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Everyone loves windows.
When daydreaming about their perfect home, their perfect office, who doesn't imagine a floor to ceiling view? A city skyline, a glittering sea, endless bushland... whatever it is, you don't want it interrupted by boring wall, right? While it's no argument that natural daylight and pleasant views have a positive impact on our health and happiness, there are extra factors that come into play when it comes to designing a space that complies with thermal comfort requirements. Unfortunately for all of us, windows aren't great at keeping us physically comfortable. Right in front of a window is always the coldest spot in the house on a cold night, and the hottest spot on a hot day. That's because when it comes to heat transfer, a window is barely better than a literal hole in the wall. Devastating, I know. Why is this? Well, glass just does a terrible job of keeping heat where it is, and heat is always looking to escape! (More accurately, it just wants balance. Can't really fault it for that.) So on a hot day, the heat is looking to get into your nice cool house to balance the temperatures, and on a cold day the heat is looking to get outside for the same reason. In addition to this, most typical frames for windows are made out of aluminium which doesn't perform any better - basically both parts of your window aren't made to give you any protection from temperature fluctuations. But there's good news! Science understands that you want your gorgeous vista and want to be a comfortable temperature, and it's found a solution for you. As technology improves, we've found ways to improve the thermal performance of windows, meaning you can have more glass without it rendering your building non-compliant. With double or triple glazing, argon filled gaps, films and engineered frame materials, windows can go from being basically a hole in the wall to an-almost-but-not-quite-wall, thermally speaking. The catch is that these windows aren't the cheapest on the market, but with more time and more demand, this will slowly change. So if you are absolutely set on that perfect view, you're in luck. Aesthetics and comfort are meeting in the middle.
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The National Construction Code is a huge document, spanning three volumes and hundreds of pages.
This summary isn't a breakdown of what's changed in the 2022 version across the whole Code - that would be a gigantic undertaking. What I'll detail below is the changes that impact ESD and livability, and leave the remainder of the Code to someone else (hopefully a number of people). The Key Energy Efficiency Changes 7-Star NatHERS Minimum: The NCC 2022 raises the bar for thermal comfort by increasing the minimum rating from 6 stars to 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). This means homes will need to be better insulated and designed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with less reliance on artificial heating and cooling. What this means for you:
Whole-of-Home (WoH) Energy Budget: Beyond thermal performance, the code introduces a Whole-of-Home energy framework. This considers the energy efficiency of fixed appliances like heating, cooling, hot water systems, and lighting. Renewable energy options like solar power can help balance your energy budget but aren't strictly required. What this means for you:
What's the Takeaway Here? The NCC 2022 changes reflect a broader shift toward sustainability and comfort. While the updates may require a bit more planning, they ultimately lead to homes that are future-focused, resilient, and just better to live in. For New Homes: The changes encourage a more holistic approach to energy efficiency, making your home not only greener but also more comfortable to live in. While initial costs might rise slightly, government incentives for renewable energy systems or sustainable design could help offset these expenses. Plus, you'll likely enjoy long-term savings on energy bills. For Renovations: The updates encourage thoughtful integration of new and existing structures. If you're extending or significantly altering your home, getting your energy assessor on board early early can help ensure your plans meet compliance while maintaining your vision. Where to From Here? If you’re unsure about how these changes might impact your project, consider reaching out to an accredited energy assessor (ideally us) earlier than you normally would. We can ensure your plans align with the code while helping you make smart, cost-effective choices. NatHERS – National House Energy Rating Scheme – is a system used in Australia to measure and compare the energy efficiency of buildings. This system helps builders, architects, and homeowners understand how their buildings perform in terms of energy efficiency and identify opportunities for improvement.
So, why is NatHERS important? Well, for starters, a NatHERS assessment is a requirement for all new residential builds in Australia. The current minimum requirement for Victoria is 6 stars (soon to be 7 stars), meaning that all new homes must meet a minimum energy efficiency standard. But even if a NatHERS assessment wasn’t mandatory, the benefits of achieving a high rating are many. In a world where energy costs are rising and the effects of climate change are becoming more apparent, it’s crucial to ensure that our buildings are designed and constructed to use as little energy as possible. By undertaking a NatHERS assessment, you can see exactly how energy-efficient your building is, and identify areas for improvement. In addition to reducing energy costs, a high NatHERS rating also helps improve the comfort of your home. Buildings that rate well under the NatHERS scheme are typically better insulated, have better windows, and have less heat loss than their poor-rating counterparts. This means that the indoor temperature will be more consistent and comfortable, regardless of the weather outside. Another benefit of NatHERS is that it helps reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment. By designing and constructing homes that use less energy, we can significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced. This not only benefits the environment, but it also helps us to be more sustainable and responsible in our use of energy. In conclusion, NatHERS is an important tool for improving the energy efficiency of our homes and reducing the impact of our built environment on the planet. By ensuring that our homes are designed and constructed to a high standard, we can save money on energy costs, improve the comfort of our homes, and reduce our carbon footprint. If you’re planning to build a new home, reach out to us today for a NatHERS quote. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have and help you get started on your journey towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient home! ESD stands for Environmentally Sustainable Design, and it’s all about creating buildings, homes, and communities that are not only energy efficient but also sustainable for the environment. In today’s world, where the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent, it’s more important than ever to ensure that our built environment is as sustainable as possible.
