BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA:
Energy Efficiency Measures for Houses

• Building fabric: to control conduction of energy through the building fabric. Provisions primarily relate to reflective materials and insulation levels in the roof, walls and floor depending on the climate.
• Solar radiation: to control discomfort in warmer climates from solar radiation and to provide solar heating in cooler climates. Provisions require external glazing to be limited in size according to likelihood of heat loss from the building interior and to be protected from unwanted solar heat.
• Building sealing: to control air leakage into or out of a building, and hence avoid an increased need for heating or cooling. Provisions will increase a building’s air tightness through closable openings such as chimneys, flues and exhaust fans, and sealing around elements such as windows, doors, roof lights and penetrations.
• Air movement: to ensure adequate external and internal openings are provided to permit a building to be ventilated naturally or with fan assistance. Provisions will affect buildings in hot and temperate climates where increased ventilation can provide useful cooling instead of using energy for air conditioning.
• Services: to avoid wasting of energy in building services systems. Provisions primarily cover insulation of water piping to central heating systems and storage hot water units, and insulation of ductwork associated with heating and air-conditions systems.

The proposed energy measures vary from location to location and are based on a climate zone map comprising eight zones. This map has evolved from one developed some time ago by the Bureau of Meteorology.