A 7 star NatHERS rating is now the minimum standard for most new homes in Australia.
But while the requirement is clear, what actually defines a well-performing home is often misunderstood.
Achieving 7 stars is not about adding more upgrades.
It is about how the home is designed from the beginning.
This article explains what makes a 7 star home, how the rating works, and what to focus on when designing or building.
A 7 star home is designed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with minimal reliance on heating and cooling.
This is measured using the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), which rates homes from 0 to 10 based on thermal performance.
A higher rating means:
Importantly, the rating focuses on the building design — not appliances or occupant behaviour.
A common misconception is that higher ratings come from adding features.
In reality, performance is driven by a small number of key design decisions.
The position of the home relative to the sun has the biggest impact.
How spaces are arranged affects how heat moves through the home.
Windows are one of the most influential elements in a NatHERS model.
Performance depends on:
Double glazing can help — but only when used in the right context.
Shading is often underestimated.
It controls:
Well-designed shading can reduce the need for high-spec glazing.
The building envelope determines how heat is stored and transferred.
A NatHERS assessment uses thermal modelling software to simulate how a home performs across a full year.
The process includes:
The result reflects how efficiently the home maintains comfort.
Higher performing homes require less heating and cooling.
Temperatures remain more stable throughout the year.
Energy-efficient homes are increasingly valued in the market.
Well-designed homes perform better in extreme temperatures.
Yes — but it is often more complex than designing for it from the start.
Typical upgrades include:
The effectiveness depends on the existing design.
7 stars is a compliance benchmark — not necessarily optimal performance.
Some homes can achieve higher ratings with minimal additional cost when designed well.
The goal should not be to “hit 7” — but to create a well-performing home.
A 7 star home is not defined by features — but by design.
When orientation, layout, glazing, and materials are considered together, strong performance can be achieved efficiently.
The earlier these decisions are made, the easier and more cost-effective the outcome.