Energy Efficiency of a Building is required for all buildings to comply with the Building Code of Australia. For Residential buildings “Energy Efficiency” mainly aims to minimise the amount of energy used for heating and cooling. For Commercial buildings, the assessment includes air-conditioning, Artificial Lighting and Hot water. Energy Efficiency can be assessed either by a Thermal Simulation (Residential Energy Star Rating, or a Reference Building Verification method), or a Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) method. Building Energy Efficiency is usually calculated in Mega-Joules per square metre. A Residential Star Rating converts this to Stars (more Stars is more efficient).
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR AN ENERGY ASSESSMENT?
We have a checklist. Simply fill out the checklist and attach the documentation it mentions. Where an item is not applicable, leave blank or write a note. You can email, mail or fax the plans to us, whatever is easiest for you. We require either PDFs or hard copies of the plans.
HOW LONG A RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT TAKE?
It typically takes from one to six hours for a house Energy Rating, depending on the design complexity, number of floors, range of building materials, and number of windows. The exact process varies with each report, but generally involves preparing the data for entry into the program, inputting the data, running the thermal simulation software, simulating variations to achieve Code compliance at the lowest cost with minimal aesthetic changes to the building, and writing the Report.
WHAT DOES A RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT COST?
Depending on the design of building, a highly Energy Efficient design will achieve Code compliance on plans as supplied. These designs will therefore take less time to produce the Energy Efficiency Report (ie. less cost). As a guide, a single storey house ranges from about $99 to $440, with a multi-storey house ranging from about $132 to $660. For plans that are an exact copy of a previously analysed design, the cost is about $55. An exact copy must have the same floor plan, construction materials, window sizes, orientation and colours of external walls and roof. Any variation in these will require a re-calculation of results, with a possible discount available if only small changes are present. Customised Energy Consulting is costed at about $11 per thermal simulation. The cost for Units depends on the number of copy floor plans, but a guide is about $40 to $50 per Unit. Also, clients with several plans at once attract an additional discount. Contact us for a competitive proposal for your development.
HOW LONG DOES A COMMERCIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT TAKE?
For a Deemed-To-Satisfy assessment, it typically takes from one to three hours, depending on the design complexity, number of floors, range of building materials, and number of windows. A Thermal Simulation Assessment can take from half a day to several days. This time includes preparing the data for entry into the program, inputting the data, running the thermal simulation software, simulating variations to achieve Code Compliance at lowest cost, discussing suitable options with the client, and writing the Report.
WHAT DOES A COMMERCIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT COST?
Given the wide range of sizes from small offices to large shopping centres and the differing complexity of commercial buildings, the cost varies greatly from about $330 to roughly $3 per square metre internal floor area (depending on the conditioned floor area and size of other buildings). Discounts apply for repeat assessments from the same client, and for copy plans. Contact us for a competitive fee proposal for your development.
WHAT IS A THERMAL SIMULATION ASSESSMENT?
A Thermal Simulation assessment is a comprehensive 3-Dimensional computer calculation that is conducted using thermal simulation software that meets the Australian Building Code Protocol for the relevant Verification Method (Residential or Commercial). For commercial buildings, BCA Specification JV requires occupancy and operation schedules for electrical equipment, lighting, air-conditioning and hot water. The entire building is drawn in the thermal simulation software, and each zone's heating/cooling load is calculated for every hour of every day for an entire year. The end result is the mega-joules of energy per square metre that will be required to keep the building at a 'comfortable' temperature. For a Residential Star Rating, this value is converted into a number of stars, similar to the energy ratings on certain appliances (the more stars, the better). The building complies with the Code if it achieves a minimum star rating. For commercial buildings the thermal simulation is repeated for a Reference Building which complies with the Deemed-To-Satisfy requirements in all elements. If your building does not comply with Deemed-To-Satisfy in any element, it must be better than the Reference Building in other elements to compensate. Thermal simulations are best suited for buildings, for example, that do not comply with the insulation requirements of the Deemed-to-Satisfy method and adding more insulation may not be practical or is cost-prohibitive; and for residential buildings with ceiling fans. We perform BERS, BERS Pro and DesignBuilder thermal simulations.
WHAT IS A DEEMED-TO-SATISFY ASSESSMENT?
A DTS assessment looks at each individual element of a building and determines if it “satisfies” the relevant Performance Requirement. This can require some calculation based on data or drawings provided by the client. Elements include: Building Fabric (roof/ceiling insulation, roof lights, external wall insulation and floor insulation), External Glazing (including translucent panels), Building Sealing (infiltration), Air Movement (residential only), Services (Air-Conditioning and Ventilation, Artificial Lighting, Hot Water Supply) and Access for Maintenance. Each element of the building must comply independently. Unlike the thermal simulation method, there is no Residential Energy Rating given; either the building complies or it doesn't. We have a unique, streamlined approach to DTS assessments that costs less than Thermal Simulations. DTS is best suited for buildings that meet the DTS wall insulation requirements (varies depending on Climate Zone); for buildings that don't have too much glass; and for residential extensions.
WHAT IS A VERIFICATION METHOD ASSESSMENT?
A Verification Method is a Thermal Calculation. See Thermal Simulation.
WHAT IF THE BUILDING DOES NOT COMPLY?
If compliance is not achieved on the building as-is, we will work with you to suggest changes to increase the building's performance until it complies. All changes we suggest are based on their cost to implement, effectiveness in reducing the building's energy load, and aesthetic impact (eg. Ceiling Fans). This provides you with fewer changes from your initial design to achieve Code compliance and hopefully at lowest additional cost.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS ON HOW TO DESIGN AN EFFICIENT BUILDING?
Check the Resources section of our site for some articles on building energy efficiency, helpful design ideas, and options to increase a building's performance based on our experience.
IS A QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REALLY NEEDED?
In order to produce a consistently reliable product, Energy Efficiency Assessors require some sort of Quality Management System. Clyde Anderson Pty Ltd is certified as having an ISO 9001 Quality Management System in Energy Efficiency Consulting which enhances the accuracy and reliability of Energy Efficiency Reports. The System includes procedures for: