Ecologica helps create energy efficient homes

An assessor:

• uses prepared building plans (in the case of NatHERS) and/or on-site measurements (in the case of RES Scorecard) and a software tool to model how well a house will perform in hot and cold weather and how efficient it will be to run. 
• provides recommendations on how homes can be more energy efficient. 

NatHERS assessments are usually done from the office, but can also involve visiting building and construction sites. RES Scorecard assessments are done in the client’s home.

An assessor needs to have good skills in communicating with people from a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, be able to read and interpret plans and building specifications, and understand the principles and practicalities of building homes that will perform well in Australian climates.

NatHERS assessments are done for new builds and major renovations or additions.

NatHERS can:

• show that built houses will meet National Construction Code (NCC) energy efficiency regulations for building permit applications
• advise home owners, architects and builders on the energy efficiency of various house designs
• advise prospective home buyers/sellers on the thermal performance of a home they are interested in buying/selling

NatHERS star ratings provide information about the heating and cooling needs (in megajoules) of a home, based on information about its design, construction materials and the climate where it is being built.  A higher star rating means the home is more comfortable and cheaper to run. Currently the minimum requirement for new houses and apartments is 7 stars (out of 10) . An 0 star house would be no better than living in a tent, a 10 star home may not need any heating and cooling appliances to keep comfortable.

Changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) in 2022 - and mandated on 1 May 2024 - will require new dwellings to reach a minimum of 7 stars. As well, a  new annual energy use budget - called the Whole of Home - will  apply, to account for a home’s major fixed appliances and any energy generated (e.g. solar panels). The Whole of Home will be scored out of 100 -  a minimum of 60 will be required for houses to meet the regulations .

RES Scorecard assessments are carried out on existing houses. They are not used for regulatory purposes.

RES Scorecard can:

• show how much it is costing to run the home’s fixed appliances (heating/cooling, hot water, lighting) 
• identify and prioritise retrofit activities and the impact of various upgrades (including adding PV solar) on energy bills and thermal comfort
• advise prospective home buyers/sellers or renters/landlords on the energy efficiency of a home they are interested in buying/selling or renting

The Scorecard Certificate also gives an energy efficiency star rating out of 10. But this reflects the average energy cost  to run the fixed appliances - heating/cooling, hot water, lighting - over a year in the existing home.  Three stars is the average rating for Australian homes. 

The Certificate also gives a comfort rating showing how well the  home copes with hot and cold weather, efficiency ratings for each of the fixed appliances and their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions over a year.

The 2022 NCC  requires all new Australian houses and apartments to meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of 7 stars under NatHERS, alongside a Whole of Home energy performance rating of 60 out of 100.  The Whole of Home assessment considers the energy required for the whole home, including heating and cooling and hot water systems, pool/spa pumps, lighting, on-site energy generation and storage (solar panels and batteries), cooking and plug-in appliances.

The new energy efficiency standards became mandatory in Victoria on 1 May 2024.  

The regulations require assessors to have documentation above what was  previously provided, such as details on the appliances being installed, their energy efficiency  and solar PV systems.

For NatHERS:

- a set of drawings containing, at a minimum, site plan — including a north point (true north),  floor plan/s (including zones), elevations, sections, construction material details, lighting location plan/electrical schedule (including penetrations eg exhaust fans, vents, rangehoods and ceiling fans), window, skylight, roof window and door schedule/details including size, glass and frame type, opening style, location. The location and heights of neighbouring dwellings or infrastructure that may affect shading is also needed.

- a signed contract and written permission to proceed.

- for NCC2022 Whole of Home,  additional info is required - details of fixed appliances (eg. type, model, efficiency) and solar PV systems if to be installed

- if any of the information is not available, a worst case/default scenario is modelled.

For RES Scorecard:

- access to the whole house,to  take photos for evidence and data purposes and be able to access the roof space

- signed privacy statement and agreement to proceed, 

- useful to have (but not essential) recent energy bills or access to smart meter data,  any floor plans/plans of the house, information or specifications on construction materials, insulation, hot water, heating and cooling appliances eg age, condition, star rating.

For NatHERS:

- Generally turnaround is within the week, as long as all documentation is provided at the initial request. A preview Certificate is generated and sent to the client before the Final Certificate is created.

For RES Scorecard:

- The actual assessment takes from 2-2.5 hours depending on the size and complexity of the house. A preview Certificate is generated at the assessment, but usually more information or research is required to finalise the assessment. The final Certificate and report is sent within a week of the assessment.

For NatHERS:

- Depends on the size of the home and the complexity of the design. Generally assessments are around $400-$800. Contact me for a quote.

For RES Scorecard:

- Depends on the size and complexity of the house and how many upgrade options (Variations) are required. Generally assessments are around $350- $450. Contact me for a quote.

For other work outside of or additional to the RES/NATHERS assessment process:

- I charge an hourly rate, please contact me for more information.

As early as possible! 

- Having an assessment done before you buy/rent/renovate/retrofit an existing home can help identify potential issues around cost and comfort, and help save money and stress.

- Thinking about thermal performance and energy efficiency early on in a new home design and build can help produce a better outcome and future asset.