# Energy
Up to 40 per cent of the world's energy resources are used in buildings. Good building design decreases power consumption, saves money and reduces the effects of climate change. On the other hand, poor building design is uneconomical and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
In the energy category, BESS awards points for passive design and energy efficient services and appliances that deliver energy savings above a benchmark building. The benchmark building is based on minimum standards with the Building Code of Australia.
Applicants have some flexibility for achieving points, through either pursuing improvements to the building shell (passive design) and/or mechanical electrical system components. Onsite renewable energy generation can assist to reaching higher performance standards, or offset energy consumption of buildings with average performing building shell or appliances.
BESS includes an in-built energy calculator for residential developments. In the 'Dwelling Profile' section, enter information about the NatHERS rating and various appliance types, and the calculator will determine whether you have achieved points in the subsequent Energy credits.
# Non-Residential Pathways
For non-residential developments, you can opt to use the Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) method (<1000sqm) or provide your own calculations for Energy credits 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.2.
# Deemed to Satisfy
Under the Deemed to Satisfy approach, if the user answers “Yes” to ALL the following questions, then points are awarded for the energy credits shown above.
- Do all facades demonstrate a min 10% improvement in required NCC insulation level (total R-value upwards and downwards)?
- Does all glazing meet a 10% improvement in required NCC glazing calculator (or better than 90% of total allowance)?
- Are heating and cooling systems within one star of the best available, or coefficient of performance (CoP) / Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) 85% or better than the most efficient equivalent capacity unit?
- Are water heating systems within one star of the best available, or 85% or better than the most efficient equivalent capacity unit?
# Non-Residential Energy Modelling
For large non-residential projects, preliminary modelling is required to demonstrate that energy credits have been achieved. Preliminary modelling must meet all the requirements under Verification Methods, Section JV3 of the National Construction Code Volume 1.
Non-residential projects under 1000 sqm can choose to undertake modelling if desired.
# Residential Energy Modelling - NatHERS ratings
For residential projects, preliminary modelling is expected wherever a claim is made that the dwelling will exceed the minimum requirements under the National Construction Code. For the purposes of sampling, dwellings can be grouped where they share similar thermal properties.
Any sample of dwellings should be representative and allow a weighted average result to be calculated. BESS allows this to be set up on the Project Details Page by entering each sample along with the number of dwellings in that thermally similar group. Alternatively, a weighted average can be taken for groups of dwellings that share the same exposure characteristics.
The total number of dwellings entered in BESS must always equal the number of dwellings in the development.