Why Are Building Costs Rising?
2 min read
How to Manage Rising Building Costs for new builds and renovations
Topics: ESD Glazing Architecture Sustainability Changes Energy Efficiency Insulation Green Star Rating Residential Alterations & Additions
8 min read
What a 7 Star Energy Rating Means for Your Project
Project Guidance
What a 7 Star Energy Rating Means for Your Project
A 7 Star Energy Rating can influence the way a residential project is designed, documented and assessed. For many new homes, it means thermal performance needs to be considered earlier rather than treated as a final compliance check.
Topics: Energy NCC Sustainability Changes news
8 min read
How NatHERS Star Ratings Work (0–10 Explained)
NatHERS Explained
What Is a 7 Star Energy Rating?
A 7 Star Energy Rating usually refers to the thermal performance rating of a new home under NatHERS. It shows how well the home is expected to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with less reliance on artificial heating and cooling.
Topics: ESD NatHERS Star Rating Changes FAQ
6 min read
2019 Proposed NCC building fabric changes + how they affect you
The 2019 National Construction Code (NCC) is now imminent and if it seems like it’s been a while since the last major release, it has been a long but welcome 3 years since the Australian Building Codes Board shifted to triennial updates.
The proposed changes include a complete rewrite to the way the building fabric is assessed under Section J (Energy Efficiency). The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) committee working on this update claim to have “rewritten Section J in its entirety" [1] which is powerfully showcased through the 30% average increase to the energy efficiency stringency requirements.
So what does this mean to you, as a builder or an architect? How is this going to affect your project and does this mean an increased financial strain on your budget to comply with these new energy efficiency targets? In short it depends what climate zone you are building and to what extent how much renewable energy mix is within your local energy supply. The below table indicates the expected construction cost reduction or increased to comply with the new NCC based on your climate zone refer map below.
[1]Dr Paul Bannister – Reviewer for Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings DTS Modelling Report 2018 by Energy Action
Topics: Energy NCC ESD Section J Certification Update NCC Changes NABERS
4 min read
Proposed changes for National Construction Code Section J
The National Construction Code (NCC) is undergoing a massive overhaul in 2019 with Section J being significantly improved to combat rising greenhouse gases and improve the energy efficiency of commercial and residential buildings. A range of sustainability certification criterion will be affected, so if you are looking at beginning a new project in the next 12-18 months, these changes could be highly relevant.
