Apartment buildings and residential flat buildings in NSW generally need BASIX as part of the residential approval pathway. These projects can be more complex than single dwellings or townhouse rows because the assessment may need to include many apartments, different dwelling types, common areas, central services, lifts, shared gardens, car parks, pools, spas and building-wide energy and water systems.
Residential energy assessment now considers more than the thermal performance of the building envelope. Heating and cooling systems, hot water, lighting, cooking, pool equipment and onsite renewable energy can all influence the wider performance of a new home.
NatHERS Whole of Home was developed nationally to represent this broader energy picture. In New South Wales, however, residential approval continues to operate through BASIX, which has its own Energy score, project commitments and Certificate.
The two systems are related, but they are not interchangeable. Understanding the boundary between the NatHERS thermal star rating, the Whole of Home rating and the BASIX Energy result helps prevent incorrect assumptions during design, documentation and certification.

