Estimated Read Time: 10 Minutes
Understanding how to navigate the NatHERS Energy Rating Process when working with us here at torple.
The NatHERS energy rating assessment, or sometimes referred to as the energy rating has become integral to designing and building new homes and renovating existing homes in Australia. However, NatHERS is one of those things that a lot of people can overlook when it comes to designing a home. It is a big decision deciding to build a house or renovate and is the beginning of many decisions that need to be made.
As with everything in building, the sooner that Energy efficiency is included in the design process, the sooner good decisions can be made, If left too long in the process the project may progressed to a stage where making changes become more difficult.
Quoting for NatHERS Energy Rating
Here at torple, as soon as preliminary plans are provided, we are able to provide feedback on them. This is usually done when someone asks us to provide a quote on an upcoming project. We are provided with a set of preliminary plans enabling us to provide a quote.
Our quote process here at Torple is systematised, which allows us to provide accurate quotes in a timely manner. The quote is then sent for review and acceptance. Sometimes if something jumps out at us when we are quoting the project, comments are added to quotes with items that stand out to us which may affect the ultimate outcome of the NatHERS energy rating. These comments, provided using our years of experience, can provide valuable feedback of changes that can be made before the NatHERS energy rating even is started.
Details, details, details
Different people often have different goals in mind when getting a NatHERS energy rating done. Sometimes they just want to know if what they have designed can meet the minimum rating, other people want to get as high a star rating as possible. This information is good to know before we do our assessment because we will tailor our recommendations based on your goals.
This is a list of minimum requirements on plans that are needed to perform a NatHERS energy rating:
- Site Plan showing True North.
- Full window schedule with window dimensions and frame material, opening style, including all existing windows.
- Full elevations.
- Reflected ceiling plan showing all room ceiling heights, if the home has multiple ceiling heights
- Construction types, floor construction methods, wall construction methods
- Maximum specification that the client would consider to be reasonable. (uPVC Windows, Under slab insulation etc.)
- Electrical plan showing location of downlights, exhaust fans and ceiling fans.
- Details on existing construction methods. and proposed construction methods. i.e. Concrete slab on ground, Brick veneer walls, Colorbond Roof etc.
If you are missing any of these things, reach out and we can have a discussion on what our options are.
Modelling
Once we have plans that satisfy that these requirements, we can then start modelling the building using NatHERS accredited software. Depending on the complexity of the plans and the construction methods that are intended, the time it takes to do this can vary.
It may happen that the building as specified in the preliminary plans achieves compliance relatively easily without any changes. This is the result of good design decisions made early in the planning process considering energy efficiency.
If the building fails to meet compliance on the initial specification, will try to find a combination of upgrades that will comply. By adding insulation in targeted areas or upgrading the window specification most of the time we can achieve compliance.
The ultimate outcome of this modelling is what is called a Preliminary Assessment. Thisassessment will detail the specification for the windows and insulation in various areas of the home that are required for the dwelling to meet the minimum star requirement.
The Preliminary Assessment
This Preliminary assessment is normally sent to the our client, whether that be the Homeowner, Building, Designer or the Architect. This will either confirm the design as it stands meets the minimum specification required or it may mean that changes need to be made to the design.
It may be at this point that the client starts to think about making changes to the design or the specification to improve the efficiency of the home or to reduce the cost. There can therefore be a little bit of backwards and forwards between us at torple and our client about the specification.
As the goals and intentions of the of the parties involved become clearer and more refined as the design process continues. Are we happy to meet the minimum 6 or 7 stars? Do we want to go to eight stars or even higher? Do we want to see how high we can get with the efficiency of our design? There can be many motivations behind exceeding the minimum standard required. The minimum standard has many benefits in the long term for the home owner.
Apart from the obvious benefits of lower energy bills and improved general thermal comfort in the home, a 7 to 8 star rated home exhibits greater resilience to extreme weather it is better able to cope with heat waves or cold snaps. In the future, a home rated to 7 or 8 stars could possibly have an increased property value as energy efficiency and lower running costs become increasingly important to people purchasing a property.
Certification
Once everyone is happy with the specification that has been supplied and final plans for submission are prepared, a copy of those final plans is sent to us at Torple which we will review and then submit the final energy assessment. This process includes generating the NatHERS certificate which is required for building approval for the local authority.
Conclusion
This is the general NatHERS energy rating workflow that we follow, although there are often times adjustments and variations to this that happen as projects progress. Each project is unique, planned and developed with various goals, aims and restrictions to work with.
Feel free to contact us to talk about your upcoming project We are happy to provide guidance and expertise in NatHERS energy efficiency at each step along the way.