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. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) has been established to assess the energy efficiency of residential developments using a star rating system. Many councils now require that a NatHERS Energy Efficiency Ranking is assigned to any residential development at early planning stage.
Vipac is a certified assessor of building energy efficiency and has been performing thermal comfort and energy studies as well as condensation studies over the past 28 years, using both physical and computational analysis techniques. Vipac offers Energy Assessment Services, including energy conservation and energy efficiency, to determine whether a development is energy-conscious and environmentally-friendly for the benefit of future residents and the whole community. Vipac's NatHERS accredited assessors give practical recommendations to enhance the 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. The heating and cooling loads are calculated during the early planning stages prior to the specification of any mechanical services such as air conditioning, hot water systems and lighting. The load values are then matched to the energy consumption of typical office mechanical services and occupancy patterns. The resulting estimated energy consumption, in MJ/pa/m2, is being compared with the specific Council DCP target values and recommendations are made to achieve an energy efficient building.
Recommendations cover the overall concept of a project including siting, zoning, embodied energy, parking, solar access, shading, wind exposure, landscaping, the choice of building materials (internal & external colouring, glazing, etc) as well as the internal configuration (lighting, thermal insulation, ventilation) and building services and appliances (water conservation, hot water provisions). Even demolition / construction energy and garbage recycling need to be considered.
To find out more about these services, please email: