12 minute read
Anthony Jenkin, Outlier Studio - Victoria Ian Fry, Frys Energywise - NSW Victoria Walker, BERA Building Energy Ratings + Advice - Queensland
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Anthony Jenkin
Founder and Building Designer
Victoria
Proposed move to 7 stars
An interview with Anthony Jenkin of Outlier Studio, a building design company based in Bendigo.
What do you see as the greatest challenge in your home state should the increase to 7 stars be adopted in the proposed NCC 2022 Energy Efficiency Provisions?
There are two components to this answer, being pre-construction and then the construction phase. The first is the perceived challenges for designers and thermal assessors to create and model designs that achieve a 7 star rating.
Currently approximately 80% of thermal assessments are achieving the minimum 6 star rating and I imagine energy assessors fear the expectation to elevate their assessments to 7 stars or receive consequential backlash from home owners and designers for non compliance assessments.
The most beneficial approach is to see designers and TPA’s collaborating in the design phase of a project as opposed to the often seen industry standard, at the construction documentation phase, as a tick box exercise for a building permit.
The second part of the answer is in regard to construction phase as builders I believe are fearful that the increase to 7 stars will just surge the cost of construction even further, to an already volatile industry, with what feels like never ending material increases and supply chain nightmares. The good news is, that with thoughtful design and consideration towards the site orientation and climate, a design can achieve a 7 Star Rating with no to minimal construction cost increase.
Do you think that your state will consider adopting the proposed increase to 7-star energy efficiency provisions?
From what I have gathered, yes. The majority of climate and design advocacy groups are pushing strongly for the increase which I personally strongly support. The pushback I have noted is from the building associations with the concerns that I’ve raised above.
There are a multitude of reasons, however, the top 3 would be:
1. It’s estimated that Australia’s households could generate up to one fifth of
Australia’s greenhouse gases and if
Australia is to reach net zero emissions by 2050 we need to reduce the amount of emissions our homes are producing.
2. Australia needs to almost double the amount of its current housing stock if we are expected to meet the projected population growth by 2050 and with approximately 200,000 homes currently being built a year, we have an unexcuseable opportunity to improve the housing stock in Australia.
3. Reduce the demand on our electricity network and most importantly reduce the operational cost of homes for owners.
The less heating and cooling required, the smaller the power bill.
How are you and your business preparing to meet not only any increase in regulatory energy efficiency provisions, but as Australia moves towards the net zero carbon targets in the build environment?
We started our practise with the core value of increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing carbon emissions in Australia. It’s something we have been developing, learning and educating others about from day one. We aim for all electric homes with energy efficient devices and photovoltaic (solar) systems in all our designs.
For designers out there who have concerns about how to meet the increase to regulatory energy efficiency provisions, I recommend starting with a call to your thermal assessor to start collaborating as early as possible in the design stage, and attempt to educate the client throughout this as well.
What would you say you’d consider as “low hanging fruit” in terms of up specking a set of building plans to improve the thermal performance of the building fabric and lowering heating and cooling loads?
Orientate the living zone of your home as close to North as possible and ensure the glazing is adequately shaded in the warmer months.
Consider the amount of glazing that is in the home a rule of thumb for the living area is around 25% glazing m2 area to floor m2 area. Mitigate air leakage, ensure your documentation includes notation or detail on sealing up gaps around external windows and doors. Taping the joins of the external wrap is also very beneficial. Lastly include notation or details on the type of insulation and where it is going, as a minimum R2.5 to the external walls and R5-R6 in the ceiling.
More importantly, is the insulation of a good, even and consistent installation quality with less than 5 per cent of the home’s insulated areas missing, or not installed satisfactorily .
How do you feel about the sectors of the industry which are objecting to the increase to 7 stars, citing industry under preparedness given the last increase in NCC energy efficiency provisions occurred in 2012, essentially giving the industry a decade to prepare?
