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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

So what sets a 7 star home apart in the world of energy efficient living?

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is now seeking consultation to include energy performance ratings for existing homes ahead of the launch in mid-2025. The recent updates to NatHERS will be leveraged to measure the home’s energy performance, providing ratings based on the home’s design, materials, constructions, fixed appliances, on-site energy generation and storage.

With the new NatHERs minimum set to change to a 7-star energy rating, you may be wondering how to go about building a new house that meets the target. 

If you are building homes then you probably have heard about the National Construction Code (NCC) and NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating System). And you may already know that the minimum energy rating will soon be changing from 6 star to 7 star. Meaning all of your projects will soon have to meet the 7 star energy rating threshold. Understandably, you will be worried about the extra costs associated with the extra star.

The National Construction Code (NCC formally known as the BCA) will soon require all new residential dwellings in Australia (Except NSW)* to achieve a minimum of a 7 Star Rating using the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), approved software.

Building for the Australian Climate.

A building’s access to sunlight is one of the leading factors contributing to its thermal comfort, with the amount of direct sunlight that the building receives greatly influencing the passive heating and cooling factors. However, as the sun’s path varies seasonally, accounting for the required direct sunlight a building needs becomes difficult. The eaves of building construction can maintain great benefits if used correctly.

The Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard is a program which rates the energy performance of residential homes on a 10 star ranking system and provides recommendations to home owners to reduce energy costs. The Scorecard provides an energy assessment with consideration of fixed heating and cooling appliances, hot water systems, window orientation and general structure of the home.