• Site plan. This should include an accurate north point and adjacent buildings. If adjacent buildings are not shown on any plan, assume defaults,
• Floor plan including floor coverings
• Elevations
• Sections
• Lighting plan including details on the use of recessed luminaries
• Location and type (operable or not) of exhaust fans
• Construction material details
• Window schedule including window types (e.g. sliding, awning or specialist glass).

Note: Ratings can still be completed if information such as a lighting plan has been requested but not received. In this case, the defaults in Section 10 will apply.

Source: NatHERS Principles for Ratings in Regulation Mode (Version 1.1 – 2013)

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We are in the process of preparing a simple guideline for architects and designers.

Tutis Team

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Supplier of modern and sustainable building materials. James Hardie offers solutions for cladding, facade systems, fencing, eaves and much more.

Window Energy Rating Scheme

WERS rates the energy impact of windows in housing anywhere in Australia. You can search for suppliers of residential and commercial windows based on U value and/or SHGC of their products as well as location and glazing type.

Reece

Leading supplier of bathroom and plumbing products with over 400 stores across Australia.

Rinnai

Supplier of high quality and innovative solutions for Hot Water systems and Heaters. Rinnai offers a wide range of highly efficient products.

Kitome

Australian-owned and operated company offering high quality and luxury kit homes.

The Letterbox Man

Innovative design and high quality mailboxes for all types of buildings.

Crystal Pools

High quality pool construction company offering a wide range of pools and spas for both residential and commercial buildings.

 JBR – Just Bathroom Renovations

Delivering high quality and modern bathroom designs and renovations. JBR offers experience, quality and value for all your bathroom renovations needs.

Energize Australia

Offering reliable security alarm monitoring services for both residential and commercial sectors.

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In NSW, Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) is used for ensuring building sustainability and efficiency of new housing developments and bigger alterations and additions. The goal of BASIX is to improve the over-all efficiency of new homes and lower their environmental impact while reducing their long-term operational costs. It is for this reason that all new dwellings in NSW are required to obtain a BASIX certificate.

Thermal efficiency is one of the BASIX sustainability requirements. The goal is to have a design that can keep a dwelling at a comfortable temperature level all year round. Key elements that help maintain homes at a comfortable and thermally stable level are thermal mass, windows, cross ventilation, and insulation. It is important to include the thermal comfort control in the design process, as it can be very costly to alter or modify it later. Maximizing insulation during construction can be a cost-effective energy saving measure that can reduce heating and cooling costs in the long run.

Insulation helps keep heat inside, during the cold months of winter, and keep heat out, during the hot summers. Better insulation means that a dwelling will have higher energy savings. It could also mean that the home will have a comfortable environment all year round. In principle, surfaces exposed to outdoor climate can be a candidate for insulation. This is why it is important to properly insulate walls, which usually make up the most surface area of a dwelling.

Insulation Effectiveness

R Value is the unit used to show thermal resistance. Its metric equivalent is known as RSI. This means that a material with a higher R-value or RSI value has higher thermal resistance to movement of heat. This implies that in order to improve the energy efficiency of a new home you might need to increase the R-value the insulation used in the walls.

Wall Insulation Types & Specifications

Glasswool Batts Insulation

Made largely from recycled glass. Glasswool batts insulation is relatively cheap and easy to cut and install. It also has good fire resistance qualities. But glasswool batts insulation can cause irritation to the skin, so it is important for installers to use and wear appropriate protective gears during the installation process. At the time of installing glasswool batts insulation, it is extremely important to make sure that the material is not wet (and will not get wet) or compressed as this will diminish its thermal performance or R value.

Rockwool Batts Insulation

Rockwool Batts insulation is made by melting volcanic materials such as basalt and diabase rocks in a furnace and turning them into fibres. The end product is then compressed. Comparing to glasswool, Rockwool is denser and better in absorbing sound, but it is usually more expensive. Modern Rockwool products are now more bio-soluble than their earlier versions. However, Rockwool can still cause skin irritation and itching so wearing protective clothing during installation is highly recommended.

