5 November 2026

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the South Australian Legislative Council Select Committee’s inquiry into energy affordability and competitiveness.

South Australia’s transition towards renewable energy continues to present significant opportunities to improve energy security, reduce emissions and strengthen economic competitiveness. Ensuring these benefits translate into affordable and reliable energy for households and businesses requires attention not only to how energy is generated and supplied, but also to how efficiently it is used.

ASBEC encourages the Committee to recognise building energy performance and demand-side measures as essential components of South Australia’s long-term energy affordability and competitiveness strategy, alongside investment in reliable and affordable energy supply.

Key Recommendations

ASBEC makes the following recommendations to the Select Committee:

Recommendation 1 – Recognise energy efficiency and demand reduction as essential energy system measures

Recommendation 2 – Accelerate improvements to new and existing residential and commercial buildings

Recommendation 3 – Progress minimum energy performance standards for rental housing

Recommendation 4 – Maintain nationally consistent building standards and plan for future building performance

Recommendation 5 – Support an orderly and equitable transition away from fossil gas in buildings

Recommendation 6 – Integrate emerging electricity demand into energy and infrastructure planning

Recommendation 7 – Strengthen whole-of-government coordination and industry capability

Read the full submission here