Vipac is a certified assessor of building energy efficiency and has been performing thermal comfort, energy, and condensation studies over the past 28 years, using both physical and computational analysis techniques. Vipac has conducted many assessments demonstrating those developments, which are energy-conscious and environmentally friendly for the users of the site and for the municipality at large.
The design of energy efficient buildings is now seen as highly important by most planning authorities. Energy Audits are becoming standard components in the Development Application of any major new building. Rating Schemes (First Rate, and NatHERS) have been established to assess the energy efficiency of residential developments using a star rating system. Many councils, particularly leading municipal councils in the eastern states, now require Energy Efficiency Ranking is assigned to residential developments at early planning stage.
Vipac’s First Rate and NaTHERS accredited assessors give practical recommendations to enhance energy consumption characteristics of proposed residential developments, from single storey houses to high-rise apartment blocks. For commercial or retail developments, ESPII Energy Audits (DA Stage) are conducted using the ESPII software package. Heating and cooling loads are calculated during early planning stages prior to the specification of any mechanical services such as air conditioning, hot water system, and lighting. Calculated load values are matched to the energy consumption of typical office mechanical services and occupancy patterns. The resulting estimated energy consumption, in MJ/pa/m2, is then compared with specific Council DCP target values. Recommendations are then made to achieve an energy efficient building.
When appropriate, we make recommendations to enhance the energy consumption characteristics for developments, for example, using passive solar principles.