Rockwool is lightweight and very easy to install. It will also not settle over time. It has a neutral PH level so you can be assured that no harmful chemicals will leak during the installation. Aside from being impermeable, it is also corrosion resistant.

Natural Wool Insulation

Natural wool insulation comes in various forms of batts, loose fill and blankets. Not only they are more expensive than other insulation products, they also need to be treated to survive insect infestation. Because some wool batts fail the fire resistance tests, it is important to check your required specifications with manufacturers and certifiers.

Studies show wool to be a better thermal insulator when compared with other fibers. What makes it effective is its ability of not absorbing air moisture, but also to desorb it. This makes it an ideal material to use for keeping a building warm in winter and cool in summer.

Wool insulation can also absorb sound pretty well. It is also non-carcinogenic and will not cause any irritation on the eyes, skin or respiratory tract. So this does not require the use of any protective coating or gloves during installation.

Extruded Polystyrene Insulation

Extruded Polystyrene is lightweight plastic board designed for use in narrow or limited spaces. They can be used for both interior and exterior applications. The high-density versions of extruded polystyrene can endure relatively high pressures. They can effectively serve as an air barrier, especially when joints are tightly sealed. This insulation type will not cause any skin irritation.

Since it is not UV resistant, it might suffer from ultra violet light degradation over time, especially if left unprotected. It also requires protection from non-compatible sealants and solvents. A suitable fire rate material is also needed for covering interior applications.

Polyester Insulation

Polyester batts are manufactured using Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) fibre, which is the same fibre commonly used in bedding or clothing. A large amount of polyester insulation is made using recycled plastic, such as packaging and bags. Polyester batts are effective thermal insulators.

In addition, Polyester is safe to use. It does not have any odor and does not leak any harmful chemicals or emit greenhouse gases. This insulation is non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-allergenic. For this reason, the installation of Polyester batts requires no protective clothing or equipment.

Reflective Foils (Silver Batts Insulation)

Foil has the ability to reduce radiant heat by as much as 95%. This makes it a good material for keeping a dwelling cool during summer and an ideal insulation option for areas that are hot most of the year. When using reflective foils, it is important to handle it carefully and make sure there are no tears in them as these can lower its effectiveness in acting as a vapour barrier. During installation make sure the reflective surface is facing downwards otherwise it would be susceptible to surface dust which can decrease its R-value over time.

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The use of wall cladding system is one of the most effective ways to ensure that building has a high insulation and thermal rating requirements. Cladding is the process of covering a building’s external wall(s) using such materials as wood, concrete, metal, etc. The main functions of cladding are to protect the building and to enhance its aesthetic qualities.

There are many advantages to using a wall cladding system. They can protect the wall from weather damages, ultra violet rays and dampness. In addition, wall cladding systems are available in various designs. However, there are also drawbacks to using a cladding system. Depending upon the type of material, they can be very expensive. Cladding installation can also be time consuming, of course, depending upon the material used and the size of the building. Despite these disadvantages, wall cladding is still widely used in many structures in Australia, especially in their efforts to comply with thermal comfort requirements

Examples for Environmental ( Eco friendly ) Wall Cladding Systems

Cedar Sales Timber and Aluminium Wall Cladding

The Timber and aluminium cladding of Cedar Sales can be used for walls or ceilings. It consists of a strip of aluminium inserted between every board of Western Red Cedar. The presence of aluminium in this cladding system enhances the timber, while the timber provides a state-of-the-art effect on the aluminium.

This cladding system is available in various timber thicknesses and widths. Builders can use this in a wide variety of applications and is available with silver or black fixing strips.

