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Energy equivalence building standards (star and Whole of Home ratings)
On 1 May 2024, the National Construction Code 2022 (NCC) Modern Homes residential energy efficiency standards commenced through amendment of the Queensland Development Code 4.1 – Sustainable Buildings.
The new energy efficiency standards include a 7-star energy equivalence rating for houses and units and the introduction of a Whole of Home rating to measure the energy use of the home.
This guide explains how energy assessments are undertaken, how to achieve a 7-star energy rating and a high Whole of Home rating for new dwellings in Queensland.
7-Star energy equivalence rating
The 7-star energy equivalence rating of new houses, townhouses and units is determined by the design of the building's shell: its roof, walls, windows and floors.
Dwellings designed to be more energy efficient are more comfortable to live in, and can provide ongoing savings to householders by minimising energy use for artificial cooling and heating. Energy equivalence is expressed on a star rating scale, with 10 stars being the highest and most energy efficient.
New houses and townhouses (class 1 buildings) must achieve a minimum 6-star energy equivalence rating. New multi-unit residential buildings (class 2) must also achieve an average 7-star energy equivalence rating for all units in the building, with no individual unit to be rated less than 6-stars.
Whole of Home rating
Whole of Home assessments aim to lower energy costs by helping homeowners make cost-effective choices about their home's appliances and equipment. Homeowners, designers and builders can explore the trade-offs and benefits of different technologies, appliance efficiencies and thermal performance to create a home and appliance design that works for them and their budget.
The Whole of Home rating scale ranges from 0 to 100 – a poor energy performing home would rate under 40, while a score of 100 is a net zero energy value home. A rating over 100 is possible where the home is producing more energy than it uses. Ratings at 100 or above mean the home will have low or no energy bills.
The new NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency standards mean new houses will need to meet a minimum Whole of Home rating of 60 (out of 100) and apartments will need to meet a minimum Whole of Home rating of 50 (out of 100).
Energy assessments for new dwellings
An energy assessment predicts how much energy would be required to cool and heat a dwelling to maintain its comfort over a year, based on the thermal performance of its building shell (i.e. roof, walls, windows and floors).
On 1 May 2024, new residential energy efficiency standards commenced in Queensland. The new standards require an assessment of the thermal performance of the building shell and for the first time, account for the energy usage of household appliances and equipment, and energy produced by any on-site renewable energy e.g. solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
It has been more than a decade since the last change to the energy efficiency requirements for homes in the National Construction Code.
The 2 most common energy assessment methods used for residential buildings (houses and units) are:
- deemed to satisfy (DTS) elemental provisions – using the more prescriptive provisions of the National Construction Code 2022 (through the Building Code of Australia—Volumes 1 and 2).
- software – using one of the software tools accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (BERS Pro, AccuRate , HERO and FirstRate5), a house energy assessor predicts the design's thermal performance and assesses the Whole of Home energy budget.
Regarding a building’s thermal performance, the software assessment generates a star rating between 0 to 10 stars – where a 10-star dwelling would require the least energy use for artificial cooling and heating.
In terms of household energy use, the Whole of Home rating scale ranges from 0 to 100. A score of 100 represents a net zero energy value home, while a rating over 100 is possible where the home is producing more energy than it uses.
A NatHERS Certificate confirms the star rating of the building shell and whether the home meets or beats the annual energy use budget. More information on the software assessment method is available in Building and Plumbing Newsflash 548 (PDF, 422KB).
Other energy assessment options are:
- peer review by an expert (read peer review guidelines)
- using a reference building by comparing to a design that is already known to comply.
Use of optional credits
In Queensland, a dwelling can use optional credits when it includes:
- an outdoor living area (for houses, townhouses and units) – this option was expanded on 1 May 2024 to apply state-wide in Queensland.
The optional credits can continue to be used towards achieving compliance for the dwelling's energy rating.
The 7-star housing and multi-unit residential building requirements are regulated through the Queensland Development Code 4.1—Sustainable buildings.
Also consider...
- Learn more about the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
- Read the National Construction Code (NCC) for the construction of buildings.
- Read the Housing Energy Efficiency Handbook (PDF, 8.8MB).
- Read about passive design on the Australian Government's Your Home website.
- Learn more about Queensland's climate zones for dwellings and buildings.
7-star energy standard for houses and townhouses
New energy standard for houses and units commenced on 1 May 2024. Learn how these changes will affect you.
New houses and townhouses (class 1 buildings and their enclosed attached garage (class 10a)) must achieve a minimum 7-star energy equivalence rating. This rating is determined by the design of the building's shell: its roof, walls, windows and floors.
A house designed as 7-star (or better) is more energy efficient and comfortable to live in, and can provide ongoing savings to householders by minimising energy use for artificial cooling and heating.
How to achieve the 7–star energy rating
There are many design features that can contribute to the minimum standard for houses, including:
- northern orientation of living rooms
- minimising the area of east and west facing walls and windows
- natural ventilation through windows and doorways
- shading with wider eaves and awnings
- insulation in roof space and walls
- high-performance glazing
- light-coloured roofs and walls
- ventilating the roof space via roof and eave vents
- ceiling fans in living areas and bedrooms
- well-designed outdoor living areas.
