| The Building Code of Australia (BCA) has the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the efficient use of energy in buildings and by using renewable energy from low greenhouse intensity sources.
Different performance requirements and design verification methodologies are described for residential and commercial buildings. States and Territories each regulate their own construction but all have committed to increased energy efficiency.
The performance requirements vary although all are raising the bar. BCA 2010 specifies a minimum rating of 6 stars for homes!
But what does 6 stars mean?
The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) enables the design of a home to be assessed using computer modeling.
The thermal comfort is rated on a scale of zero to 10 stars. The more stars, the less likely the occupants need cooling and heating to stay comfortable.
SRSA are accredited and registered with Planing SA to undertake this work in South Australia.
The rating depends on:
- · The layout of the home.
- · The construction of the roof, walls, windows and floor.
- · The orientation of windows and shading to the sun's path and local breezes.
- · How well these suit the local climate.
In South Australia the target is set as 6 stars .
The optimal approach is to use advanced computer based thermal performance simulation to determine the heating and cooling performance of the dwelling. This method ensures that you have full control over what you include in the new dwelling. Plus thermal performance simulation is likely to save you money and produce a design with superior thermal comfort.
We use the second generation FirstRate 5 software for projects across SA.
The design drawings are input into FirstRate 5 then the modelling software calculates heating and cooling loads for each month of the year. We will then make recommendations for improvements - keeping in mind your design objectives. The whole process from quote to certificate is easily completed on-line.
Why NatHERS?
- The NatHERS Building Thermal Performance Assessment outperforms all other methods in getting your residential project BCA compliant with over 30,000 new dwellings certified using this energy assessment method in 2009.
- NatHERS cuts out the guess work of your design, a good assessor will show you how to improve building thermal performance to meet and exceed compliance, while also getting your residential project BCA compliant with over 30,000 new dwellings certified using this energy assessment method in 2009.
- A compliant NatHERS building thermal performance assessment increases your building's thermal efficiency, producing savings of about $250 per year for an average home as a reduction in heating and cooling costs. This saving is expected to at least double in the next 3 years.
- Greater appetite for homebuyers to invest in affordable sustainable housing, if you want your project to stand out from the rest without costing the earth NatHERS can help you deliver.
Why Choose SRSA for NatHERS?
- We use specific thermal performance assessment software and methodologies to ensure your dwelling is designed to perform as efficiently as possible. That means saving you time and money by avoiding expensive oversights.
- Experienced sustainable design professionals with lots of project management days behind and ahead of them, we have been where you are sitting and know just how important it is to have good service delivery.
- We make it our business to be current with all the latest products, specifications and legislation so we can inform clients to achieve better outcomes.
- No "hidden" costs.
- Our fully accredited assessors are also accredited to assess existing buildings bringing a depth of experience to your project. We have undertaken several NatHERS thermal building assessments in South Australia, from single dwellings to large multi-unit developments we have many happy clients who keep returning.
- It is our mission to deliver the highest standards within our industry and give you the best results in the process.
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