Austech’s Foamular Extruded Polystyrene Eco Friendly Wall Cladding

This is definitely an energy efficient construction material that fits modern PM Render Finishes. Foamular is able to provide good thermal insulation to any structure. Not only is tough and lightweight, it is also cost-effective. It can be secured to the studs of steel or timber wall framing. It can also be mounted over toughened masonry and concrete.

With the Foamular Extruded Polystyrene a structure can have a clean and modern look, leading to a smooth and attractive appearance.

Ulltraclad Exterior Aluminium Weatherboard Eco Friendly Wall Cladding

The Exterior Aluminium Weatherboard System of Ulltraclad claims to suit the demanding weather conditions in Australia. It has passed the extensive and strict testing of BRANZ appraisal certificate. The following are some of its main features:

• It has no maintenance issues often associated with timber cladding while maintaining the appearance of traditional weatherboards.
• Easy to install horizontally and vertically
• It can be used in various residential and business applications.
• Available in various modern and classic designs.
• Made from premium grade aluminium.
• It doesn’t require any painting or maintenance except for regular washing

Nu Eco Friendly Wall Cladding

Nu-wall cladding can be fully recycled. It may even last beyond the structure’s life, thus allowing partial recovery of your investment in the material, both in terms of money and energy spent to produce it. With various profiles and finishes available, it can be used on both residential and business structures. In fact, it goes well with most applications.

This weatherboard cladding can be used not only for new structures; it is also suitable for use in remodeling and renovation projects. Many owners use it for re-cladding of buildings, which have been damaged by water ingress. This is because Nu-wall has long term durability and weather tightness that makes it a good recladding solution.

NRG Greenboard™ Energy Efficient Eco Friendly Wall Cladding System

NRG Greenboard™ can be used for external cladding of masonry and solid concrete walls as well as timber and steel framed structures. This wall cladding system is weather resistant and can provide any structure a seamless rendered finish. It is available in a wide range of colors and textures. It offers sound insulation properties to a structure. It is also insect repellent and flame retardant. Additionally, this product is recyclable and reusable, making it a very environmentally friendly choice. NRG Energy efficient wall cladding system is so versatile and cost-effective that it can provide various architectural features and designs, such as embossed patterns, mouldings, and raised wall areas.

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In terms of water efficiency, BASIX requires new houses to reduce mains water consumption by 40 % compared to the existing average home. This can be attained through a good building design that guarantees water efficiency. One of the many factors that BASIX considers for water efficiency is the installation of rainwater tanks. While rainwater tanks are not made mandatory by the NSW Government’s BASIX certificate, their installation has been proven to be one of the most effective ways of reaching the water saving target.  For maximum efficiency and to ensure the biggest water savings, rain water tanks can be conected to garden taps, washing machines, and toilets. This is because gardens, toilets and laundries make up more than 55 % of average per capita of mains water use. With the introduction of BASIX, this ratio is expected to decrease significantly in new homes as these water uses are currently maintained either partly or fully from an alternative source of water, such as rainwater tanks.

Poly Rainwater Tanks

As the living spaces in the urban areas are becoming much smaller, it’s becoming more difficult to harvest rainwater. This is where poly rainwater tanks can become useful. Available in various shapes and sizes, users can choose the best poly tank that matches their requirements.

Poly rainwater tanks are corrosion proof and UV resistant. In addition, they are extremely durable and can resist high water pressure. They also often cost less than most other rainwater tanks. Another great advantage of this type of tanks is that it will not transfer bad smell or taste to the water stored in it.

Their lightweight construction makes it so easy to transport. Depending on your needs, you might be able to install it either on the roof top or below the ground.

Corrugated Tanks

Made from Aquaplace polymer coated steel, corrugated tanks combine strength, durability, performance, and lightweight. The tanks are also resistant to corrosion and can survive various kinds of environments. They resist direct exposure to the sun and will not wear after many years of use. Its inner surface is often built from high-quality polymer skin to help ensure that your water stays clean and fresh.  This material is also promoted to be safe for storing drinking water.