The design must account for the climate of the area where the house is located. Find design tips for a specific climate zone.
Optional credits for outdoor living areas and photovoltaic systems
Optional credits for outdoor living areas can be used towards meeting the 7–star minimum standard for houses and townhouses.
For an outdoor living area, it must meet minimum design specifications:
- ½-star credit for a fully covered outdoor living area that is connected to an indoor living area (such as a lounge, kitchen or family room) where it has
- at least 12m2 in floor area
- a minimum dimension of 2.5m in all directions
- an impervious roof with an insulation R-value of at least R-1.5
- 2 or more sides open or capable of being readily opened.
- 1-star credit when an outdoor living area
- meets the above requirements
- is fitted with at least 1 ceiling fan that has a speed controller and a blade rotation diameter of at least 900mm.
- The floor area a fan serves must not exceed
- 15m2 if it has a blade rotation diameter of less than 1200mm
- 25m2 if it has a blade rotation diameter of greater than or equal to 1200mm.
The optional credit for installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system ceased on 30 April 2024 as solar PV systems are included in the Whole of Home assessment.
The design must achieve a minimum baseline rating for the building shell when using the optional credits:
- a minimum 5½ stars in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climate zones
- a minimum 6 stars in the hot arid climate zone.
Flexible design options can be used to achieve a 6-star house. For example:
- 7-star building shell rating only
- 6½-star building shell plus a ½-star credit for an outdoor living area
- 6-star building shell plus 1-star credit for the inclusion of an outdoor living area with a ceiling fan.
Marketing houses higher than 7 stars
Optional credits are provided for regulatory purposes only to assist in complying with Queensland's 7-star standard for houses. They do not extend the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) star range beyond 10 stars.
A house cannot be promoted as having more than 7 stars if those additional stars rely on optional credits. For example, if a house achieves a 7-star building shell rating (as per its NatHERS Certificate), the inclusion of an outdoor living area with a ceiling fan does not increase its rating to 8 stars.
The 7-star standard for houses is regulated through the Queensland Development Code 4.1 – Sustainable buildings.
Also consider...
- Learn more about the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
- Read the National Construction Code for the construction of buildings.
- Read the Housing Energy Efficiency Handbook (PDF, 8.8MB).
- Read about passive design on the Australian Government's Your Home website.
7-star energy standard for units
New energy standards for units commenced on 1 May 2024. Learn how these changes affect you.
New multi-unit residential buildings (class 2) must meet at least a 7-star energy rating.
All sole-occupancy units must collectively achieve an average energy rating of at least 7 stars for the whole building, with no individual unit rated less than 6 stars. This accounts for the different orientations and elevations of the individual units within the building (e.g. units with a southern orientation have less solar access).
A 7-star (or better) unit is designed to be more energy efficient and comfortable to live in, and can provide ongoing savings to householders by minimising energy use for artificial cooling and heating.
How the rating is assessed
Software is the only assessment method used to determine the energy efficiency of units. Each unit in the building must have a NatHERS Certificate. While units in a building may have similar designs, they will each have a different orientation and height.
For the energy efficiency of common areas and shared services, like artificial lighting and central plant facilities for air-conditioning, the National Construction Code's Volume One—Energy Efficiency (Section J) provisions apply.
How to achieve the 7-star energy rating
There are many design features that can contribute to the minimum standard for units, including:
- northern orientation of living rooms
- natural ventilation through windows and doorways
- shading with wider eaves and awnings
- insulation in roof space and walls
- high-performance glazing
- light-coloured roofs and walls
- ceiling fans in living areas and bedrooms
- well-designed outdoor living areas.
The design must account for the climate of the area where the unit is located. Read more design tips for your climate zone.
Optional credits for outdoor living areas
Optional credits for outdoor living areas can be used towards meeting the 7-star requirement for unit buildings. Up to a 1-star credit is provided for each unit that includes an outdoor living area, which can be used only when calculating the building's average star rating.
In recognition of Queensland's unique outdoor residential accommodation design and lifestyle, the optional credit for outdoor living areas has been expanded to apply state-wide for apartment buildings.
For an outdoor living area with a unit, it must meet minimum design requirements:
- ½-star credit for a fully covered outdoor living area that is connected to an indoor living area (such as a lounge, kitchen or family room) where it has
- at least 12m2 floor area
- a minimum dimension of 2.5m in all directions
- an impervious roof with an insulation R-value of at least R-1.5
- at least 1 side open or capable of being readily opened.
- 1-star credit when an outdoor living area
- meets the above requirements
- is fitted with at least 1 ceiling fan that has a speed controller and a blade rotation diameter of at least 900mm.
- The floor area a fan serves must not exceed
- 15m2 if it has a blade rotation diameter of less than 1,200mm
- 25m2 if it has a blade rotation diameter of greater than or equal to 1,200mm.
