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28 March 2008

Greenhouse Gas and Flow Rate Standards for Water Heaters announced

On 28 March 2008, the Minister for Energy, Patrick Conlon, announced new greenhouse gas and flow rate performance standards for residential water heater installations that will start on 1 July 2008.

The new standards are aimed at increasing the uptake of high-efficiency gas, solar and heat pump water heaters.

Residential water heating is a significant cause of greenhouse gases in South Australia, accounting for around one third of household energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Electric water heaters have a high greenhouse impact. Other options, such as high efficiency gas and solar, can result in two thirds less emissions. Water efficient showers can deliver further energy and greenhouse savings, as well as significant water savings.

The new standards will apply to new or renovated homes at the time of development approval and for established homes at the time of water heater installation or replacement. Operational water heaters do not have to be replaced until they reach the end of their working life.

How the new standards will apply to you

For most households, from 1 July 2008, the next time they need to install or replace a water heater they will need to select a low-greenhouse water heater, such as a high efficiency gas, solar or heat pump water heater.

New homes, alteration and additions

• For homes receiving development approval on or after 1 July 2008, water heaters installed will need to be low-greenhouse types, such as high efficiency solar, gas or heat pump water heaters.
• For homes receiving development approval prior to 1 July 2008, these requirements only apply to houses in areas with reticulated gas.

Established Homes

Full Standard

For established homes in metropolitan Adelaide, near Adelaide and regional areas (see Post Code Table below):

• Houses installing an additional water heater will need to install low-greenhouse water heaters, such as high efficiency gas, solar or heat pump.
• Houses with an existing gas, solar or heat pump water heater, when the water heater needs replacing, the new unit will need to be a low-greenhouse water heater, such as high efficiency gas, solar or heat pump.
• For houses purchased after 1 July 2008, when  the water heater needs replacing, the new unit will need to be a low-greenhouse water heater, such as high efficiency gas, solar or heat pump.
• For houses not purchased after 1 July 2008, and in metropolitan Adelaide and Near Adelaide (see Post Code Table below), additional requirements will commence on 1 July 2009.  For most houses with water heaters located outside or in a shed or garage, when the water heater needs replacing, the new unit will need to be a low-greenhouse water heater, such as high efficiency gas, solar or heat pump (see Notes below for more details).

Reduced Standard

There will be a number of situations where an electric or lower-efficiency gas water heater can continue to be installed.  The most common situations will be:

• Any installations in Remote parts of South Australia (see Post Code Table below).
• Any installations into flats or apartments in multi-storey buildings
• In Regional areas (see Post Code Table below) houses replacing an electric water heater where the house has not been purchased on or after 1 July 2008.
• From 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, in Metropolitan and Near Adelaide areas (see Post Code Table below) houses replacing an electric water heater where the house has not been purchased on or after 1 July 2008.
• From 1 July 2009, in Metropolitan and Near Adelaide areas (see Post Code Table below) houses replacing an electric water heater where the water heater is located within the main dwelling, such as in the laundry or ceiling space.

Shower Flow Rate Standard

• For all water heater installations state-wide, except for established homes not connected to SA Water supply, when a water heater is installed or replaced, the shower outlets connected to the water heater must meet a flow rate standard.

Practically, this can be achieved by either:

• Installing a shower head or flow restrictor with a three star rating under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme; or
• Using a gravity-feed (vented) water heater.

Post Code Table

All properties outside of a local council area are Remote.  For properties within a local council area, the following post code table determines whether it is Metro / near Adelaide, Regional or Remote:
 

 

Notes

A property is purchased, for the purposes of these requirements, when there has been a transfer of ownership (as recorded on the certificate of title), unless the property was inherited, given as a gift or the contract for purchase was established prior to 1 July 2008.

 

For houses not purchased after 1 July 2008, and in Metropolitan Adelaide and Near Adelaide, additional requirements will commence on 1 July 2009.  New water heaters will need to be low-greenhouse types, such as high efficient gas, solar or heat pump systems, where:

• The water heater being replaced is located outside of the dwelling or in a shed, garage, etc; and
• The new installation requires no more than 6 metres of additional hot water pipes; and
• The new installation can be installed at least 3 metres from the nearest neighbour's door or open window to a bedroom or living space, and not in front of the dwelling's façade.

The requirements for established homes are based on the date the hot water system is installed.

Consultation

The Government released a consultation paper to help raise awareness of this measure and to seek feedback.  Consultation ended on 28 April 2008.  The following submissions were received:

• Chromagen
• Dux
• Elgas
• Engineering Employers Association (EEA)
• Envestra
• Gas Applicance Manufacturers Association of Australia (GAMAA)
• Housing Industry Association (HIA)
• Monica Oliphant
• Quantum Energy Technologies
• Rinnai
• The Plumbing Industry Association (PIA) of SA

Enquiries

Please direct any enquiries on the performance standards to the Advisory Services Team; phone (08) 8204 1888 (Freecall™ for country callers 1800 671 907).