With Australia’s push toward more sustainable living, the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 has rolled out its red carpet for the future of home building. For developers and homeowners, achieving a 7-star rating under the NatHERS system is no longer a distant dream but a requirement in new buildings, and it brings with it a myriad of benefits. Let’s unpack the 12 salient features that distinguish a 7-star home:
1. Optimal Orientation: Let Nature Do the Work 🌅
Strategic orientation maximizes a home's energy efficiency. A 7-star home optimally positions living areas facing north, soaking up the winter sun, while minimising western exposure to fend off the harsh summer heat. It's all about harnessing nature's rhythm to our benefit.
This consideration is why many volume builders are being challenged to reevaluate their business model and home specifications across all of their standardised models. Under the new NCC requirements it becomes increasingly more challenging to achieve a 7-star energy rating by plonking a standard template home on a site with little to no consideration for the orientation of the home.
2. Insulation that Wraps You in Comfort 🌡️
High-quality insulation isn't just about trapping heat; it's about creating an indoor haven. Walls, roofs, and floors equipped with top-notch insulation ensure you’re cocooned in comfort throughout the year, keeping energy consumption in check.
An important note about insulation, air-tightness (next point 3) and condensation management is to be aware of unintended consequences if these building systems are not designed to work together. Insulation helps to maintain an consistent internal temperature however, it also needs to allow water vapour to permeate though the insulation. If the water vapour is not managed and can't escape there is an increased risk of mould emerging.
When considering the interaction between building systems such as insulation and ventilation to achieve energy efficiency, it starts to become clear why the five core 'Passive House Design Principles' exist. (See our earlier blog article 5 Principles for more resilient and energy efficient homes from the Passive House Design movement)
3. Draught-proof Sealing: No Unwanted Guests Here!🚪
Air leaks? Not in a 7-star home! Effective sealing, encompassing windows, doors, exhausts, and vents, ensures there's no unwanted airflow. This attention to detail guarantees that the temperature inside remains as you desire. Importantly this doesn't mean you're living inside an air-tight tupperware container either. Instead as air-tightness improves in a home, mechanical energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems become more critical to satisfy energy efficiency requirements while also removing stale air, replenishing the home with fresh air and maintaining indoor air quality.
4. Advanced Window Glazing: More Than Meets the Eye 🖼️
Windows in a 7-star home do more than offer picturesque views. Advanced glazing, be it double or triple, acts as a shield, minimising heat transfer and helping maintain a balanced indoor temperature, rain or shine. It needs to be considered because it is also one of the design decisions that can rapidly increase cost.
5. Embrace the Power of Thermal Mass 🧱
Materials like brick, stone, and concrete don’t just give homes a sturdy foundation; they act as nature's thermostats. By absorbing and releasing heat, they play a pivotal role in stabilising indoor temperatures, offering warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
6. Letting Homes Breathe: Ventilation and Airflow 🌬️
Promoting natural airflow is the key. A 7-star home embraces ventilation with well-placed windows and vents, allowing a refreshing cross-flow of air. The need for artificial cooling diminishes when your home breathes effortlessly.
7. Every Drop Counts: Efficient Water Systems 💧
Water is life, and 7-star homes treat it as such. Integrated water-saving fixtures, combined with rainwater harvesting and greywater systems, ensure not a drop goes to waste. It's about being efficient and eco-responsible.
8. Soaking Up the Sun: Renewable Energy Integration ☀️
The sun’s rays have more to offer than just a tan. 7-star homes often feature solar panels or solar hot water systems. Harnessing renewable energy not only reduces bills but also leaves a smaller carbon footprint, making these homes truly future-ready.
9. External Shading: The Unsung Hero 🌳
External structures in a 7-star home aren't merely aesthetic additions. Eaves, awnings, and pergolas serve a dual purpose – they shield homes from excessive summer sunlight while ensuring winter sun isn’t blocked out. It’s about finding that sweet spot of sunlight!
10. Building with a Conscience: Sustainable Materials ♻️
The NCC 2022 promotes the use of sustainable, recycled, or upcycled building materials. By choosing materials with a reduced carbon footprint, a 7-star home is not just built for today, but with a vision for tomorrow.
11. Energy-Efficient Appliances: The Silent Saviours 🔌
It’s not just about the structure; it's what's inside that counts. Equipping homes with energy-efficient appliances and HVAC systems ensures the energy-saving journey continues long after the construction dust has settled.
12. Breathing Easy with Quality Indoor Air 🍃
Clean air is more than an outdoor luxury. With a focus on indoor air quality, 7-star homes opt for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds - emitted gasses from materials) paints, finishes, and materials. Paired with efficient ventilation, it ensures every breath indoors is a fresh one.
As the NCC 2022 sets a new standard for construction in Australia, embracing the features of a 7-star home translates to enhanced comfort, reduced energy bills, and a sustainable lifestyle.
For developers and homeowners, such as Concrete + Canvas, it's a chance to be at the forefront of change, creating homes that are more in harmony with our environment.
After all, the homes we build today will determine the world we inhabit tomorrow.
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