In addition, where an air conditioner services the room directly adjacent to the outdoor living area it must be able to be automatically shut down when an external door that provides access to the outdoor living area is open for more than 1 minute.
Marketing star rating and optional credits
Optional credits are provided for regulatory purposes only to assist in complying with Queensland's 7-star standard for units. They do not extend the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) star range beyond 10 stars.
A unit cannot be promoted as having more than 7 stars if those additional stars rely on optional credits for outdoor areas. For example, if a unit achieves a 7-star building shell rating, the inclusion of an outdoor living area with a fan does not increase its rating to 8 stars. The optional credits for units can only be used towards calculating the building's average rating.
The 7-star standard for units is regulated through the Queensland Development Code 4.1—Sustainable buildings.
Also consider...
- Learn more about Queensland's climate zones for dwellings and buildings.
- Learn more about the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
- Read the National Construction Code for the construction of buildings.
- Read about buying and renovating an apartment on the Australian Government's Your Home website.
Whole of Home assessment and rating
As of 1 May 2024, Modern Homes residential energy efficiency standards include a 7-star thermal performance rating for houses and units and a Whole of Home rating to measure the energy use of the home.
Whole of Home assessments aim to lower energy costs by helping homeowners make cost-effective choices about their home's appliances and equipment. Homeowners, designers and builders can explore the trade-offs and benefits of different technologies, appliance efficiencies and thermal performance to create a home and appliance design that works for them and their budget.
There are many appliance combinations that can be used to achieve a high Whole of Home rating. An efficient water heating system and appropriately-sized space heating or cooling systems can save money and ensure the home is comfortable and resilient in hot and cold climates. On-site renewable energy generation can also help offset the home's energy use.
The relationship between a home's thermal performance rating and its Whole of Home rating means that increasing thermal performance will increase the Whole of Home rating. This is because the heating and cooling energy needs will be lower in a home with a higher thermal performance rating.
The National Construction Code 2022 (NCC) Modern Homes residential energy efficiency standards were implemented in Queensland through amendment of the Queensland Development Codee 4.1 – Sustainable buildings.
What is included in a Whole of Home assessment
A Whole of Home assessment involves the following appliances and equipment:
- lighting
- heating and cooling
- hot water
- swimming pool and spa pumps
- cooking and plug-in appliances.
Onsite energy generation and storage (e.g. solar PV and battery) can also form part of a Whole of Home assessment where they are included in the design documentation.
Calculating a Whole of Home rating
In simple terms, the rating considers the energy used in a household for heating, cooling, appliances and equipment, minus any energy generated from solar panels. This assessment builds a useful snapshot of energy costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
Whole of Home ratings and requirements
The Whole of Home rating scale ranges from 0 to 100. A poor energy-performing home would rate under 40, while a score of 100 is a net zero energy value home. A rating over 100 is possible where the home is producing more energy than it uses. Ratings at 100 or above indicate the home will have low or no energy bills.
The new energy efficiency standards mean new houses and townhouses will need to achieve a Whole of Home rating of 60 and new units a rating of 50.
Compliance options
The 2e main existing compliance options available to house energy assessors for Whole of Home assessments are:
NatHERS software
The same software tools used for thermal performance assessments are used for assessing compliance with the NCC Whole of Home energy efficiency requirements.
The following software tools have been accredited by NatHERS for use in performing Whole of Home assessments and issuing Whole of Home certificates:
- BERS Pro
- AccuRate Home
- Home Energy Rating Optimisation (HERO)
- FirstRate5.
NatHERS-accredited software is able to provide a whole of home rating for apartment units where hot water and space conditioning are decentralised, but currently does not offer a Whole of Home option for apartments with centralised services. However, the NatHERS Administrator expects that software tools will be available to assess Class 2 buildings with centralised services from 2025.
All new assessments must be done using the latest version of software unless an exemption is provided by the relevant building authority.
Deemed to Satisfy Elemental Provisions
This option provides a prescriptive approach to complying with the Whole of Home performance requirements. Following all the elemental provisions of the NCC creates a deemed to satisfy (DTS) solution.
This compliance option is prescribed in Australian Building Codes Board NCC 2022 as follows:
- for houses in the DTS Provisions of Volume Two, H6D2(2)(b)
- for apartments in the DTS Provisions of Volume One, J2D2(3)(a)(i), (b) and (c).
Whole of Home energy savings tips
The most important appliances affecting a Whole of Home assessment are heating/cooling and hot water, as on average they account for 40% and 23% of annual power demand, respectively.
Air-sourced heat pumps and air conditioners deliver 3 to 5 times more space heating or cooling energy than they consume in power and provide a major boost to a Whole of Home rating. This energy consumption outcome is similar for heat pump water heaters.
A 5-watt LED lightbulb produces the same amount of light as a 75-watt incandescent lightbulb, while using 93% less energy, resulting in higher energy efficiency.
Also consider...
- Learn more about the NatHERS Whole of Home rating to understand how it can be used to measure energy use.
- See the Modern Homes provisions for more information and guidance materials
- Read more about what's new to the National Construction Codee 2022.
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021