Residential Performance
Clear guidance on 7 Star NatHERS ratings, current residential thermal performance requirements and what they may mean for your new home or residential development.
For homeowners, architects, building designers and builders navigating current NatHERS targets, design implications and residential compliance pathways.
Send Your Plans for ReviewIn Brief
A 7 Star NatHERS rating is a thermal-performance outcome under Australia’s Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. It is not a separate assessment system: NatHERS is the rating framework, while 7 Star represents the current residential benchmark for improved dwelling thermal performance.
A 7 Star result generally indicates that a home is expected to require less heating and cooling energy to remain comfortable than a home designed to the former 6 Star benchmark. The result is influenced by how the dwelling fabric responds to its climate, including orientation, glazing, shading, insulation, ventilation, thermal mass and construction details.
For project teams, the 7 Star benchmark matters because it can influence design decisions before approval and final documentation. Where a proposed dwelling falls short, targeted improvements to the building envelope may be required. For information about the wider rating framework and assessment process, see the NatHERS Knowledge Hub.
NatHERS produces a thermal-performance rating from 0 to 10 stars. Seven stars is the current benchmark used to describe a higher-performing new dwelling.
It indicates improved expected thermal performance and lower heating and cooling demand than the former 6 Star minimum benchmark.
Climate, orientation, glazing, insulation, shading, ventilation, thermal mass and construction details all influence whether a dwelling reaches 7 Star.
Knowledge Navigation
Use this guide to understand what a 7 Star NatHERS outcome means, when the current benchmark may apply and which project factors can affect whether a new dwelling reaches the required thermal-performance level.
Rating Outcome
Understand where 7 Star sits within the NatHERS rating scale and what the benchmark indicates about expected heating and cooling demand.
Current Benchmark
Review when new residential projects may need to demonstrate performance against the current 7 Star NatHERS benchmark.
Design Evidence
See the design information commonly used to determine whether the dwelling fabric can achieve the required 7 Star outcome.
Reaching the Benchmark
Understand how design complexity, documentation quality and the need for thermal-performance improvements can affect the work required to reach 7 Star.
Certificates & Ratings
A 7 Star NatHERS Certificate formally records that a new dwelling has achieved a 7 Star thermal-performance rating through a NatHERS assessment. NatHERS is the wider rating framework, while 7 Star is the benchmark outcome documented on the certificate.
The certificate may be used as evidence that the dwelling design reaches the required thermal-performance level for its relevant residential approval or compliance pathway. In NSW, the NatHERS result may support the thermal-performance component of BASIX. In other jurisdictions, it may form part of the documentation used to demonstrate applicable National Construction Code requirements.
A 7 Star result indicates improved expected thermal performance and lower modelled heating and cooling demand than the former 6 Star benchmark. The certificate does not, by itself, describe total household energy use or the performance of appliances, hot water, solar systems or batteries. Those broader operational matters sit within related pathways such as Whole of Home.
Seven stars is the current benchmark used to describe improved thermal performance for many new residential projects.
The star result represents the dwelling’s modelled heating and cooling demand. Read more about what a 7 Star NatHERS rating means.
The formal project documentation that records the NatHERS rating and confirms whether the dwelling has achieved 7 Star.
In simple terms: NatHERS is the rating framework, 7 Star is the thermal-performance benchmark, and the certificate is the formal documentation that records whether the dwelling has achieved that outcome.
Rating Method
A 7 Star NatHERS rating is determined through thermal-performance modelling. The proposed dwelling is assessed within the NatHERS framework to estimate how much heating and cooling energy it is expected to require to maintain comfortable indoor conditions.
The result is expressed on a scale from 0 to 10 stars. Higher star ratings generally represent lower modelled heating and cooling demand. A 7 Star NatHERS rating confirms that the dwelling has reached the current thermal-performance benchmark within that scale; it is not a separate assessment system.
Whether a dwelling reaches 7 Star depends on how effectively its fabric responds to the local climate. Orientation, window placement, glazing performance, insulation, shading, ventilation, construction type and thermal mass can all change the final result. This is why dwellings with similar floor areas may require different design responses to achieve the same 7 Star benchmark.
NatHERS uses a 0 to 10 star scale. Seven stars represents the current benchmark for improved thermal performance in many new dwellings.
