MBIE releases new emissions guidance

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has released guidance to help the building and construction sector measure and support the operational efficiency of new buildings

The building and construction sector is responsible for 15% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions (excluding biogenic methane, which is produced by living organisms). To help support sector readiness in achieving New Zealand’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 goals, MBIE has released Operational Efficiency Assessment: Technical Methodology as part of the Building for Climate Change programme. The programme is designed to reduce emissions from the building and construction sector and prepare buildings for the ongoing effects of climate change.

“This technical methodology is one of the resources that MBIE is providing to ensure the building sector has the information required to manage and minimise the climate risk of new and existing buildings,” MBIE has reported.

Carbon calculation assistance

The methodology provides ways to calculate the operational efficiency of a new building. A building with good operational efficiency requires less energy and water for occupiers to be comfortable and healthy.

The operational efficiency of buildings can be improved by:

• Improving the thermal performance of buildings via design, orientation and good insulation and ventilation.
• Improving the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems and lighting within buildings.
• Moving away from fossil fuels and gas and to renewable energy sources.

“Research shows that smart design can deliver lower carbon buildings at no additional cost,” reports MBIE. “Design choices made at this stage can lock in many aspects of building performance for the lifetime of the building, unless substantial upgrades are undertaken later, which are likely to be more costly and may be more carbon intensive.”

Part of the overall package

The Operational Efficiency Assessment: Technical Methodology sits alongside the Whole-of-Life Embodied Carbon Assessment: Technical Methodology and follows on from frameworks that were consulted in 2020 and support actions in New Zealand’s Emissions Reduction Plan, published in 2022.

MBIE notes that: “The technical methodologies are not regulatory documents; however, they may form the high-level technical basis for any potential future regulation of embodied carbon and the operational efficiency of new buildings.

“Please note that the Operational Efficiency Assessment: Technical Methodology refers to an energy modelling protocol that we will develop in consultation with technical experts in the sector. Work on this is now under way.”

Operational efficiency are voluntary and the methodology is intended for use by anyone involved in the design, construction, operation and management of buildings in New Zealand.

MBIE stated its next step is to work with technical experts in the sector to develop an Energy Modelling Protocol to sit alongside the methodology to support consistent outcomes-based energy modelling.