Water and the NSW BASIX standard
The BASIX standard applies to all new homes built in NSW.
The NSW Government introduced new laws on July 1, 2004, which require all new homes to be 40% more water efficient and 25% more energy efficient.
These regulations are based on BASIX, which is the Building Sustainability Index. It is a web-based planning tool designed to assess the potential performance of new homes against a range of sustainability indices: landscape, stormwater, water, thermal comfort and energy. The first stage of BASIX focuses on reducing water and energy use. Houses must be designed and built to use 40% less drinking-quality water and produce 25% less greenhouse gas emissions than average NSW homes of the same type.
From 1 July 2004, BASIX is being introduced in stages as a mandatory component of the NSW development approval process in NSW under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
These regulations are based on BASIX, which is the Building Sustainability Index. It is a web-based planning tool designed to assess the potential performance of new homes against a range of sustainability indices: landscape, stormwater, water, thermal comfort and energy. The first stage of BASIX focuses on reducing water and energy use. Houses must be designed and built to use 40% less drinking-quality water and produce 25% less greenhouse gas emissions than average NSW homes of the same type.
From 1 July 2004, BASIX is being introduced in stages as a mandatory component of the NSW development approval process in NSW under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
For further information
- BASIX websiteBASIX Help Line: 1300 650 908
- GreenPlumbers websiteThe GreenPlumbers website explains the water initiatives in BASIX