Commercial Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficient buildings use less energy and produce less greenhouse gas emissions. Lower energy use over the life of a building creates ongoing savings on energy bills. Occupants benefit from an increased level of thermal comfort within energy efficient buildings.

The version of commercial energy efficiency requirements adopted by the NT is National Construction Code (NCC) Volume One 2019, known as Section J.

For detailed information on meeting commercial energy efficiency requirements, go to the Australian Building Codes Board website and read the Energy Efficiency Volume One (2019) Handbook.

What resources are available to support implementation in the NT?

Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS)

AIBS delivered a series of four webinars on NT commercial energy efficiency requirements and understanding performance-based solutions under the NCC. Recordings of the webinars can be accessed by anyone by creating a free AIBS account and searching NT, go to the AIBS TV platform website.

AIBS has developed a checklist to assist with meeting commercial energy efficiency requirements. The checklist can be downloaded as a resource under Webinar Two Energy Efficiency for Commercial Buildings Based on First Principals/Northern Territory Specific Webinar on the AIBS TV platform.

DeltaQ

A consortium led by DeltaQ developed case studies on implementing NCC commercial energy efficiency provisions as part of a 2022 cost benefit analysis comparing adoption of NCC 2019 with NCC 2016 requirements. The case studies within the following reports provide examples of how commercial energy efficiency requirements can be implemented across a range of building classes and climate zones:

• NCC Section J in the Northern Territory: Cost benefit analysis report PDF (4.3 MB)
• NCC Section J Case Studies: Single-Storey Office Buildings Darwin and Alice Springs PDF (1.1 MB)

Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)

AIRAH provides full day training on commercial energy efficiency requirements, suitable for anyone involved in building design and construction, not just engineers. AIRAH delivered in person training in Darwin on NCC 2019 Section J requirements on 17 October 2023. Online courses on NCC 2022 Section J requirements are available on an ongoing basis, go to the AIRAH Training website.

More information

An extensive range of guidance materials is available on the DIPL projects website, including detailed information on implementation of commercial energy efficiency provisions.