House Energy Rating

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A House Energy Rating is an index of energy efficiency for residential homes in Australia.

The Australian Building Codes Board introduced energy efficiency measures for houses into the Building Code of Australia (BCA) on 1 January 2003. It has been adopted by all Australian states and territories which did not already have an equivalent system in place. Victoria and South Australia have gone beyond the standard, and mandated a 5-star rating, instead of 4-stars.

1 Star ratings
2 Software
3 Australian state-based initiatives
4 See also

[edit] Star ratings

Annual energy usage (MJ/m2) for heating and cooling in the ACT, by star rating. See image page for details.

Annual energy usage (MJ/m²) for heating and cooling in the ACT, by star rating. See image page for details.

A 5-Star rating indicates that the house has achieved a high level of energy efficiency, and will require minimum levels of heating and cooling to be comfortable in winter and summer. Houses which achieve a 5 star rating, compared to the average 2 star home, should be more comfortable to live in, have lower energy bills, and costs to install heating and cooling equipment should also be lower.

[edit] Software

For calculating the efficiency of a house, the software tools used are NatHERS (the Nationwide House Energy Rating scheme/software, which is to be replaced by the CSIRO's AccuRate), BERS and FirstRate. Which software packages and versions are approved varies from state to state.

[edit] Australian state-based initiatives

ACT House Energy Rating Scheme (ACTHERS) [1], requires new or previously lived in residential homes to have an Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) Statement, prepared by an accredited ACTHERS assessor, if they are to be sold. As of the February 2006, the required software used in assessment is FirstRate, Version 3.1 or Version 4. [2]

In Victoria, since July 2004, all new homes are required to achieve a 5 Star rating. [3] A 5 star rating can be achieved for the building fabric alone, or through a 4-star rating (based on building fabric) combined either a rain water tank connected to all flush toilets or a solar hot water system. There are two approved software packages: FirstRate and NatHERS.

In South Australia, all new homes (and alterations to existing homes) are required to achieve a 5 star rating. This requirement was introduced on 1 May 2006. [4]