BLURB: My explanation of house energy rating

The whole basis of house energy assessment is based on the notion that
During a year, most people will feel at some time, hot or cold in their homes.
This is found by the mean acceptable thermal comfort ranges of 18-24 degrees in living areas and 12-18 degrees in bed rooms.
The home energy assessment assumes that people will turn on some form of heating or cooling as the temperatures in their homes go over or under their thermal comfort range.
SO the NatHERS program determines the temperature inside each zone of the house over certain time periods.
It analyses the living areas between 7am and midnight and bedrooms between midnight and 6am
Every time the temperature falls outside the comfort zone during these certain time periods,
the program calculates the amount of energy which would be used to heat or cool that part of the house.
Which is where the figures come in. They are an amount of mega joules per meter squared per annum. I.e. how much energy is used, per amount of house, over a year.
Depending on the house design and material choice, some homes will meet the thermal comfort levels and not need artificial heating or cooling as often as others. This is why lower figures are better.
If you need your house to be energy rated, contact me: onethousandyearsATgmailDOTcom

NEWS: BASIX Alts and Ads implementation date extended

I quote directly from the basix e-newsletter some news many will be glad to hear...


1. BASIX Alterations and Additons to commence on 1 July 2006
The Hon. Craig Knowles, MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, announced a revised timeline for BASIX Alterations and Additions at the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) "Building on BASIX" forum, Wednesday, 20 July 2005.

BASIX will now apply to alterations and additions in New South Wales from 1 July 2006.

The new timeline will allow for more extensive consultation with all stakeholders such as industry, local government and homeowners. It will also allow more time for developing practicable and cost effective greenhouse and water reductions for the broad range of household renovation scenarios, including first floor additions, new kitchens, new bathrooms and swimming pools. An extended exhibition period will now be possible to ensure far-reaching public participation and feedback from across the State.

The Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) welcomes feedback on the best possible approach for the new BASIX Alterations and Additions tool. Relevant information will be provided on the BASIX website, www.basix.nsw.gov.au, and via future BASIX e-newsletters.