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At AENEC we use AccuRate Sustainability, FirstRate5 and BERS Pro; giving you all available options for NatHERS assessments/certifications to match
the special requirements of any project.
In addition we utilize CAD technology to perform data inputs for the best possible accuracy.
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Note: As Energy standards for new homes are set to rise in 2022, we recommend you start considering this factor for future projects. See in Link of our blog page.
We take the pleasure in introducing you to AENEC (Australian Energy Efficiency Consulting), an Australian company servicing the building sustainability industry and BCA compliance for over 9 years. We already service a large scale of clients ranging from small architectural firms, builders and to larger architectural firms and prime building developer companies.
We undertake the whole process of BASIX certification; including preliminary design advice when required, full calculations for thermal comfort requirements using AccuRate Sustainability, we provide expert advice for the best combinations in order to achieve BASIX Certificate compliance for energy and water sections. So far we have 100% success rate in terms of council submissions.
The aim is to obtain your BASIX Certificate and meet the minimum performance standards by using the most economical in terms of thermal performance materials/components based on the design parameters. When needed, we will recommend adjustments of materials/components in order to achieve the desirable results, for you.
AENEC will provide you the best available advice for BASIX commitments as well as in regards to the NatHERS (thermal comfort simulations) and will optimise the design of your new home (or existing one), by using the latest available engineering techniques and industry standards. At AENEC we understand that the commitments on BASIX certifications can be costly, so will act on your behalf in order to achieve optimum results.
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SO Why AENEC?
The quality of consultation is guaranteed and you will receive the best value for you hard earned money.
Building costs will be kept to minimum requirements, maximum performance or anything in between.
To provide you with all of the above we incorporate the latest developments in the building industry through membership, accreditation and CPD programs. We are fully insured for a complete piece of mind.
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The BASIX Certificate or BASIX (The Building Sustainability Index), is a NSW Government planning requirement that affects anyone submitting a DA, S96 or CC Building Application in NSW for a new house, alteration, addition, villa, townhouse, units, swimming pool and/or outdoor spa. The three aspects to BASIX are:
Water efficiency - nominally a reduction of water consumption by a minimum of 40% compared to a standard house (house without any water saving measures) for new houses/townhouses and by 30% compared to a standard apartment for apartments. The water usage reduction for apartments, sometimes is also at 40% depending on suburb, size of development, etc.
Water efficiency is primarily achieved via the use of rated water appliances (shower heads, taps, cisterns), the utilization of rainwater tanks for garden watering usage and sometimes for laundry, and toilets as well as pools whenever applicable.
Thermal comfort - NatHERS is a national scheme although not compulsory to all states, however is compulsory in NSW. It is a scheme where dwellings are rated according to their thermal performance for summer and winter. That is achieved via the simulation of the proposed dwelling by specialty software packages such as AccuRate, Firstrate and Bers. The way this is done is the whole geometry of the subject building, including neighbouring buildings for shading, location, orientation and building constructions are inputted. All of the above are calculated thus predicting cooling and heating loads. BASIX has benchmarks for these loads mainly dependent on location and building type, however other secondary parameters are taken into consideration. Once the software produces the predicted loads, they then are compared to BASIX benchmarks. If loads are higher than allowed, mainly construction specifications (walls types, insulation levels, window types, colours etc) are altered / optimized in order to make the dwelling comply.
Energy efficiency - similarly to the water efficiency section, electric appliances such as water heaters, a/c, lights, and other, sometimes including solar photo-voltaic systems are specified in order to achieve 30% - 40% energy usage reduction compared to a standard dwelling. Thermal comfort section can affect the energy efficiency performance as a well, since a well performing dwelling requires little on no a/c usage, thus contributing positively to this section.
All of the above is combined in one document, the so called BASIX certificate and is used as a specification sheet for architects and builders for the building phase and as a checklist for building certifiers at the completion stage of the project in order for the Occupation Certificate to be issued. All information outlined in the BASIX certificate and in the HSTAR universal certificate (thermal comfort section) must be reflected 100% in the building.
In other states, BASIX Certificate is not applicable and reference solely to the BCA is taken into account, however for thermal the comfort, NatHERS is the only scheme available and as of May 1st 2016 the universal certification (HSTAR) will be issued by all 3 software packages.
BASIX & the planning system
BASIX is implemented under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
BASIX applies to all class 1a, 2 and 4 and sometimes to class 3 (in conjunction with a Section J report) residential dwelling types and is part of the core development application process which takes place in NSW.
BASIX compliance
BASIX compliance is assessed online using the BASIX assessment tool. The tool checks elements of a proposed design against sustainability targets. As BASIX commitments are legally binding an appropriately qualified person should perform the assessment although some options are open to the public. Get your BASIX Certificate now via our team.
For a free quotation: info@aenec.com.au
“AENEC is passionate about
the environment and the
reason for its foundation was this.
What we really thrive on, is to provide the best possible service for your project in regards to the energy efficient design and technologies without compromising the overall design and the project’s budget.”
NatHERS Explained
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Have you ever wondered why some houses are warm in winter when the heater isn’t on? Or how the same house stays cool in summer, without the need for an air-conditioner? The design of your home, from the building materials and layout, to the positioning of windows and shading, affect how well the home responds to the climate where it is located, how comfortable the home is to live in, and the amount of money you spend on heating and cooling.
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All new Australian homes, or those undergoing major renovations, must meet minimum state and territory energy efficiency requirements based on the National Construction Code. The most common way to meet these requirements is by getting a home energy rating done using the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). NatHERS software tools provide homes with a star rating out of ten based on how energy efficient they are—the more stars, the more energy efficient and the more money you save on energy bills.
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Using software based on scientific research by the CSIRO, NatHERS estimates how much energy your home will need for heating and cooling by looking at: the layout of the home; the construction of its roof, walls, windows and floor; the orientation of windows and shading to the sun's path and local breezes; and how well these suit the local climate.
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A zero star rating means the building shell does practically nothing to reduce the discomfort of hot or cold weather. A six star rating indicates good, but not outstanding, thermal performance, and a 10 star rated home is unlikely to need much, or any, mechanical cooling or heating (from appliances).
Different star ratings: The NatHERS star rating system refers to your home’s construction and design features, and is different to the star rating of appliances. Your fridge, dishwasher, air-conditioner and other household appliances are rated under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS), and are not measured as part of the NatHERS star rating.
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How to improve the energy efficiency of your home
A well-designed home should be comfortable all year round and reduce your reliance on mechanical heating and cooling. Passive design, which works with the local climate rather than against it, is one of the most effective and cheapest ways to achieve this.
Passive solar heating takes advantage of the sunlight during the day to warm your home in winter. North-facing windows allow the heat from the sun into the home, while materials with a high thermal mass absorb the heat and release it within your home at night. Good insulation and draught sealing will then prevent warm air from escaping.
During the summer months, passive solar cooling will help save on energy costs. Effective shading— such as eaves, pergolas, external blinds or vegetation—can block up to 90 per cent of heat from direct sunlight entering the home. Locating windows on opposite sides of the home and on the sides that capture the common direction of breezes, helps with cross ventilation and cooling the home without the need for air-conditioners. While insulation and appropriate thermal mass for your climate are also essential for keeping your home cool.
Did you know, if your roof or ceiling isn’t insulated you could lose up to 45 per cent of your heating and cooling energy via your roof, while good insulation can save up to 40 per cent in heating and cooling bills.
Even the type of windows you have affect the energy efficiency of your home. They can be a major source of unwanted heat gain (up to 87 per cent) or heat loss (up to 40 per cent).
When choosing windows, you should consider your climate (temperature, humidity, amount of sunshine), building layout and the orientation, size and shading of the windows, and the different types of glass and frames. For example, people living in hot climates may choose tinted glass or low-solar-transmittance/gain (low-e) glass to reduce solar heat gain and locate windows to the south to avoid the sun entering the home, while people in cool climates may choose windows with double or triple glazing, or high-solar-transmittance/gain (also called low-e) glass and face windows north, to allow more heat in.
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Even if you aren’t building or renovating, there are things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home:
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Lights accounts for around 10 per cent of household electricity bills – replace inefficient halogen lighting with LEDs or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
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Replace old showerheads and taps with water efficient options
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Buy energy efficient appliances with the highest GEMS star rating you can afford
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Seal gaps around doors, windows and light fittings – draught proofing strips are available at your local hardware store
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In cooler climates, remove or prune plants blocking north-facing windows from sunlight
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Reduce lawn areas – plant trees and native vegetation to absorb heat, direct breezes into the home and restore biodiversity
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Consider installing ceiling fans for better airflow
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Consider installing a rainwater tank and rooftop solar
Remember, small changes can have a big impact on your bills and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a better future.