Nathers Rating Pathway

Credit 15B - GHG Emissions Reduction - Up To 16 Points Available

Up to 16 points are available where a NatHERS rating and ‘best practice’ building attributes demonstrate that the predicted building GHG emissions have been reduced compared to a typical dwelling or residence.

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Compliance Requirements

Up to 16 points are available under this pathway. Points are awarded on a continuous scale for the energy intensity reduction of the dwelling through improved thermal performance; and more efficient lighting, ventilation, building sealing, domestic hot water, and appliances and equipment. Final rounding to a whole number occurs in the Green Star total score calculation.

Nathers Rating Pathway

Project teams must demonstrate that the project achieves a minimum NatHERS 0.5-Star rating improvement on the minimum legislated area-weighted average. Each unit must also achieve a minimum NatHERS 0.5-Star rating over the individual rating requirement as specified in Section J0.2a of the NCC.

 

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Thermal and Energy Performance

Up to six points are awarded when NatHERS is used to predict the project’s thermal and energy performance. Points are awarded on the calculated reduction of energy intensity in the base MJ/m2 metric rather than the NatHERS star rating score. Design checks for HVAC and natural ventilation are included within these points. Another 10 points are awarded for when specifications and design checks for lighting, domestic hot water and appliance efficiencies are also achieved. A total of 16 points are presented, however a maximum of 10 points may be awarded.

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1 point is awarded where the following occurs:

  • The lighting power density is reduced by at least 10% below the maximum lighting power density allowable in Table J6.2a. This requirement applies to both sole-occupancy units and all common areas accessible by residents. Allowances may NOT be traded between sole-occupancy units and other parts of the building;
  • Independent light switching must be provided to each room of each sole-occupancy unit. Where open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas are provided, each functional area must be separately switched; and
  • All common areas accessible by residents must be provided with automated lighting control system(s), such as occupant detection and daylight adjustment.

2 points are awarded where all installed HVAC equipment complies with the following:

15B.2.2A Mechanically Conditioned Spaces
For spaces provided with mechanical conditioning:

  • The minimum cooling system energy star rating for the air conditioning equipment is at least 3-star as per AS 3823.2-2013; and

  • The rated cooling or heating capacity of the unit does not exceed the design cooling or heating load, whichever is greater, by more than 15%, or the project team can demonstrate they have selected the unit with the closest capacity available on the market. || R3.15.15

15B.2.2B Spaces With Mechanical Heating Only

For spaces provided with heating (but not provided with mechanical cooling):

  • The minimum energy star rating for the heating equipment is at least 3-star and

  • The rated capacity of the heating equipment does not exceed the design heating load by more than 20%.

15B.2.2C Naturally Ventilated Spaces
For naturally ventilated spaces (apartments with no mechanical cooling)

  • Compliance is achieved with the Provision of Outdoor Air (9.2C) criterion;

  • Effective cross ventilation is provided in all apartments; and

  • Ceiling fans are installed in apartments.

Up to 2 points are awarded where the domestic hot water service complies with the following requirements:

  • A solar thermal heating system is provided which contributes at least 30% of the annual thermal energy requirement for water heating (1.5 points available); and
  • The primary non-renewable heat source for domestic hot water is either an electric heat pump with a minimum COP of 3.5, or heat recovered from another process (0.5 points available).

1 point is awarded when appliances are present in all units, and all appliances installed have a minimum Energy Star rating of 1-star below the maximum Energy Star rating available for that appliance type and capacity. Appliances included in this credit are:

  • Refrigerators/freezers;

  • Dishwashers;

  • Clothes washers; and

  • Clothes dryers.

This point only applies to installed appliances; it does not require their installation. If no appliances are installed, this point cannot be claimed.

1 point is awarded where no fossil fuels are burned on site to generate electricity, heating, or cooling and either:

  • at least 15% of energy required by the building is generated by on site renewable solutions; or
  • three points have been achieved from 15B.1

Where a minor amount of fossil fuel (less than 1% of total energy consumption) is used on site for purposes where it can be demonstrated that there are no commercially viable alternatives available (e.g. cooking or emergency generators), Renewable Energy Certificates equal to these emissions for the period of ten years following practical completion must be purchased and retired upfront, or through a contractual agreement with the utility. The RECs purchased must be recognised as directly supporting renewable energy generation in Australia. Refer to the Renewables and Offsets in Green Star Guide for more details.

1 point is awarded where the on-site storage complies with the following conditions:

  • A renewable energy storage procurement and use strategy has been developed to demonstrate the storage is sized to match the requirements of the building and that value will be provided to the project;

  • The stored renewable energy is used to reduce the peak electricity demand; and

  • A project installs and uses electricity storage such that on-site or off- site renewable energy not used by the building is able to be stored and used by the building.

1 point is awarded where the energy associated with lift machinery or other vertical transportation complies with the following conditions:

  • The minimum lift energy efficiency is class A or B in accordance with ISO 25745-2; and
  • The lift idle and standby energy performance level is 1 in accordance with ISO 25745-2.
  • The minimum escalator energy performance is class A+ to A+++ in accordance with ISO 25745-3.

Where projects have both lifts and escalator installed, all three criteria must be met. Where only one vertical transportation system is present, the associated criteria with the non-present system can be considered ‘not applicable’ and not required to be met.

1 point is awarded where 95% of all dwellings contain laundry facilities which meet one of the following conditions;

  • Have been provided with external drying balconies; or
  • Contain an internal, or external clothesline or hoists as follows:
    • 4m total line length minimum for studios, 1 and 2 bedroom units and;
    • 6m total line length minimum for 3 or more bedroom units;

1 point is awarded where unoccupied areas are naturally ventilated and meet the following conditions;

Common Areas

  • 95% of the net floor area of the common lobbies meet the requirements of ‘Provision of Outdoor Air’ criterion (9.2C); and

  • The openable size of windows must be 5% or more of the net floor area on a floor by floor basis.

Enclosed Car Parking

  • Vehicle exhaust criterion of the ‘Exhausting the Pollutants Directly to the Outside’ criterion (9.3C) must be achieved through natural ventilation

  • Where enclosed car parking is not provided, this requirement is considered ‘not applicable.’

Projects which have committed to procure Off-site renewable electricity are rewarded additional points for supporting grid-connected renewable energy supply infrastructure.

  • 2 points are awarded where at least six points in this pathway have been achieved, and a supply contract is in place to procure at least 50% of the building’s electricity consumption through Off-site renewable electricity solutions.
  • 5 points are awarded where at least 10 points in this pathway have been achieved, and a supply contract is in place to procure 100% of the building’s electricity consumption through Off-site renewable electricity solutions.

The length of time of the commitment is for a minimum period of ten years after Practical Completion. 

||Points awarded under this credit element cannot count towards meeting the Minimum Requirement for 5 and 6 star ratings.

Refer to the Fact Sheet: Renewables and Offsets in Green Star for additional details on acceptable Off-site renewable electricity procurement.

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