The slimline corrugated tank seen below is ideal for small or narrow spaces.

Concrete Rainwater Tanks

Concrete tanks are known for their durability and strength. They can also be built either below or above ground. Because they are UV resistant, they can prevent algae growth and can keep water cool. Concrete tanks can either be built on site or be delivered to the site. Most homeowners because of the possibility of fast installation usually prefer precast tanks.

Fibreglass Rainwater Tanks

Fiberglass rainwater tanks are durable, resistant to chemical and rust corrosion, and can tolerate even extreme temperatures. Their lightweight construction also makes them very easy to transport. These rainwater tanks can be installed either on ground or on a stand. Being a highly flexible material, fiberglass can be shaped to various sizes or specifications. This means that you can have a rainwater tank manufactured exactly according to your specifications.

Bladder Rainwater Tanks

The bladder rainwater tanks may not look like your regular poly or corrugated rainwater tanks, but they also perform well when it comes to rainwater storage. Bladder rainwater tanks can be installed anywhere e.g. under the house.

These tanks are also UV protected and especially designed to ensure that all pipes and fittings are stable and remain in place. Rainwater bladder tanks can be custom made to make sure it suits your requirements.

Comparison of Rainwater Tanks

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BASIX has the following key points:

• Supports water and energy savings among new residential buildings in NSW
• Evaluates the three most important elements of sustainable building design, namely energy consumption, water use, and thermal comfort.
• Has a 40% target savings on water and energy consumption with the pre-BASIX NSW home as the point of reference.
• Targets are adjusted based on regional climatic zones.
• Over time, targets may be attuned to the national goals in greenhouse reduction and water savings.
• Users are given options on the most cost effective technologies, practice, and building methods.

Recently, BASIX released a State-wide monitoring report on this program. It provides summary and detailed information on the energy and water savings of single dwelling constructions from July 1 2005 to June 30, 2008. It also provides the thermal comfort achieved as a result of implementing the sustainability index. The BASIX monitoring program is key to the evaluation of the BASIX policy objectives and their further development.

A series of data is taken from every BASIX certificate in order to identify the water technology, energy tools and thermal designs used for a house to obtain its BASIX energy and water saving targets.

BASIX Monitoring Report: Water Savings

According to its report, BASIX was able to save a total of 5.7 billion litres of water, which is equal to 2,275 Olympic swimming pools. Water savings have been due mainly to the installation of water efficient fittings and water tanks, coupled with the use of recycled water and on-site greywater treatment. In fact during the period covered in the report, nearly 98% of BASIX certificates choose an alternative water source.

One important thing to note is the significant increase in the installation of rainwater tanks. Between 2005 to 2008, 95% of BASIX certificates obtained water from rainwater tanks. Compare this figure with just 12% of NSW households in 2004 which chose rainwater tanks. This increase represents a huge water supply of more than 290 million litres, which would otherwise just flow into a storm water system.

BASIX Monitoring Report: Energy

BASIX energy aims to lower housing greenhouse gas emission per individual. Every new home in Sydney and coastal New  South Wales is required to meet a saving target of 40%, benchmarked to the pre-BASIX home. Using the intended housing design data, BASIX calculates its possible greenhouse gas emission level per individual. The results are then evaluated based on the average greenhouse gas emissions levels per person across NSW, which is equivalent to 9 kg of CO2-e per individual per day or 3,292 kg of CO2-e per individual per year.

Based on the 2005-2008 BASIX monitoring program, BASIX greenhouse gas emission reduction reached more than 173 million kg of carbon dioxide. This is like removing over 39 thousand cars from the road every year.

More than 75% of the energy consumption in an average home is directly influenced by the consumers’ choice on the construction type, house design, building materials, and fixed appliances. The remaining 25% of domestic energy consumption is from unfixed appliances such as entertainment systems, television, kitchen and laundry appliances. Although domestic energy use in this sector is growing, its regulation is not bound to the construction industry practices.

Through BASIX, more households are encouraged to install hot water systems that are more greenhouse efficient. In fact, among the BASIX certificates, 60% opt for gas hot water systems while around 31% chose solar hot water system. Compared to the existing dwellings, these results show a significant increase in both gas and solar hot water systems. Moreover, in 205-2006 BASIX has expanded from metropolitan SYDNEY (where there is widespread gas connection) into regional NSW. This is a substantial increase in the acceptance of heat pumps and solar hot water systems.

With BASIX, consumers are allowed to choose the best energy saving technologies and methods that suit their situation. For instance, in areas where there is a ready supply of gas, an average Australian home can opt for gas hot water system in compliance with BASIX. But in areas where gas supply is not common, households opt for alternatives such as heat pumps, solar, or energy efficient lighting.

BASIX Monitoring Report: Thermal comfort

A building’s thermal performance is expected to have an impact on the possible energy demand of a home either to cool and heat it and make achieve its comfortable temperature level. The expected energy demand is also related to a dwelling’s location as well as the climate. For instance, houses located in a moderate coastal climate will need less heating and cooling than those in high elevation or inland locations.

With the thermal comfort, no single benchmark is required. Instead, BASIX sets a suitable target for every climate zone. In general, BASIX certificates go beyond four stars. As a matter of fact, the 2005-2008 sample data shows that single dwellings in NSW have designs that reach around 4.8 NatHERS stars.

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Experts agree thatgreen homes and buildings are no longer an option; rather they are the current standards in architectural designs. Below are some of the latest sustainable architectural design solutions that are most likely here to stay.

Retrofitting of Old Buildings

With the current economic downturn affecting the real estate industry, building designers and owners have discovered that greening of old buildings can be a more cost-effective solution than the construction of a new building. Upgrading existing buildings to make them more sustainable can offer many advantages. It can greatly reduce operation costs, lower its environmental impacts and increase the value of the property.

Dealing with Water Issues

The last few years have shown us an unlikely climate change that has led to heavy rains and extreme flooding. So now there is a growing awareness for building facilities to have rainwater recovery system and green roofs. Water shortage or drought is another extreme weather condition brought about by climate change and which can also be addressed by using water conservation technologies and strategies.

Switching to Natural Gas

Architectural designs are more and more reflecting a switch from fuel oil or coal to natural gas. This is quiet significant because not only natural gas is less expensive, its use can also lessen the greenhouse gas emission.

Using Alternative Energy Resources

Building owners are beginning to understand the importance of using alternative energy resources, and this is not only limited to solar cells and wind turbines. As industrial technology continues to develop, there are now the possibilities of using geothermal and aquifer systems in facilities. With the right design, this will not only reduce energy bills but also [can] bring greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero. This can definitely increase the demand for green building in the near future.

Green Government Buildings

Government continue to be one of the major advocates of sustainable buildings. The governments’ support to have new or retrofit existing buildings to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, standards can be seen in their efforts of converting for example, school systems to make them more environmental friendly. There are also local government policies ordering the study of some feasible “green” plans in new or retrofitted government buildings.

The Use of Sustainable Materials

The design and construction industry continue to make use of more sustainable materials that previously were only used in other sectors. The goals for using sustainable materials is to avoid depletion of raw materials, energy, and water; prevent the harmful effect of facilities on the environment; and the construction of facilities that are safe, productive, comfortable, and efficient.

Sustainable Architectural Design Examples

The Green Building in Louisville, KY is the very first commercial building in this area to have the LEED platinum certification. It makes use of environmentally friendly materials, recycled denim insulation and renewable energy systems.

Grovelands Primary School, Surrey. This one-story classroom building has low maintenance and highly insulated composite panel roof and walls. In order to minimize heat loss, its joints are sealed for air-tightness. Other Eco-friendly features include natural ventilation for zero energy demand and low energy air source heat pump for powering the under floor heating system.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Regional Laboratory – Massachusetts, USA. The building boasts of using the best available technologies and materials to reduce energy and resources consumption. It also makes the most out of recycled, natural, and non-toxic materials.

