Dalziel defends Building Bill proposals

Criticism of a proposal to include more efficient use of resources in the Building Bill is misguided, says Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel.

The Construction Industry Council has said that sustainable development is ill-defined and will lead to confusion in the industry.

The Government is updating the Building Act in response to recommendations made by a Government-ordered inquiry into the so-called leaky homes crisis.

Ms Dalziel said yesterday that the clauses in dispute would be clear because they would be underpinned by several principles.

These included the efficient use of energy and water, as well as renewable sources of energy in buildings.

Council chairman John Pfahlert said the "woolly" proposal would lead to confusion.

The ministry "undertook a fairly detailed consultation process back in April and May", Mr Pfahlert said.

"They had hundreds of submissions and they asked 60 questions and there wasn't a murmur of sustainable development."

He said the late change came about because of pressure from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority to include energy efficiency, water conservation and efficiency and sustainable energy in homes.

"All we're saying is that it may well be appropriate to include these things, but we want it tied down a bit more. We want to have a crystal-clear definition in the act if they are going to do this," he said. "I don't think anyone disagrees [it should be there]. Energy efficiency is in the current act, but I don't think anyone's really done anything about it because no one really knows what it means."

The Building Code, which underpins the Building Act, includes sustainable development requirements that local authorities would have to meet before they could approve construction of houses.

Energy efficiency would have to be included when designing houses, but Mr Pfahlert said that could mean anything from hot-water cylinders to double glazing an entire home.

Ms Dalziel said she believed the specific references to water and energy conservation would give the industry certainty.

The Economic Development Ministry consulted some building industry groups over the proposal, but the council complained there was not enough discussion.

- NZPA