So, what exactly is ESD and what does including it mean for your design? ESD is all about designing buildings, homes, and communities that are energy efficient, use renewable resources, and minimize their impact on the environment. This might involve designing homes, offices, or retail stores that are better insulated, use energy efficient appliances, and incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels. It also involves considering factors such as water use, waste management, and the use of materials that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. Incorporating ESD into your design as early in the process as possible is the best and most cost-effective way to achieve maximum benefits. By planning for sustainability from the beginning, you can ensure that your home or building is designed in a way that maximizes energy efficiency and minimizes the use of non-renewable resources. In conclusion, ESD is the way of the future! By designing and constructing homes, buildings, and communities that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly, we can create a brighter, greener future for everyone. So, let’s start building a sustainable future today – reach out to us for more information and to get a quote for your own ESD journey! So you’re working on an Alterations and Additions project, and you need to include an energy report for the RBS. When it comes to National Construction Code (NCC) compliance for your building designs, how do you know if you should get a DtS report or a NatHERS assessment done? Let’s break it down!
First off, what are we talking about? A DtS (Deemed-to-Satisfy) report is a comprehensive rundown of how your building design meets the energy efficiency requirements outlined in the NCC. It’s a detailed analysis that covers every aspect of the design, from insulation to shading, and sets out specific measures and strategies for achieving compliance. One of the hallmarks of a DtS report is that it looks at each aspect individually – walls, ceilings, windows, etc. are all assessed separately. On the other hand, a NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) assessment looks at the dwelling as a whole, with construction aspects able to interact and offset individual performance results. This can mean that a poorly performing aspect – for example, windows – can be bolstered by above-average performance elsewhere – such as roof insulation. NatHERS software models the thermal performance of your building design and gives it a star rating from 0 to 10, with 10 being the most energy efficient. This provides a quick and easy way for your clients to understand the energy efficiency of their home and compare it to other design options. But that’s the simple, new build rundown. Things get a little more complicated when it comes to Alterations and Additions projects… For a renovation, the NatHERS star rating requirement is reduced. Rather than needing to achieve the state minimum – soon to be 7 stars in Victoria – a formula is used to generate a dwelling-specific minimum star rating. The formula uses the retained volume percentage and thermal performance of the existing dwelling in comparison to the volume of altered/new works and their thermal performance to calculate a reduced total star rating requirement. In order to complete this formula, two NatHERS assessments need to be completed; one for the original, existing dwelling, and one showing the planned works. A DtS report for a renovation looks very similar to the report for a new build, with one notable difference – an Alterations and Additions report allows for the existing construction elements to be excluded from complying with the requirements. This means that, depending on the extent of the alterations, only new work needs to meet DtS requirements. As such, retained walls, ceilings, and floors don’t need to be retroactively insulated, and retained windows don’t need to be replaced. So what’s better for your project? While a NatHERS assessment still allows for individual construction aspects to be offset by each other, the fact that the existing dwelling needs to be included in the assessment may mean that even meeting a lower star rating will require insulation installation to retained areas. On the flip side, while a DtS report is likely to exclude the retained areas of the dwelling, the fact that each aspect individually must meet DtS requirements can mean that if a certain construction element isn’t performing well, it can’t be offset by the good performance of another aspect. As per usual, both options have their pros and cons, and it’s best to make the decision on which pathway to choose on a case-by-case basis. But that’s what we’re here for – rest assured that we have experience with both options and are more than happy to help you make the best decision for your project! So feel free to reach out about your Alterations and Additions project, and we’ll sort it out together! If you’re designing developments in Victoria, you’re likely aware of the importance of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). This approach to stormwater management not only helps to protect and enhance our local waterways, but it can also contribute to the overall liveability and sustainability of our communities.
But with so many different requirements at both state and local council level, it can be tough to keep track of what’s required when it comes to WSUD compliance. That’s why we’re here to help! First of all, let’s talk about the Victorian Planning Provisions. There are multiple clauses that outline the requirements for stormwater management in new developments and they’re an important part of the puzzle when it comes to WSUD compliance. No matter where you’re building in Victoria, at least one of these Clauses is likely to apply to your project. So, what are you designing?
But don’t be daunted! There’s a significant amount of crossover within the objectives of the above clauses. To a large degree, common strategies for WSUD management will satisfy the WSUD objectives that apply to your project, regardless of which Clause the development falls under. In addition, some local councils have a WSUD policy within their planning scheme that may add more WSUD objectives that your development will have to respond to. Currently, the councils with standalone WSUD policies are:
Of course, each of these policies has its own trigger – it might be 2+ dwellings or 3+ dwellings for a residential project, >500sqm or >1,000sqm for commercial projects, or a combination of those for mixed-use projects. So rather than try to navigate all of the clauses and requirements and objectives yourself, reach out and let us give you a hand! Tell us where you’re building, what it is, and the scale, and we can tell you exactly what your WSUD obligations will be. Let us do the hard work for you! |
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