Get your energy consultant involved early: The most important first step is to get energy consultant involved early in the design process. Engaging with our energy consultants early on and conducting preliminary assessments during the concept design stage can identify thermal performance issues before they become costly challenges during the building approval process.

Orientation is key: Build for your local climate. Living areas and high use areas should have a Northern aspect and be shaded accordingly to encourage winter sun into the dwelling and block summer sun.

Ability to shut off areas of the home can assist in thermal comfort and lower energy usage.

Increase insulation and increase glazing specifications where possible. This will help to create an efficient thermal envelope.

Appropriate sized glazing. Even the best double or triple glazing will allow temperature to transfer through a lot more vs an insulated wall. Keep this in mind when designing.

Thermal Mass can play a very important role in assisting temperature fluctuations. This could included items such as exposed concrete floor & exposed concrete block or brick internal walls.

There are several software applications available for assessing the thermal performance of buildings. At NRG Efficient Homes, we utilise NatHERS accredited software for residential assessments and ANSI/ASHRAE accredited software for commercial assessments.

Both methods involve detailed modelling of the building, where factors such as construction types, glazing, ventilation systems, shading devices, materials used, and insulation levels are inputted. These inputs are crucial as they directly influence the calculations that determine the overall annual thermal performance of the project.

Within the software, climate data specific to the location of the building and anticipated occupant behaviour are factored in to create a comprehensive heating and cooling load profile throughout the year. The aim is to minimise these loads, as lower heating and cooling requirements indicate a higher-performing building in terms of energy efficiency.

Achieving compliance involves meeting specific heating and cooling targets that are tailored to the climate zone where the building is located. By accurately simulating and analysing these factors, we ensure that our designs not only meet regulatory requirements but also optimise energy efficiency and occupant comfort. This approach not only supports sustainability goals but also helps in creating environments that are cost-effective to operate and maintain over their lifecycle.

What is a Green Home Loan?

A green home loan is like a regular home loan, except it features a discounted interest rate for properties that meet certain energy efficiency standards. There are several lenders in Australia that offer green home loans with these discounted rates, but eligibility criteria can vary.

The residential sector makes up more than a quarter of Australia’s emissions, so there’s plenty of reason to be mindful of your property’s output anyway, but green home loans are an additional financial incentive to choose an energy efficient home.

Each lender has its own criteria borrowers have to meet in order to be eligible for a green home loan. It’s best to check directly with the lender to find out its eligibility criteria.

Generally speaking, to be eligible for a green home loan your new or existing home might need to have certain features, which could include (but not limited to):

Meet or exceed a seven star NatHERS rating to be eligible for a green home loan.

Solar panels

Increased Insulation

Double glazing

Heat Pump hot water systems

Water tanks

Energy storage system

A growing number of lenders in Australia are now offering green home loans.

In general, lenders will offer lower interest rates on green home loan products. This could be a minor discount, or some of the cheapest rates on the market.

There’s a couple of reasons why lenders might do this. First of all, many banks and lenders like to make pledges towards a sustainable future. Energy efficient homes contribute to reduced carbon emissions and conserve natural resources, so are one of the principle ways banks can demonstrate their commitment to environmental issues.

Secondly, some lenders might also consider owner-occupied energy efficient home loans to be lower risk. Electricity and gas costs can be substantial, and are often susceptible to upward pressure from domestic inflation or geopolitical instability. Energy bills tend to be one of the largest household expenses, and can be a contributing factor for households who are forced to default on their loan. Homeowners will typically make significant savings on their energy costs with an energy efficient home, so lenders might prefer to give out these loans because there is less chance the household's expenses become overwhelming, forcing the lender to repossess the property.