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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Peter Hannam

Improved accessibility and seven-star energy efficiency standards approved for new homes

De Brenni Energy Efficiency Australia Sydney
Solar panels on houses in Melbourne
Australian homes contribute about 12% of the national carbon emissions and use 24% of electricity. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

Step-free access and corridors wide enough to fit wheelchairs are among the minimum mandatory standards most state and territory building ministers agreed to for new homes at a meeting on Friday in Sydney.

Hosted by the federal government, the ministers discussed the first upgrade in the minimum energy performance of new homes since 2010, with the six-star standard lifted to seven stars.

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