RESIDENTIAL
solaRate specialises in thermal performance assessments (energy ratings) for all types of residential developments, including:
New homes
Extension to existing homes
Multi-residential developments
We are accredited in the use of FirstRate5 and HERO software for energy ratings
Energy Efficiency Performance requirement for residential buildings
The National Construction Code (NCC) provides a number of options to demonstrate compliance with Energy Efficiency performance requirements.
Class 1 Buildings
Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) - NCC Elemental Provision approach
Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) - Energy Rating approach. New Class 1 buildings must achieve a minimum of 6 Star Rating and have either a rainwater tank or a solar water heater system installed.
Alternative Solution - Verification Method V2.6.2.2 using a Reference Building approach
Class 2 Buildings and Class 4 part of a building
Class 2 buildings must achieve an average of 6 Star Rating collectively for all sole-occupancy units (SOU) and not less than 5 Star Rating for each individual SOU.
Class 4, part of a building, must achieve a minimum of 6 Star Rating.
Residential Energy Compliance Approaches offered by solaRate
Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) - NCC Elemental Provision approach
DtS solution involves checking the individual elements of a building against a standard set of parameters (Performance Requirements) that meet the NCC requirements. These elements are broken down into the following categories:
Building Fabric
Glazing
Air Movement
Sealing
Services
The DtS solution only looks at each building element in isolation and does not allow for “trade-offs” between building elements. Such as increasing the insulation levels in the roof, walls and floor above the minimum Performance Requirement to allow the use of lower thermally performing glazing.
Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) - Energy Rating approach
The energy rating method requires a building to achieve an energy rating of a minimum of 6 Stars using software (FirstRate 5, Accurate or BERS Pro) accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
This provides a more flexible and innovative compliance path allowing “trade-offs” between building elements. The following two categories Sealing and Services are not addressed by the energy rating software and their Performance Requirements should be satisfied by the Elemental Provision approach.
FirstRate5
FirstRate5 - A software tool developed under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). FirstRate5 estimates your home’s future energy demands for heating and cooling. The calculations consider your building’s orientation, thermal insulation and other major design attributes. The higher the rating the less demand the building will have on mechanical heating and cooling therefore reducing operational energy demand.
HERO
HERO – Home Energy Rating and Optimisation is a next generation energy modelling tool used to optimise building designs and show NatHERS Energy-Rating compliance for residential buildings within Australia.
Hero is a NatHERS Accredited Software providing the modelling capabilities and accuracy required to meet the NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol.
Used to model Class 1a Single Residential buildings as well as Class 2 Apartment projects, Hero is for both new and existing renovation projects.