This article is a beginners guide to Thermal Performance Assessments. So if you need to know "What is Thermal Performance?" specifically the thermal performance of buildings, than you've come to the right place. Lets begin

Tips and Tricks to implement within your household to help reduce your carbon footprint and live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle! 

Want to learn more about optimising the thermal comfort of your project? Read below to learn the basics regarding the Thermal Mass capabilities in certain  building materials! 

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?

The Problem with Windows. 

Windows can have a drastic effect on the thermal performance of a building. Up to 40% of a home’s heat can be lost through conduction or radiation at the window, and up to 87% of its heat can enter through solar gain. This unwanted heat flow can be devastating for the energy efficiency of any project.

It is important that designers modify their designs in relation to the climate in which they are built in. In order for the occupants of a home to remain thermally comfortable, the design must work with the climate, not against it, decreasing the need to use heating and cooling systems.

NSW BASIX Regulation Update for Architects: