6 Sustainable Design Ideas For NatHERS Compliance

6 Tools and Initiatives to Promote Green Building in Australia

Green buildings have recently gained popularity worldwide for their efficient energy use and reduced waste production.

These buildings frequently include methods to reduce energy consumption, including the energy necessary to collect, process, deliver, and install building materials and the operating energy required to supply cooling, heating, and equipment power services.

Such constructions are rated with NABERS rating, JV3 assessment, Green Star, etc., to check for their energy efficiency. For residential buildings, BASIX and NatHERS assessments are used as sustainability rating standards.

What Is A Green Building?

Green building, also known as ecologically sustainable construction, refers to a real-estate structure/development and the use of environmentally friendly and resource-efficient (energy, water, thermal comfort) methods throughout the development's life cycle.

Features of a Green Building.

Any structure, whether it is a residence, an office, a college, a medical facility, a community centre, etc., can be a sustainable or a green building if it has the criteria stated below. ●

Non-toxic, ecological, and long-lasting materials are used for construction. High-quality building materials that minimise or eliminate issues with indoor environmental quality are now readily accessible, typically from local manufacturers. These construction materials aren't made from harmful compounds and considerably reduce waste. Recycled and pre-manufactured goods lessen the use of resources, save money, and occasionally outperform traditional equivalents. These materials also optimise insulation, thus reducing dependency on artificial heating and cooling.

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Sustainable buildings use methods to utilise renewable energy sources such as solar power. In addition, the buildings use glass that has a low solar heat gain coefficient. The quantity of radiation from the sun that enters a building via glass and is emitted as heat is known as the solar heat gain coefficient. The smaller the heat gain coefficient, the less heat the building transmits, and the cooler it is. This also saves money on power because air conditioners don't have to do as much work.

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The garbage from a building is separated into recyclable, biodegradable, non-recyclable, or hazardous waste at an MRF(Material Recovery Facility). Compostable trash can be used as fertiliser for the plants in the building. NABERS Rating Include waste management as a part of their sustainability rating.

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A majority of green building is dependent on the development of good habits. As a result, every community that professes to be green must have systems that assist in the efficient use of resources. Such solutions include regular maintenance facilities, smart monitoring systems, rainwater harvesting provisions and intelligent appliance installation.

Benefits of Green Building?

There are several financial and ecological benefits of green buildings that traditional structures don't provide. Let's first focus on the economic benefits of these sustainable structures.

Financial Benefits Cost savings from reduced water, energy, and waste, cheaper operations and maintenance expenses, and improved tenant productivity and health are all advantages of green buildings.

Operating expenditures Green buildings can reduce minimise eneryg and water use, thus lowering long-term operating and maintenance expenses. The energy savings often outweigh any cost premiums connected with planning, design, and construction within an acceptable payback period.

Attracting more valuable clients Many customers are environmentally conscious and look for companies that share their beliefs.

Recently more and more people prefer eco-friendly houses over traditional buildings. Green buildings are believed to affect the well-being and health of occupants positively. Additionally, the design features and internal environment of green buildings have been shown to boost the productivity levels of workers. So, these buildings are proving to be financially beneficial for businesses.

Costs of design and construction According to research, green buildings do not have to be more expensive, especially with proper design, program management, and environmental plans. The construction costs of the buildings can come down substantially.

Ecological Benefits The ecological benefits of green buildings include:

Temperature regulation Given the rising temperatures year after year, it is more prudent to invest in sustainable construction, which helps control the temperature considerably. Structures with green roofs stay far cooler than ordinary buildings, which is an undeniable benefit for people. Furthermore, the flora around the building generates dampness, which produces a pleasant climate within and around the structure. JV3 assessment allows greater design flexibility to ensure better thermal efficiency even with intricate designs.

Reduced energy wastage and pollution Green buildings may substantially reduce energy usage through improved airflow, natural sunlight, and the utilisation of renewable energy sources. The use of locally available materials during the construction of green buildings can help to reduce pollution caused by transportation.

The building design includes measures to reduce the wastage of water, power, and other resources. Water conservation can be achieved by recycling water, installing water-saving faucets, and harvesting rainwater.

Australian Tools To Ensure Green Buildings.

Green Star Green Star is a globally recognised grading system that establishes the benchmark for healthy, sustainable buildings and environments. It is a flexible rating system that may be used on any project, whether it's a new or old structure.

NABERS Rating National Australian Built Environment Ratings System or NABERS rating is a national environmental rating system that assesses a building's or tenancy's operating efficiency in terms of energy and water usage, indoor air quality, and management of wastes.

BEEC According to the Building Energy Efficiency Act, any commercial building above 1,000 square meters (sqm) must obtain a current Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) when being sold, leased, or sublet.

BCA Section J The BCA Section J of the National Construction Code ensures that the commercial buildings' construction plans and architectural details allow for effective energy use.

JV3 assessment and DtS Method JV3 assessment is an alternative evaluation approach for non-residential buildings that compares new buildings' overall estimated energy usage to their climate and location using a reference building.

When energy efficiency rules were initially established in the Building Code of Australia (BCA), the Elemental Provisions technique became famous, also called the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) method. The assessment procedure includes evaluating the proposed building's development to the National Construction Code's requirements (NCC). The assessment yields a stringent pass/fail outcome with no room for error.

For Residential Structures- NatHERS and BASIX certification The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assigns a star rating to a resident based on its thermal comfort levels. A high star rating means using less energy to keep the internal environment of the house comfortable. BASIX is also a regulatory certificate that verifies that a proposed project meets standardised energy, thermal, and water specifications.

Conclusion Living in balance with nature while maintaining comfort and efficiency is central to the green building philosophy. It is feasible to organise our lives without wasting natural resources or damaging the environment with some effort. Are you looking to get your building certified by professional sustainability assessors? Contact the highly qualified and experienced team of energy efficiency assessors today!

Contact Us

Company Name: Eco Certificates Address: Suite 413, 33 Lexington Drive, Bella Vista, NSW 2153, Australia Phone: 1300 162436 Email id: info@ecocertificates.com.au Website: http://ecocertificates.com.au/