Passive House Plans – Swedish Eco Home. The annual energy consumption for heating this green house is as low as 25 kWh/m2. This is because it is designed to use the energy exerted by people and household appliances. Its roof-mounted solar panels are also constructed from sustainable materials.

Not only is this house in Bainbridge Island, Washington aesthetically appealing but it is also environmentally friendly. In fact, it is a LEED Platinum home that was reconstructed out of an existing house, recycling 80% of its old materials. This house also has solar hot water technology, advanced heat-recovery technology, and geothermal and photovoltaic systems, all of which helps in reducing its energy consumption by as much as 70%.

Environmental friendly buildings are today’s trends in design and construction. The latest architectural trends include retrofitting of old buildings, which is a more cost-effective solution to building a new facility; construction of facilities with rainwater recovery systems and green roofs; buildings that make use of natural gas and alternative energy resources and sustainable materials. This trend is also strongly supported by governments as can be seen in their effort to construct environmental friendly public buildings.

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Sample BASIX Certificate

This sample BASIX certificate is taken from the official BASIX website.

Sample ABSA Building Energy Efficiency (Thermal Comfort) Certificate

Sample Thermal Comfort Certificate – AccuRate Sustainability Software

Sample Thermal Comfort Certificate – FirstRate 5 Software

Tutis Consulting is offering fast and reliable BASIX and Nathers assessment with unbeatable rates.

Send us your project details to receive a fee proposal.

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The energy performance of a new building must be demonstrated when applying for building approval. The building certifier will require proof that a building will meet the mandatory minimum energy efficiency standards as part of determining whether to give building approval.

How requirements can be demonstrated

Energy efficiency requirements (EER) for building approval can be demonstrated a number of ways. Before you design and prepare plans you might like to discuss with your designer the most appropriate method of demonstrating your building has met the requirements.

Some appropriate ways to demonstrate EER include:

• Using a current accredited software model (this is done by a suitably trained and competent accredited energy assessor)
• comparing your building with a reference building – this involves verifying  the plans for the new building are the same as those for a reference building which complies with the EER
• the deemed-to-satisfy method – the Building Code of Australia (BCA) specifies design features which, when adopted in the design of a building, are sufficient to meet the EER
• accepting a nominated expert’s report.

For most residential buildings, certifiers are likely to accept using a current accredited software model. You will need to employ a trained energy assessor who will interpret the various energy efficiency factors specific to your design and will produce an Energy Efficiency Rating for the property.

Software assessment

If you are demonstrating energy efficiency using thermal calculation by energy modelling or rating software, you should be aware ratings will be based on the thermal performance of the building fabric.

This software is performance-based rather than prescriptive, which means it doesn’t tell you the types of building elements (such as double glazing, insulation etc) required to achieve a certain rating. Instead, it uses the building elements present in a building design and models the thermal performance based on those elements.

This means that in theory, where one building may require higher performance windows and a high level of insulation to achieve a high star rating, another design may be able to achieve a similar star rating without double-glazing by reducing the size of the windows and orienting the building to take advantage of passive solar heating. On the other hand, if large windows were oriented to the south or west for example, a house may struggle to achieve a high rating even with double-glazing and high levels of insulation.

Software also does not currently take into account hot water systems, photovoltaic systems, lighting or other energy-generating or consuming appliances. Separate new standards for water heaters installed in new homes have been in place since 31 January 2010.

The software predominantly used for undertaking energy efficiency ratings has been developed under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme.

Since 1 May 2009 only the 2006 Australian Building Codes Board Protocol for House Energy Rating Software has been referenced in the BCA. All ratings using a stated value must be produced on second generation software accredited under this protocol. Use of first generation software is no longer permitted to demonstrate compliance under this verification model.

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