The dwelling fabric is modelled using its design, construction details and local climate data to determine whether it reaches 7 Star.
A 7 Star result indicates lower expected heating and cooling demand than the former 6 Star minimum benchmark.
Targeted improvements to orientation response, glazing, insulation, shading, ventilation and construction details can help reduce modelled heating and cooling demand. See how to improve a NatHERS rating during design.
If the dwelling does not reach 7 Star, targeted changes to the building envelope may be needed before the benchmark can be documented. Read more about what happens if a home falls short of its required NatHERS rating.
In simple terms: The NatHERS model estimates the dwelling’s heating and cooling demand. The star rating records the result. Seven stars confirms that the design has reached the current thermal-performance benchmark within the NatHERS scale.
Current Benchmark
A 7 Star NatHERS rating represents the current thermal-performance benchmark for many new residential projects under NCC 2022 and corresponding jurisdictional requirements. It is a rating outcome within the NatHERS system, used to demonstrate that a dwelling achieves a higher level of expected thermal performance than the former 6 Star benchmark.
The change places greater emphasis on how the dwelling itself responds to its climate through orientation, glazing, insulation, shading, construction and passive design. A 7 Star outcome generally indicates lower modelled heating and cooling demand than the former minimum benchmark, although the exact compliance requirements can depend on the dwelling type, jurisdiction and applicable approval provisions.
For many new houses, the current minimum thermal-performance requirement is equivalent to 7 Star on the NatHERS scale, subject to the applicable jurisdiction and project provisions.
The rating reflects expected heating and cooling demand based on the dwelling fabric and design, rather than appliances, solar systems or occupant behaviour.
Homes that respond well to climate, orientation, solar gain, shading, glazing and insulation are generally better positioned to reach the 7 Star benchmark.
A 7 Star dwelling is generally expected to require less heating and cooling energy than a dwelling designed to the former 6 Star benchmark, supporting improved thermal comfort and building performance.
A 7 Star outcome is usually achieved through coordinated decisions across the dwelling fabric rather than through one isolated product choice. See how to improve a NatHERS rating during design.
In simple terms: Seven stars is the current thermal-performance benchmark for many new homes. It is a result within the NatHERS scale, used to demonstrate improved dwelling-fabric performance compared with the former 6 Star standard.
Project Requirements
A 7 Star NatHERS Certificate may be needed where a new residential project uses NatHERS to demonstrate that the dwelling reaches the current thermal-performance benchmark. The certificate records the modelled star rating and can support the project’s relevant approval or residential energy-compliance documentation.
The 7 Star benchmark is most commonly relevant to new houses, townhouses, dual occupancies and apartment developments. However, the exact rating requirement can depend on the dwelling type, project location, applicable NCC provisions, jurisdictional transition arrangements and chosen compliance pathway. For broader information about when thermal modelling is required, see when a NatHERS assessment is required.
Alterations and additions may also require residential energy-compliance documentation, but they do not automatically require a 7 Star outcome. Their requirements depend on the scope of work and the applicable approval pathway. Read more about whether renovations can require NatHERS.
New detached homes commonly need to demonstrate performance against the current residential thermal benchmark where a NatHERS pathway is used.
Multi-dwelling developments may require separate dwelling ratings and project-level consideration because orientation, exposure, glazing and shared construction vary.
Existing-home projects may have energy requirements, but the current 7 Star new-home benchmark does not automatically apply to every renovation.
In NSW, a NatHERS rating may support the thermal-performance component of BASIX where that pathway applies. Read more about BASIX and NatHERS in NSW.
Outside NSW, the NatHERS result may form part of the documentation used to demonstrate the applicable residential thermal-performance requirement.
Project note: Whether your project needs to demonstrate a 7 Star NatHERS outcome depends on its location, dwelling type and approval pathway. Send your plans for NatHERS review and Certified Energy can identify the likely rating requirement.
Design Information
To determine whether a new dwelling reaches the 7 Star NatHERS benchmark, the assessor needs enough architectural and construction information to model the proposed dwelling fabric accurately. The documentation should show how the design responds to its climate through orientation, glazing, insulation, shading, ventilation and construction details.
