After a decade, the Australian government is increasing the energy efficiency standard for new homes. Previously, residential structures required a 6-star NatHERS rating to meet the minimum energy-efficiency standards.
With the new NCC regulations, the minimum energy-efficiency standard is increased to a 7-star rating under the nationwide house energy rating scheme.
While increasing energy-efficiency standards is great news for the environment, what does it mean for the developers and project owners?
Let’s find out!
Besides increasing energy ratings, the new guidelines also focus on a “whole-of-home” energy budget. This new implementation will allow developers and project owners to meet the new standard in several ways.
This standard will be applicable from May 2023, and all new homes need to comply with the new standards by October 2023.
Thankfully, increasing the energy rating from six to seven stars isn’t an overwhelming job. With smart designs and guidance from professional BASIX consultants, you can increase the energy rating easy to deliver more valuable homes. One of the best interventions to improve energy rating is leveraging solar energy.
With professional guidance, developers will not just benefit from reduced construction costs but also can enjoy a higher value of the developed property in the market.
Curious to understand how? Keep reading!
What is NatHERS?
NatHERS is an acronym for The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). This scheme assigns a rating based out of 10 to Australian residential structures depending on their energy performance.
Home features impacting your energy star rating include
- The overall design and layout of the home
- Insulation is planned on the floors, walls, and windows.
- Raw construction materials used for building the residential structure
- Orientation of the building
- Geographical location and climatic zone
The NatHERS energy rating Indicates the energy performance of a building. Simply, it measures how well your residential structure consumes and stores energy to maintain thermal comfort. You can easily improve your score with smart design choices and energy-efficient building concepts.
Rather than just a fancy metric for marketing purposes, the NatHERS rating directly illustrates how comfortable a home is for daily lifestyle and how much potential it offers for financial savings.
The best part? Simple, smart, and innovative designs can give you a 7-star rated home. You don’t necessarily need to bear the burden of expensive construction costs.
What Are the Benefits of a 7-Star NatHERS Rated Home?
7-stars NatHERS rated homes have the following advantages:
- Offers greater comfort throughout the year for the occupants.
- Less energy consumption for heating and cooling.
- Costs affordable to operate
- Creates minimal greenhouse gas emissions
- Sustainability and eco-friendly benefits drive better market value.
How Can Solar Energy Help Achieve A 7-Star NatHERS Rating?
Eliminating Gas as a Primary Energy Source
Previously, gas was considered a cleaner alternative to coal-fired electricity. However, with recent advancements in technology, gas doesn’t anymore qualify as a cheap or environmentally friendly energy source.
While opting for a completely renewable power source may sound challenging, new innovations in the energy-production domain make it easier than ever to replace gas as an energy source. With professional BASIX consultants, the transition can be even smoother.
Solar roofing on rooftop solar panels can produce clean and green energy. You don’t need to worry about carbon emissions. However, due to certain restrictions, only 16.5% of Australian households have installed solar panels or solar roofing.
The energy consumption of Australian households having solar panels and residential structures depending on gas might have similar energy requirements. However, residential buildings with solar panels will generate electricity from the sun rather than procuring it from the power grid. Therefore such homes do not produce carbon emissions.
Solar panels have become almost a necessity for 7-Stars NatHERS-rated homes. By consuming less energy from external sources, solar panels make the transition from 6 stars to 7 stars a smooth journey.
Benefits of Switching to Solar Energy
There are several ways solar power can help builders make the jump from 6 to 7 stars:
- Solar power and battery systems provide renewable and clean energy to eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
- Solar PV cell systems generate electricity from natural resources, i.e., sunlight, which can minimize the consumption of grid-supplied electricity.
- Solar heating systems can supply hot water systems for the home, minimizing the requirement for gas or electric heating.
- Installing solar PV roofing and solar heating water systems can help residential developers to achieve their optimal ratings and create more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable homes.
Other Ways To Achieve 7-Star NatHERS Rating.
While solar systems play a vital role in improving the energy rating of a house, Other important factors such as building orientation and passive cooling techniques can significantly contribute toward a 7-star NatHERS rating.
Building Orientation for Passive Heating
The orientation of a building plays a major role in reducing energy requirements. New residential developments should be constructed facing north to maximize capturing radiant heat during the winter months.
The same orientation will keep your home shaded during the summer, providing low-cost cooling.
When efficiently oriented and combined with other energy-efficient design aspects, your residential structure can reduce the need for heating and cooling systems.
Implementing Passive Cooling Strategies
Simple building strategies suggested by NatHERS and BASIX consultants you can help you enjoy passive cooling in your home. Planning windows on opposite sides of the residential property is a simple and efficient way to encourage natural ventilation.
Adding the proper insulation to the roofing can save up to 40% on the occupant’s cooling bills.
Adding smart and innovative shading can also minimize cooling costs, blocking up to 90% of heat during the summer months. By preventing direct sunlight from entering the home, you significantly minimize the need for air conditioning. Effective shading strategies include:
- Awnings
- External blinds
- Landscaping with Trees
- Eaves
- Pergolas
- Natural vegetation
Wrapping Up
Simple Modifications in the design and guidance from a professional consultant can help you achieve a seven-star NatHERS rating without any complication. Connect with a professional building consultant today and start your journey toward a futuristic residential project.
