Team CE

Team CE

Articles written by the Certified Energy technical team covering NatHERS, BASIX and building performance in Australia.

Recent posts by Team CE

19 min read

Passive House Certification Benefits | Long-Term Performance

By Team CE on Aug 18, 2025 4:22:57 PM

Passive House Performance Guide

Passive House certification does not create low energy demand by itself. It provides independent quality assurance that the model, design information, construction evidence and final test results remain aligned with the intended building-performance outcome.

 

A building can begin with a strong performance objective and still change substantially before completion. Window substitutions, revised insulation, modified junctions, altered shading and unrecorded service changes may all affect the final energy balance.

Passive House certification introduces an independent review pathway through those changes. The process connects PHPP modelling with design documentation, selected products, airtightness results, ventilation information and the building that was actually constructed.

This article focuses on how certification can protect long-term energy and operating-cost outcomes. For the complete certification sequence, see the Passive House Certification Process Guide.

Topics: Passive House Residential Sustainability Frameworks
19 min read

Section J Costs: How to Control Compliance Costs

By Team CE on Aug 18, 2025 12:52:16 PM

The cost of Section J compliance is not limited to the fee for preparing a report.

The wider project cost can also be affected by the timing of the assessment, the quality of the available documentation, the number of design revisions and the way glazing, insulation, lighting and building services are coordinated.

A lower assessment fee does not necessarily produce the lowest overall project cost. An incomplete or poorly coordinated response can lead to additional modelling, revised drawings, product substitutions and approval delays.

The more useful question is therefore:

How can the project control Section J compliance costs without creating design, documentation or approval risk?

Topics: Section J Commercial
25 min read

How to Prepare for NatHERS Whole of Home Compliance

By Team CE on Aug 18, 2025 10:52:41 AM

Whole of Home Assessment Preparation

A smoother NatHERS Whole of Home assessment depends on confirming the project pathway, coordinating the thermal model and household systems, and ensuring the final plans and specifications match the assessed dwelling.

 

Preparing for a NatHERS Whole of Home assessment is not simply a matter of adding solar panels or selecting efficient appliances near the end of design.

The Whole of Home result is connected to the thermal performance of the dwelling and to the heating, cooling, hot-water, cooking, lighting, pool, spa, solar and battery information represented in the assessment. When these inputs are incomplete or inconsistent, the project may require additional assumptions, design changes or repeated modelling before certification.

The objective is therefore not only to reach an applicable rating benchmark. It is to reach that outcome using a coordinated design that can be documented, approved and constructed as assessed.

Topics: NatHERS Whole-of-Home Residential Energy Performance
2 min read

Choosing the Right Hot Water System for Your Energy-Saving Home

By Team CE on Aug 18, 2025 10:41:09 AM

Discover how to select the best hot water system to enhance energy efficiency in your home.

Topics: NatHERS Whole-of-Home
13 min read

VURB for Complex Residential Designs | Australia

By Team CE on Aug 5, 2025 4:48:13 PM

 

Residential Compliance

Complex homes do not always fail because they are ambitious. They become difficult when glazing, geometry, shading and construction details interact in ways that a standard pathway may not explain clearly.

For some residential projects, Verification Using a Reference Building may be worth investigating as part of the compliance strategy. It is not a shortcut, and it is not automatically available for every home. It is a technical pathway that needs to be reviewed against the project location, building classification, documentation and applicable NCC provisions.

Topics: VURB Residential Compliance
12 min read

VURB Assessment Cost Australia | Pricing Guide

By Team CE on Aug 5, 2025 3:42:06 PM

VURB assessment costs in Australia are generally determined project by project rather than through one standard flat fee. The final cost depends on the dwelling, modelling scope, design complexity, documentation quality, required iterations and reporting or approval coordination.

Topics: VURB Residential Compliance
19 min read

When Does Section J Apply to Commercial Building Work?

By Team CE on Jul 30, 2025 4:38:55 PM

Section J is often associated with new commercial buildings, but it may also become relevant when an existing building is extended, refurbished, fitted out or changed to a different use.

Whether an assessment is required depends on the building classification, the proposed scope of work, the applicable National Construction Code provisions and the requirements of the certifier, building surveyor or approval authority.

Not every commercial renovation requires the entire existing building to be upgraded. However, work affecting the building fabric, glazing, lighting, air-conditioning or other regulated services may need to address relevant energy-efficiency requirements.

The more useful question is therefore:

Does Section J apply to the proposed building work, and which parts of the project need to be assessed?

Topics: Section J Commercial
2 min read

Exploring Software Tools For NatHERS Existing Home Assessments

By Team CE on Jul 29, 2025 10:02:03 AM

Discover the cutting-edge software tools propelling the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) towards its 2025 expansion to existing homes, and learn how they help assess and improve energy efficiency.
Topics: NatHERS NatHERS Existing Homes
2 min read

Everything You Need To Know About The NatHERS Existing Home Certificate

By Team CE on Jul 29, 2025 9:59:16 AM

Discover how the NatHERS Existing Home Certificate can transform your home's energy efficiency and increase its value.

Topics: NatHERS NatHERS Existing Homes
17 min read

Can You Start BASIX Before Plans Are Final? | NSW

By Team CE on Jul 28, 2025 11:30:22 AM

Can You Start a BASIX Assessment Before the Plans Are Finalised?

Yes. A BASIX assessment can begin before every drawing, specification and product selection is finalised. In many cases, starting before the approval set is completely locked provides useful time to identify thermal-performance issues, clarify missing information and coordinate practical design responses.

However, there is an important distinction between beginning a preliminary BASIX review and issuing the final BASIX Certificate. An early review can work with developing information. The final Certificate must be based on a sufficiently resolved design and must correspond with the plans and specifications being submitted for approval.

There is no universal rule that plans must be a particular percentage complete. Readiness depends on whether the available documents describe the building geometry, glazing, construction and relevant systems accurately enough for the assessment stage being undertaken.

Topics: BASIX Residential Compliance
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