiatives 

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