I understand and agree with the building associations’ concerns given how volatile the industry is at the moment. The proposed increase to 7 stars will, in my opinion, add some additional cost to construction initially as we transition from designs that are increasing performance via product specification rather than incorporating more cost effective solutions into design such as optimum orientation in order to elevate to a 7 star rating. However it is suggested that after this initial calibration period, that cost will reduce in items such as double glazing as we see a much bigger demand for that product in the marketplace. From a climate perspective this is well overdue and cannot afford to delay any longer.
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Ian Fry, Director of Frys
Energywise and a NatHERS Accredited Thermal Performance Assessor
New South Wales
Proposed move to 7 stars
An interview with Ian Fry of Frys Energywise, a well renowned Thermal Performance company located in Castle Hill.
What do you see as the greatest challenge in your home state should the increase to 7 stars be adopted in the proposed NCC 2022 Energy Efficiency Provisions?
I see we will spend the first 6 months training the industry on the changes and what will be required to meet compliance.
Do you think that your state will consider adopting the proposed increase to 7-star energy efficiency provisions?
Yes, BASIX has already provided their proposed heating and cooling caps. In a lot of climate zones, these exceed 7 stars.
How are you and your business preparing to meet not only any increase in regulatory energy efficiency provisions, but as Australia moves towards the net zero carbon targets in the build environment?
It is really going to be an issue of awareness, not only from the builder, but also from the public. We need to not only promote the changes and the advantages of net zero to the builder, but also the public. We need help from the public to drive the change. I feel little is being done to promote benefits of a low energy and low carbon home. If the public start to ask for these changes, it will become a snowball effect as one builder adopts the change, another will follow.
What would you say you’d consider as “low hanging fruit” in terms of up specking a set of building plans to improve the thermal performance of the building fabric and lowering heating and cooling loads?
Orientation is key. In my view the volume housing industry is going to need to rethink their processes. No longer can we just match any block of land with any house design. The differences between one design and another could be ten’s of thousands of dollars in extra build costs.
How do you feel about the sectors of the industry who are objecting to the increase to 7 stars, citing industry under preparedness given the last increase in NCC energy efficiency provisions occurred in 2012, essentially giving the industry a decade to prepare?
Having spent most of my working life in the building industry and being on the builder’s side of the fence, I do have some understanding of their view. It’s only because of their lack of understanding and mindset, that the issue becomes all about costs.
We need to change the message, it is not about the cost, it is about the savings.
Once everyone, including the builder and the homeowner, understand the facts, the change will be much easier for everyone. We don’t only want to promote the reason how, but also the reason why.
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What’s On 03
Victoria Walker
Principal Consultant BERA Building Energy Ratings + Advice and a NatHERS Accredited Thermal Performance Assessor
Queensland
Proposed move to 7 stars
An interview with Victoria Walker of BERA Building Energy Ratings + Advice, located in Brisbane’s inner city.
What do you see as the greatest challenge in your home state should the increase to 7 stars be adopted in the proposed NCC 2022 Energy Efficiency Provisions?
In Queensland and the Northern Territory, a competent NatHERS Assessor is able to provide advice to enable most dwellings to achieve 7 Stars. The big challenge will be achieving the 7 Stars in a way that doesn’t see a disproportionate increase in construction cost, or a sacrifice of design preferences.
The most common challenge will be the role of glazing, and helping clients (both designers and homeowners), to understand the role that glazing plays in assisting with winter warming and summer ventilation, including the low R-Value that glazing achieves compared to a standard wall. To achieve 7 Stars, there may need to be a trade-off between larger glazing areas with higher performing (more expensive) glazing. Also, there will need to be more thought given to energy efficiency in the design stage so Energy Assessors are involved early in the process to influence required changes. This increased involvement of NatHERS Assessors early on, will also bring a need for a slight rise in the cost of assessments.
Do you think that your state will consider adopting the proposed increase to 7-star energy efficiency provisions? For what reasons?
I suspect Queensland will adopt the proposed increase to 7 Stars, but the bigger question is around the nominal credits allowed, the use of Deemed to Satisfy Assessments, and the reduction in Star Ratings for single occupancy units in Class 2 Buildings.
