Deniro Stocks

Deniro Stocks

Deniro Stocks is the Digital Marketing Manager of Certified Energy

Recent posts by Deniro Stocks

3 min read

5 Quick Tips for Sustainable Home Design

By Deniro Stocks on Apr 30, 2020 4:12:02 PM

We've found 5 quick and easy tips that will help guide on how to make your decisions in building a sustainable home. 

Topics: Design ESD Glazing Emerging Materials Sustainability Energy Efficiency Climate Residential
16 min read

BASIX for New Homes vs Alterations and Additions NSW

By Deniro Stocks on Apr 28, 2020 11:09:14 AM

 

A BASIX assessment for a new home is not approached in exactly the same way as an assessment for an alteration, extension or second-storey addition. Both project types may need to demonstrate residential water, energy and thermal performance, but the starting point and assessment boundary can be different.

A new home can generally be assessed as one complete proposed dwelling. An alteration or addition begins with an existing building and requires the plans and assessment to distinguish between what is retained, removed, changed and newly constructed.

Understanding that distinction early helps architects, designers, builders and homeowners prepare the right information and avoid conflicting assumptions between the BASIX Certificate and the approval drawings. For a broader overview of the framework, see What Is BASIX? →

Topics: BASIX Alterations & Additions Residential Compliance
3 min read

The Basics of Passive Cooling

By Deniro Stocks on Apr 26, 2020 8:35:24 PM

Passive cooling is the cheapest method of cooling a home, and as an added bonus is incredibly environmentally friendly. No matter the climate you live in, you'll be using passive cooling to some extent throughout the year.

Whether you live in an apartment or a larger home, your home can be built or modified to allow you to take advantage of passive cooling systems to help you achieve greater comfort. If you already rely on mechanical cooling systems (like air conditioners) you can reduce your energy costs by combining these with passive cooling.

Choosing the most appropriate passive cooling strategies for your home should be guided by the climate you live in. We've listed some of the basic strategies below to get you started!

Topics: Design ESD Emerging Materials Sustainability Energy Efficiency Climate Materials Cooling
5 min read

4 Tips On An Eco-Friendly Christmas

By Deniro Stocks on Nov 13, 2019 10:16:11 AM

Did you know that Christmas is one of the most wasteful times of the year? During Christmas alone, Australians throw out 140-150 tonnes of purchased food, check out 4 easy tips to make this Christmas the most sustainable yet in your household.

Topics: Sustainability Christmas
2 min read

What you need to know about the National Construction Code Calculator

By Deniro Stocks on Oct 31, 2019 1:00:00 PM

The National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 has brought in a raft of changes including a facade calculator which will assist in providing compliance for wall and glazing provisions. This will make the process for JV3 reports amongst other certifications to continue to reduce the carbon footprint for future building plans.

Topics: NCC Sustainability Accreditations JV3 Climate Commercial
2 min read

Building Ethics - Why We Need Them

By Deniro Stocks on Oct 24, 2019 11:00:00 AM

Earlier this year a structural engineer in Darwin was caught out on building design as it deemed to be considered non-compliant with the National Construction Code. The engineer was rightfully suspended of his engineering registration by the Northern Territory's Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DPIL).

Topics: Insider ESD BASIX NatHERS Accreditations Energy Efficiency Opinion Commercial
2 min read

Five Ways of Designing a Water Efficient Home

By Deniro Stocks on Oct 1, 2019 11:00:00 AM

With New South Wales currently going through a drought, now is the best time to find out ways of increasing water efficiency for your next residential project. This helps in working towards a BASIX certificate, here are five ways that you can design a water efficient home:

Topics: BASIX Energy Energy Efficiency Materials
20 min read

Indoor Environment Quality in BESS | Credits & Evidence

By Deniro Stocks on Aug 20, 2019 12:34:00 PM

BESS Indoor Environment Quality Guide

Indoor Environment Quality is a core BESS category addressing how proposed buildings provide daylight, ventilation, solar access and thermal comfort for occupants.

 

Indoor Environment Quality, commonly shortened to IEQ, is one of the categories assessed within BESS Buildings. The category does not provide a general rating of whether a building is healthy or comfortable. Instead, it applies defined credits to particular development types and requires project information or evidence to support the responses entered into the assessment.

The applicable IEQ credits change according to the project profile. An apartment development may be assessed for daylight access, natural ventilation, cross-flow ventilation and particular thermal-comfort measures. A non-residential development may instead require daylight, ventilation, shading, ceiling-fan or air-quality evidence relevant to its regular-use areas.

This guide explains how IEQ operates within BESS and what information may be required to substantiate the assessment. For the complete planning, scoring and report pathway, see the BESS Knowledge Hub.

Topics: BESS Residential Water & Planning
2 min read

Moore's NABERS dream - Reality or fantasy?

By Deniro Stocks on Aug 6, 2019 11:00:00 AM

In May 2018, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore wanted new commercial developments to reach a 5.5 NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) Energy Star Rating in a drive towards zero carbon emissions in Sydney CBD. But, how much of an impact will this make on Sydney's CBD area from a environmental sustainability perspective?

Topics: Insider NatHERS Energy Efficiency NABERS Opinion Commercial
2 min read

NatHERS Technical Note Update 2019 | What Changed

By Deniro Stocks on Jul 26, 2019 10:00:19 AM

Updated context: This article refers to a NatHERS Technical Note update from 2019. NatHERS requirements, software tools and residential energy efficiency settings have continued to evolve since then, including the later shift toward 7 Star NatHERS and Whole of Home energy performance under NCC 2022. For current NatHERS assessment guidance, start with our NatHERS Knowledge Hub.

The 2019 NatHERS Technical Note update introduced more detailed modelling requirements for property developers, builders, assessors and designers. At the time, the update raised an important question: would the new requirements support clearer residential energy assessments, or create additional pressure during the building design process?

Topics: NatHERS Energy Efficiency Insulation Thermal Performance Materials Cooling Residential