Building Tips

By Category

By Category
Nathers Basix

NatHERS vs. BASIX: What Builders Should Know

NatHERS and BASIX are crucial assessments for sustainable housing in Australia. Let’s understand how they work and the major differences between them.

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U Value Window Installation

U-Value vs SHGC: What You Should Know

Confused about the differences between SHGC and U-Value? Let us help by explaining what these critical energy performance metrics mean.

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Insulation And Glazing

How is Insulation and Glazing Calculated With a 7-star Energy Rating

Want to achieve a 7-star rating for your home? Remember, insulation and glazing—are the two most important aspects that make all the difference.

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Construction Site

What is a J1V3 Assessment in the National Construction Code? 

J1V3 assessment is a critical part of the NCC that lets you use advanced simulations to achieve higher Star rating. Let us understand what it is.

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Building Plans

ESD vs SDA vs SMP: The Differences Explained

Sustainable development in Australia is advancing rapidly. Learn about ESA, SDA and SMP in our guide and understand how they help design sustainable housing.

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Reduce Insulation And Glazing

How to Reduce Insulation and Glazing Specifications for a 7-Star Energy Rating

Insulation and glazing are often considered the main drivers behind energy efficiency in a home and for a good reason. They decide how much heat enters the interiors and how much of it escapes. Problems arise when people start focusing more on materials and expensive upgrades instead of working on passive design principles to improve…

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J1v3 Report Section J Assessment

How Does a J1V3 Report Differ from a Section J Assessment?

The Section J Assessment and the J1V3 report often come up in discussions about achieving the mandatory energy efficiency requirements for Australian commercial buildings. Both are part of the National Construction Code of Australia (NCC), which was previously called the Building Code of Australia (BCA).  While Section J has a straightforward process based on the…

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Visual Example

How Does the Energy Rating Software Calculate a 7-Star Energy Rating?

There are four accredited softwares that can be used to prepare a 7 star energy rating report. Accurate, HERO, FirstRate 5 and Bers Pro. The option to prepare an energy rating to assess the dwellings thermal performance provides a more accurate energy assessment over the elemental provision pathway found in the NCC 2022: Part H…

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7 Star Energy

What are the Two Options to Achieving a 7 Star Energy Rating?

Australia has made net zero a clear priority with the release of the 2022 National Construction Code (NCC), which targets residential spaces. The NCC requires architects and builders to create homes that reach the 7-star energy standards, resulting in benefits like lower energy bills, limited greenhouse gas emissions, and a healthier living space. Since building…

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7 Star Energy

What is the Best Process to Achieve a 7-star Energy Rating?

The most significant change introduced in Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC) was raising the minimum energy rating from 6 to 7 stars. The country has made this crucial push to ensure that all new residential places consume less energy and are generally better for residents. Thankfully, achieving the new 7-star rating won’t be difficult if…

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