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NSW Standards of Energy and Water Use NSW has experienced serious drought for the last several years and our use of energy is increasing despite evidence that our climate is being affected. The use of these resources is seriously impacting on our environment and a more sustainable approach is needed for the future. Water and energy are also the two areas where better home design, efficiency and product alternatives are readily available for new homes. The NSW Government introduced BASIX so that new homes are designed and built to use less potable water and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to the average home - to deliver reductions in residential water use and greenhouse gas emissions. There is considerable interest in BASIX with one other state in Australia considering implementing the BASIX system. As a tool, BASIX allows each homebuilder to decide how they will meet the mains water and energy reduction targets. It encourages designs best suited to keeping homes cool in summer and warm in winter, the inclusion of shading devices, insulation and appropriate types and amounts of glazing. A focus on native landscaping that requires less water, the use of rainwater tanks for garden, toilet and laundry and efficient hot water systems all contribute to water and energy conservation. A NatHERS energy assessment which is also called a Thermal Performance assessment gives a quantified measure of heating and cooling energy loads for a particular dwelling. The assessment is done by inputting building design details into the NatHERS computer programme. The heating and cooling loads are needed in the Thermal Comfort section of BASIX. For electric floor heating, BASIX assumes an efficiency of 95% ie. only 5% of the heat generated by this form of heating is lost through an insulated floor. The rest goes directly to heating the room, unlike systems where energy is lost through conversion of energy to heat or ducting. Floor heating in bathrooms, and either some of the homes living areas or bedrooms is exempt for inclusion in the NatHERS energy assessment report, as floor heating in this instance is not considered as the homes primary heat source. BASIX has been designed to provide the potential for NSW residents to live sustainably in their new homes. It was not designed to establish or monitor how residents live in their homes day-to-day. The Department of Planning will monitor the effectiveness of BASIX over time to ensure that the predicted savings are translated into measurable reductions in water and energy demand. |