Clear and coordinated information makes it easier to identify whether the design is likely to achieve 7 Star and where targeted changes may be needed. For the broader assessment-document checklist, see what documents are needed for a NatHERS assessment.
The rating must reflect the proposed dwelling accurately. Missing glazing, insulation or construction information can delay confirmation of the 7 Star outcome.
The documented design is modelled within the NatHERS framework to test its expected heating and cooling demand against the 7 Star benchmark.
The result shows whether the design reaches 7 Star and which parts of the dwelling fabric may need refinement if it falls short.
Reaching 7 Star usually depends on the dwelling fabric working as a coordinated system rather than one isolated product upgrade.
Orientation can affect solar gains, glazing exposure and heating and cooling demand. Read more about why house orientation matters for NatHERS.
Window area, glazing performance, orientation and shading must be considered together when working toward 7 Star. See how window design affects NatHERS ratings.
Early modelling provides more opportunity to refine the dwelling fabric before changes become difficult or costly. See how to improve a NatHERS rating during design.
Project note: The best time to test whether a dwelling can achieve 7 Star is before its main fabric, glazing and shading decisions are fully locked. This leaves more opportunity to reach the benchmark through coordinated design rather than late-stage product substitutions.
Time & Cost
The time required to confirm a 7 Star NatHERS outcome depends on the size and complexity of the project, the number of dwellings, the quality of the available documentation and whether the initial design already reaches the benchmark. A well-documented single dwelling that performs strongly in the first model will usually be more straightforward than a multi-dwelling project requiring design refinement.
For many standard single-dwelling projects, an initial assessment may commonly be completed within approximately 2 to 5 business days after the required information has been received. Additional time may be needed where the design falls short of 7 Star, documentation is incomplete or several optimisation options need to be tested. For broader process information, see how long a NatHERS assessment takes.
The cost of assessing and documenting a 7 Star NatHERS outcome depends on the project size, dwelling count, design complexity and level of thermal modelling required. A fixed upfront fee can usually be provided after the drawings and available specifications have been reviewed.
The amount of work can also depend on whether the proposed dwelling reaches 7 Star in the initial model. Where it falls short, additional modelling may be needed to compare practical changes to glazing, insulation, shading or construction details. For broader pricing information, see how much a NatHERS assessment costs.
A single dwelling is generally more straightforward than a townhouse or apartment project in which several orientations, layouts and exposure conditions must be assessed.
Complex roof forms, extensive glazing, exposed floors, varied shading conditions and non-standard construction systems can increase the modelling required to confirm 7 Star.
If the initial design falls short, further modelling may be needed to identify coordinated and practical improvements that can bring the dwelling to the benchmark.
The 7 Star benchmark is best tested while the project team can still adjust the main dwelling-fabric decisions. Early modelling provides more flexibility to coordinate glazing, shading, insulation, orientation response and construction details without relying on late-stage substitutions.
A project that is already approaching approval can still be assessed, but fewer design options may remain if the initial model falls short. See how to improve a NatHERS rating during design.
Project note: The fastest way to confirm the likely timeframe and fee is to send the current drawings and specifications for review. Certified Energy can then identify the dwelling scope, documentation status and likely level of work required to demonstrate or optimise the 7 Star outcome.
Core Insight
A 7 Star NatHERS outcome shows that a proposed dwelling has reached the current benchmark for improved thermal performance. It indicates that the dwelling fabric and design are expected to require less heating and cooling energy than a comparable home designed to the former 6 Star benchmark.
The result does not simply describe one product or construction feature. It reflects how orientation, glazing, insulation, shading, ventilation, thermal mass and local climate response work together across the dwelling. The relevant NatHERS certificate or report formally records whether the required 7 Star outcome has been achieved.
Core
Insight
Reaching 7 Star indicates lower modelled heating and cooling demand than the former 6 Star benchmark. It reflects the thermal performance of the dwelling itself rather than appliance energy, solar generation or occupant behaviour.
Outcome
A documented 7 Star result confirms that the proposed design has reached the applicable NatHERS benchmark for improved dwelling thermal performance.
In simple terms: a 7 Star NatHERS outcome shows that the dwelling’s orientation, fabric, glazing, insulation and shading work together well enough to reach the current thermal-performance benchmark.
