The Council of Australian Governments’ move to minimum six-star standards for houses has been welcomed by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Chief Executive Romilly Madew says the Green Building Council has advocated changes to the Building Code of Australia for some time and the move to six-star standards is a positive step in the right direction.

“COAG’s commitment to a minimum standard of six stars will improve the environmental sustainability of Australia’s homes and reduce our national carbon emissions,” Ms Madew says.

“We also welcome the announcement of increasing the stringency of energy efficiency requirements for all classes of commercial buildings in the Building Code of Australia from 2010.

“Australia’s commercial and residential buildings are responsible for 23% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is why energy efficiency measures in new and existing buildings are vital if we are to reduce Australia’s carbon footprint.”