The Stars Energy Rating was introduced by the Victorian government to help reduce the impact of energy consumption from housing. From July 2004 it is compulsory for all new Victorian homes to achieve the required Stars rating. This does not apply to extensions or alterations to existing homes. However existing homes can take advantage of applying energy efficient design features to help you save money on heating and cooling costs, as well as making your home environmentally friendly.
Basically, an Energy Rating is a calculation of the thermal performance of a building given as a points score together with a star rating from zero to 10 stars.
In Victoria the main method used for performing energy ratings is with the FirstRate house energy rating software developed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria and the C.S.I.R.O.
Requirements for a building to pass
For your building to pass with the local council, you will need to have both of the following:
- Certificate printed from FirstRate demonstrating the 5 star energy rating of the building fabric
- Details of water saving measures – either a rain water tank or a solar hot-water service
We can manage to provide a FirstRate certificate showing the required stars energy-rating for the building. As each building is unique in terms of design, location and materials, a customised solution is provided. If the building does not meet the requirement, we can manage and recommend changes. Possible changes could include management of the following:
- Seals and weather stripping to doors and windows
- Different levels of insulation for various building elements (walls, floor and roofs)
- A variation in the amount and type of glazing
- Attention to shading and orientation of walls and windows
To manage and assess your building we will need the following:
- Architectural drawings (preferably in CAD format)
- Insulation levels of walls and ceilings
- Window glass and frame type (preferably manufacturer's model)
- Site map with house orientation