Assessment Process
NatHERS star ratings are assessed through a structured thermal modelling process. An accredited assessor uses recognised NatHERS software to model the dwelling, estimate heating and cooling demand and calculate the final star rating.
For a project aiming for 7 Star, the process helps identify whether the design, building fabric and climate response are strong enough to meet the required benchmark. The modelling is based on the home’s design information, not on appliances or how future occupants will use the home.
Step 1
The assessor enters the dwelling information into NatHERS software, including room sizes, layout, openings, construction materials, glazing, orientation, location and other relevant design inputs.
Step 2
The software estimates how the dwelling is expected to respond to local climate conditions and how much heating or cooling may be needed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
Step 3
The model estimates annual heating and cooling demand based on the dwelling design, assumed comfort conditions, climate zone and thermal behaviour of the building fabric.
Step 4
The estimated heating and cooling demand is converted into a NatHERS star rating from 0 to 10. A 7 Star result means the design has reached the current benchmark for many new residential projects.
NatHERS assessments are completed using approved software tools. Read more about NatHERS rating tools such as AccuRate, BERS Pro and Hero.
The final rating depends on the information provided. Plans, glazing details, construction specifications and insulation details all affect the modelled outcome.
In simple terms: a NatHERS assessment turns the design into a thermal model. The model estimates heating and cooling demand, then converts that result into a star rating. For this page, the key question is whether the model reaches the 7 Star benchmark.
Design Optimisation
Reaching the 7 Star NatHERS benchmark does not always require major construction-cost increases. In many projects, the most effective pathway comes from coordinating the dwelling fabric early rather than relying on expensive upgrades after the design has been finalised.
Orientation, layout, glazing, shading, insulation, ventilation and construction details can all affect whether a dwelling achieves 7 Star. When these decisions are considered together during design, there is often more opportunity to reduce heating and cooling demand without adding unnecessary complexity to the build.
The objective is not simply to add more insulation or specify higher-cost products until the rating improves. A cost-conscious 7 Star response begins by identifying which parts of the dwelling are preventing it from reaching the benchmark, then testing targeted and practical changes. Read more about how to improve a NatHERS rating during design.
Early decisions about orientation, glazing, shading and dwelling layout can make the 7 Star benchmark easier to reach before plans are fully locked.
Thermal modelling can identify whether glazing, insulation, shading, construction or climate response is preventing the dwelling from reaching 7 Star.
Testing the 7 Star outcome early can reduce the risk of costly substitutions or design changes after documentation and approval decisions have advanced.
Project note: The most cost-effective time to test and improve a 7 Star outcome is usually before the main orientation, glazing, shading and construction decisions are finalised. Once these elements are fixed, the remaining options may be more limited or expensive.
Assessment Support
For a project that needs to reach the 7 Star NatHERS benchmark, the assessor should be able to do more than document the final rating. They should understand how the dwelling fabric, climate response and design decisions interact, particularly where the initial model falls short of 7 Star.
Effective assessment support can help the project team understand whether 7 Star is likely to be achieved, which design elements are limiting the result and which targeted changes may improve heating and cooling performance without unnecessary redesign. For broader information about assessor requirements, see who can perform a NatHERS assessment.
The assessment and certificate should be completed through the appropriate NatHERS accreditation, software and documentation pathway for the project.
The assessor should be able to identify how glazing, insulation, orientation, shading, ventilation and construction details are affecting the dwelling’s ability to reach 7 Star.
Clear, targeted recommendations can help the project team reach the benchmark without relying on poorly coordinated or unnecessarily expensive late-stage upgrades.
Project note: For a 7 Star project, useful assessment support should clarify whether the benchmark has been reached, explain what is holding the design back when it has not, and identify practical dwelling-fabric changes that suit the project.
Glazing Performance
Window performance can strongly influence whether a dwelling reaches the 7 Star NatHERS benchmark. Glazing affects heat loss, unwanted heat gain, solar access and the modelled heating and cooling demand of the home.
Double glazing can help a design reach 7 Star, particularly where windows are a significant source of heat transfer. However, double glazing is not an automatic requirement for every 7 Star home. Its benefit depends on the local climate, window area, orientation, frame performance, glass specification, shading and the thermal response of each room.
For this reason, glazing should be assessed as part of the coordinated dwelling design rather than treated as a standalone solution. In some projects, targeted changes to window size, placement, shading or frame and glass performance may provide a more practical pathway to 7 Star. Read more about how window design affects NatHERS ratings.
Double glazing can reduce heat transfer and help lower modelled heating and cooling demand where window performance is limiting the 7 Star result.
The same glazing system can produce different results depending on orientation, window area, room use and exposure to seasonal sun.
Glazing and shading need to work together. Poorly controlled solar gain can increase cooling demand even where higher-performing glazing is specified.
Project note: Double glazing can support a 7 Star outcome, but it is not universally required and should not be specified in isolation. The most effective response depends on how glazing type, frame performance, window area, orientation and shading work together across the dwelling.
Finance Context
Some lenders may recognise residential energy-performance evidence when assessing eligibility for a green home loan, discounted rate or related finance incentive. For a new dwelling, a 7 Star NatHERS Certificate may help demonstrate that the proposed home has achieved the current benchmark for improved thermal performance.
Finance eligibility is determined by the lender rather than by NatHERS. Accepted rating levels, certificate formats, project stages and other loan conditions can differ between lenders and products. A 7 Star NatHERS Certificate may therefore provide supporting evidence, but it does not automatically establish eligibility or guarantee finance approval.
The certificate records the new dwelling’s modelled thermal-performance result. It does not assess the applicant’s financial circumstances or confirm that the home satisfies every broader sustainability criterion a lender may use. Any potential finance benefit should therefore be checked directly with the relevant lender or finance professional.
A NatHERS Certificate records the new dwelling’s modelled star rating and whether it has achieved a 7 Star thermal-performance outcome.
Each lender determines its own accepted evidence, qualifying rating level, application requirements and finance conditions.
Confirm whether the lender accepts a 7 Star NatHERS Certificate, which certificate stage is required and whether additional energy or sustainability evidence is needed.
Project note: A 7 Star NatHERS Certificate may support a green home loan application where the lender accepts new-home NatHERS evidence. The relevant eligibility, documentation and finance requirements should always be confirmed directly with the lender or broker.
Comfort & Efficiency
The 7 Star NatHERS benchmark matters because it requires many new dwellings to achieve stronger modelled thermal performance than the former 6 Star standard. The rating reflects how effectively the dwelling fabric and design are expected to limit heating and cooling demand within the relevant climate.
A dwelling that reaches 7 Star is generally expected to require less artificial heating and cooling than a comparable dwelling designed to the former benchmark. Coordinated decisions about orientation, glazing, insulation, shading, ventilation and construction can also support more stable indoor conditions across seasonal changes.
A 7 Star result does not guarantee identical comfort, energy use or electricity bills for every household. Actual outcomes also depend on construction quality, installed systems, local weather and occupant behaviour. The benchmark nevertheless provides a stronger thermal-performance foundation before appliances and operational energy use are considered. Read more about why thermal comfort matters more than energy bills.
Reaching 7 Star indicates stronger modelled dwelling-fabric performance than the former 6 Star benchmark.
The benchmark represents lower expected heating and cooling demand, rather than total household energy use or guaranteed energy bills.
The 7 Star benchmark encourages climate, orientation, glazing, insulation, shading and construction to be considered as connected dwelling-fabric decisions.
In simple terms: a 7 Star NatHERS outcome shows that the dwelling fabric is expected to require less heating and cooling than the former 6 Star benchmark. It provides a stronger thermal foundation, while actual comfort and household energy use still depend on how the home is built, equipped and occupied.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 7 Star NatHERS rating is a thermal-performance outcome within the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. NatHERS is the wider rating framework, while 7 Star represents the current benchmark for improved thermal performance in many new dwellings.
The result reflects how the dwelling fabric and design respond to local climate through orientation, construction, insulation, glazing, shading, ventilation and thermal mass.
In many Australian jurisdictions, new residential projects now need to demonstrate thermal performance equivalent to a 7 Star NatHERS outcome under current residential energy-efficiency provisions.
The exact requirement can depend on the state or territory, dwelling type, approval date and chosen compliance pathway. For broader context, see when a NatHERS assessment is required.