The Queensland Development Code MP4.1 currently allows for Class 1 dwellings in most of the State to achieve compliance with 4.5 Stars (via utilising 1.5 Stars nominal credits from 1.0kW Solar and a qualifying outdoor living area). Given the aim of the Energy Efficiency legislation is to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions from artificial heating and cooling, these nominal credits actually make sense, although the minimum amount of solar needs to be increased to at least 3.5kW.
Right: Moonrise during blue hour overlooking over Gold Coast, Queensland.
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Even with the current 6.0 Stars, Queensland (and the Northern Territory) still also allow 5.0 Star equivalence compliance with the very popular Deemed to Satisfy – Elemental Provisions Assessment (DTS). This was intended as a simple, low-cost compliance for more basic dwellings, but there is nothing stopping it being used for any Class 1 dwelling. Consequently, the DTS Method is used extensively, and sees dwellings that would achieve a 2 Star rating achieving a Pass via the DTS method. This is especially the case with large, open plan dwellings with large amounts of glazing. The QDC exempts floors from assessment in much of the State, so if these dwellings are raised off the ground, the impact is even greater.
For Class 2 buildings, the QDC allows concessions to the 6 Star minimum in recognition of the fact that not all units in a building will have ideal aspect. The units together must achieve a 5 Star average, with a 4 Star minimum per individual unit.
If the NCC introduces the proposed increase to 7 Stars, the question for Queensland is, will the QDC keep up with this change, either with a 1 Star increase to all minimums, or by moving minimums closer to the 7 Stars?
How are you and your business preparing to meet not only any increase in regulatory energy efficiency provisions, but as Australia moves towards the net zero carbon targets in the build environment?
We love helping our clients understand and improve the Energy Efficiency of their homes and projects. While we have many clients who want to achieve compliance with the regulations at minimum cost, we are seeing increasing amounts of clients (both designers and homeowners) who want to understand and maximise the thermal performance of their project.
Working with these more invested clients has given us experience in working to a 7 Star or higher level, and doing that in a way that incorporates good design and smart use of resources.
What would you say you’d consider as “low hanging fruit” in terms of up specking a set of building plans to improve the thermal performance of the building fabric and lowering heating and cooling loads?
I just had a volume builder ask me this question for their designs this morning!
The answer is smart insulation, ventilation, glazing, orientation, and shading:
• Appropriate levels of insulation in walls, under roof and above ceiling, with a simple increase from R 2.5 to R 4.0 above the ceiling. • Ceiling fans can add up to 2.0 Stars in some homes, so you would be crazy not to have them in all habitable rooms in
Queensland. • Consider small decreases in glazing in bedrooms and living areas if the design can allow for it and still works well. • If possible, have main living areas with appropriately shaded glazing to the
North, and utility and garage to the
South or West. • Ensure West facing windows are appropriately shaded with eaves or external shading devices.
How do you feel about the sectors of the industry who are objecting to the increase to 7 stars, citing industry under preparedness given the last increase in NCC energy efficiency provisions occurred in 2012, essentially giving the industry a decade to prepare?
I understand certain segments of the industry wanting to delay the mandatory adoption of the 7 Star minimum in order to manage costs and client expectations. But from a NatHERS perspective, the increase to 7 Stars is not difficult, and we don’t need a transition period.
It is a significant change in the degree of the level of thermal performance of a dwelling, but it can be achieved. If it involves increased costs, then the question needs to be around expectations of dwelling sizes and people’s overall commitment to Net Zero Carbon emissions.
Giving the industry a transition period will essentially only delay the adoption of the 7 Star target in most circumstances.
Given there probably will be a lengthy transition period, NatHERS Assessors, building designers and architects should use this time to ask the question, “What would it take for this project to achieve 7 Stars?” This will then have industry, and an increasing amount of end-users, well placed to understand the impacts of the 7 Stars on their projects.
