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

20 min read

NCC Section J Changes: What Changed in 2019, 2022 and 2025?

By Team CE on Apr 5, 2018, 4:00:00 PM

Section J has changed substantially across recent editions of the National Construction Code.

NCC 2019 delivered a major uplift in commercial building energy efficiency. NCC 2022 reorganised the framework and introduced new requirements for energy monitoring and future distributed-energy infrastructure. NCC 2025 moves further towards lower operational energy use through stronger commercial building requirements, including on-site solar photovoltaic systems for relevant buildings.

These editions should not be treated as interchangeable.

A Section J assessment prepared under NCC 2019 may use different clause references, calculation methods and minimum requirements from an assessment prepared under NCC 2022 or NCC 2025. The applicable edition may also depend on the project location, approval date, transitional arrangements and jurisdictional variations.

This guide explains the broad direction of change and what it may mean for architects, builders, developers and commercial project teams.

Topics: Section J Changes Commercial
8 min read

Do Green Roofs Help with BASIX in NSW? | Certified Energy

By Team CE on Nov 4, 2016, 4:24:06 PM

Do Green Roofs Help with BASIX in NSW?

Green roofs are increasingly considered in sustainable residential and mixed-use developments across New South Wales. They can provide valuable environmental and design benefits, but their relationship with a BASIX assessment is often misunderstood.

A green roof does not automatically earn a BASIX credit or replace the roof, insulation, glazing and building-services commitments needed to satisfy the assessment. Its influence depends on which parts of the system can be represented through the applicable BASIX and thermal performance methodology.

Topics: BASIX Emerging Materials Residential Compliance
16 min read

AAC in BASIX and NatHERS: Wall Performance | Certified Energy

By Team CE on Oct 28, 2016, 4:20:15 PM

Does AAC Improve BASIX and NatHERS Performance?

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, commonly known as AAC, is widely used in Australian residential construction as wall panels, blocks and lightweight masonry cladding systems. Its air-filled structure can provide useful thermal resistance while remaining substantially lighter than conventional concrete.

AAC can form part of a well-performing BASIX and NatHERS design, but the material does not automatically produce a higher energy rating. The result depends on the complete wall construction, including the AAC thickness, frame type, insulation, cavities, internal lining, external finish and any thermal bridging through the assembly.

Topics: BASIX Emerging Materials Residential Compliance
4 min read

U and R Values & Energy Rating: What do they mean?

By Team CE on Aug 19, 2016, 5:20:17 PM

In the field of ESD, two terms which constantly appear are the U and R values of products, but what do these mean? Whether referring to insulation or glazing each product on the market has a specific either U or R value. These values refer to the thermal performance of specific products and materials and how they assist in maintaining thermal control in a building or structure. These values are an integral part of the BASIX, NatHERS and Section J process in the NCC, which require specific values to be either entered into the glazing calculator for Section J reports or specific glazing types with predetermined U and SHGC values for BASIX and NatHERS along with specific R values for insulation and building materiality.

Topics: ESD Section J BASIX NatHERS Star Rating Accreditations
4 min read

Star Rating: How to Increase Your Star Rating for Free

By Team CE on Jul 1, 2016, 10:12:29 AM

The NCC sets a minimum acceptable thermal performance for residential dwellings by specifying a minimum 6 star rating for all new projects in Australia with the exception of NSW who are under the BASIX programme.

Topics: Design BASIX NatHERS Star Rating Accreditations
2 min read

DA Documentation: How to Avoid Drawing Lighting Plans at DA Stage

By Team CE on May 26, 2016, 3:04:14 PM

NSW BASIX Regulation Update for Architects:

Topics: Design NatHERS Accreditations Thermal Performance Residential
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