A 7 Star NatHERS assessment shows whether the proposed dwelling reaches the current thermal-performance benchmark within the NatHERS scale.
It estimates heating and cooling demand based on the dwelling fabric, layout, orientation, glazing, insulation, shading, construction and climate zone. For the broader assessment framework, see the NatHERS Knowledge Hub.
No. The 7 Star thermal rating focuses on the dwelling fabric and the modelled heating and cooling demand needed to maintain comfortable indoor conditions.
Major fixed appliances, hot water, lighting, solar and batteries sit within broader operational-energy pathways such as Whole of Home.
The 7 Star NatHERS benchmark relates to the thermal performance of the dwelling fabric. It indicates how the building itself is expected to manage heat gain, heat loss and heating and cooling demand.
Whole of Home considers broader operational systems, including heating and cooling equipment, hot water, lighting, cooking, pool and spa equipment, solar and batteries where relevant. Read more about NatHERS and Whole of Home.
Whether a dwelling reaches 7 Star can be influenced by orientation, window size and placement, glazing performance, insulation, wall and roof construction, floor type, thermal mass, shading, ventilation and local climate.
Large areas of poorly controlled glazing, weak insulation or limited climate response can make the benchmark harder to reach. Coordinated dwelling-fabric decisions can support a stronger result. See how to improve a NatHERS rating during design.
The 7 Star benchmark should ideally be tested before the main dwelling-fabric decisions are fully locked.
Early modelling provides more opportunity to adjust glazing, insulation, shading, orientation response and construction details if the initial design falls short.
Yes. A proposed dwelling may fall below 7 Star where its fabric, glazing, shading, orientation or construction details do not provide sufficient thermal performance for the local climate.
Targeted changes to glazing, insulation, shading, window area or construction specifications may help bring the dwelling to the benchmark. Read more about what happens if a home falls short of its required NatHERS rating.
The assessor generally needs floor plans, elevations, sections, orientation information, window and door details, construction types, insulation levels and fixed-shading information.
Clear and coordinated documentation helps determine whether the dwelling reaches 7 Star and where design refinement may be required. See what documents are needed for a NatHERS assessment.
No. A 7 Star NatHERS result is a thermal-performance rating outcome, while BASIX is the NSW planning and sustainability framework used for many residential projects.
For NSW projects, NatHERS modelling may support the thermal-performance component of BASIX, but BASIX also includes broader water and energy commitments. Read more about BASIX and NatHERS in NSW.
A 7 Star result indicates stronger modelled thermal performance than the former 6 Star benchmark, but it does not guarantee every aspect of building quality or occupant experience.
Construction quality, moisture management, ventilation, daylight, installed services, materials and long-term use also influence how the completed home performs. See what is considered a good NatHERS rating.
The 7 Star benchmark raises the expected thermal-performance baseline for many new Australian dwellings compared with the former 6 Star standard.
It places greater emphasis on climate-responsive dwelling fabric, orientation, glazing, insulation and shading before operational systems and appliances are considered.
Related Reading
Seven Star is one thermal-performance benchmark within the broader NatHERS framework. Continue to the parent NatHERS guide, Whole of Home operational-energy guidance or the BASIX pathway relevant to many NSW residential projects.
Parent Knowledge Hub
Explore the wider NatHERS assessment framework, including thermal modelling, dwelling star ratings, certificates and new-home assessment pathways.
Operational Energy Context
Learn how fixed appliances, hot water, lighting, heating and cooling systems, solar and batteries are considered beyond the dwelling-fabric star rating.
NSW Project Context
See how NatHERS modelling may support the thermal-performance component of BASIX for eligible NSW residential projects.
Project Review
Send the available residential plans, elevations, specifications and glazing information for an initial review. Certified Energy can assess whether the proposed dwelling fabric is positioned to achieve a 7 Star NatHERS outcome and identify the likely level of assessment or optimisation required.
Where the design falls short of the benchmark, early thermal modelling can help identify practical improvements across orientation response, insulation, glazing, shading and construction before the project progresses further through approval or construction documentation.
Last reviewed: June 2026. This page is maintained by Certified Energy as part of its NatHERS Knowledge Hub.
