How to ensure your new build receives a NSW 7-star energy rating
Increased energy efficiency targets apply to all new homes in NSW from 1 October 2023. The revised BASIX requirements for new homes include stricter requirements for insulation, glazing, and ventilation, as well as the installation of energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
While this is good news for your home’s energy efficiency, ongoing costs, and the environment, it means increased building costs in the short term.
All new home builders like Kurmond Homes must be across all the BASIX changes. As a client of ours, you can sit back and relax, knowing that we understand and will take care of all the new BASIX requirements in NSW for 2023
What is BASIX?
BASIX is an abbreviation for Building Sustainability Index. It is a web-based planning tool designed to assess potential performance against a range of sustainability indices. These include thermal comfort, energy and water use and a BASIX compliance certificate is the formal evidence that the project achieves compliance with the required targets.
Using the tool results in a BASIX report that considers things like the orientation, size and situation of the building, the construction category, the landscaping, the size and type of windows, and the appliances. Once your project complies you will receive the BASIX certification.
The commitments made under BASIX become a condition of the relevant development consent or complying development certificate and apply to any new building work or alterations and additions to an existing dwelling where the value of the works is over $50,000.
Six tips for reaching a mandatory 7-star energy rating home
All new home builds must conform to the Changes to BASIX in 2023, meaning all home builders in NSW need to understand the new BASIX requirements, inside and out.
At Kurmond we’ve done our homework, so here are our top tips for reaching the required new 7-star BASIX requirements. It’s important to note that this list is just some of the things you can undertake to reach BASIX 7-star which is design and site specific. More than one item and other items outside this list may or may not be required to achieve compliance.
Tip 1:
Increase insulation to reach 7-star BASIX
Insulation in any home contributes a great deal to the thermal performance of the dwelling.
Insulation is generally installed in the roof, ceiling, walls, and even the floor in some homes. It contributes to keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter but also helps to reduce noise and draughts.
All types of insulation are given an R-value, which is a measure of thermal resistance. By increasing the R-value of your insulation your rating will also increase your star rating.
Tip 2:
Fans & ventilation to help meet new BASIX requirements
The humble ceiling fan can also contribute to reaching a BASIX 7-star level, particularly in bedrooms. By installing ceiling fans, you will increase ventilation and lessen your reliance on air-conditioning. If you use a ceiling fan in conjunction with air-conditioning, you can also have your thermostat a few degrees higher, saving on energy costs and emissions.
Using ceiling fans regularly ensures that stagnant air and moisture do not build up, helping prevent mould and mildew from forming.
Tip 3:
Solar power for BASIX certificate
Including solar power in your new home can make a big contribution to the BASIX certificate requirements. That’s why the Kurmond Homes BASIX Upgrade package includes the installation of a 6.6kw solar system with a 5kw inverter.
Tip 4:
Orientation of your new 7-star home
Adjusting the orientation of your new home can also impact BASIX standards. It’s not always possible to swivel your home around, but orientation is about harnessing the sun’s power and factoring in the seasonal changes.
At Kurmond, we factor in the sun’s trajectory, the surrounding buildings and vegetation, and the block width when planning the best orientation for your home.
Tip 5:
Windows and doors to reach energy efficiency requirements
Windows account for a large amount of heat loss and heat gain in any home, so making the right choices impacts thermal comfort and energy efficiency. This means there will be different types of glazing used in different areas of your new home.
Factors that need to be considered are orientation, which affects how much sun you will get on the window, your climate, the window size and more.
The use of doors throughout your home will also impact your BASIX rating. By including more internal doors, heating and cooling will operate more efficiently, leading to cost and energy savings.
Tip 6:
Colours play a role in 7-star homes
Adjusting the colour of external walls, and your roof can have an impact on the heating and cooling capacity of your new home. For example, in areas where you experience hot summers, using light colours for external surfaces can make a large difference in keeping your home cool. Even the colour of window frames can have an impact.And the good news is that many of Kurmond Homes’ designs, like our Hamptons facades, feature a light roof and exterior colour scheme, like our popular Iris 32 design.
Kurmond Homes BASIX Upgrade Package
To help alleviate the additional costs of the 7-star rating, Kurmond Homes is providing a free upgrade package valued at over $10,000 for all new deposits for a limited time only.
The package includes:
- R2.5 insulation in external walls
- R6.0 ceiling insulation
- Ceiling fans in up to four bedrooms
- 6.6kW solar system with 5kW inverter.
Contact us today to learn more about building a 7 star home with Kurmond
To conform with the New BASIX requirements NSW you need to build with experienced home builders in Sydney like Kurmond. We can provide advice on BASIX certification which is design and site specific.
At Kurmond we can provide advice on BASIX and energy efficiency in general. We are experienced home builders with hundreds of completed homes.
To discover more about building with Kurmond Homes, please contact us today or visit one of our display homes.
