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Six star energy efficiency requirements for new homes

On this page you will find information about:

What energy efficient housing is
How new homes and extensions can comply
Designing and constructing an energy efficient house

What energy efficient housing is

From September 2010 all new homes and extensions built in South Australia need to achieve a 6-star level of energy efficiency. This is a requirement under the Development Act 1993. There is a concession for transportable houses which allows them to meet 5 stars until 1 May 2012.

Homes incorporating sound environmental design principles have the potential to minimise heating and cooling bills, and have lasting positive impacts on the environment. Some of these principles include:

wall and ceiling insulation
northerly orientation to gain maximum advantage from solar energy
internal and external shading of windows and walls in summer.

In addition to achieving a 6-star level for thermal comfort new houses must also meet lighting requirements and have energy efficient water heaters.

Energy efficient options cost less to implement when included in the design and construction stage and offer long-term benefits to the homeowner and the environment.

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How new homes and extensions can comply

Homes and extensions must be designed and constructed so that they:

comply with a comprehensive New homes and extensions prescriptive technical requirements (PDF 436KB) for thermal comfort or
achieve a minimum 6-star energy efficiency rating when assessed using an approved computer-based energy rating program and meet certain other prescriptive construction requirements.

Under the Development Act 1993, development approval is required for all building work to ensure it complies with the Building Code of Australia or the South Australian housing code. To consider approval the council or a private certifier assesses the design of new homes and extensions against the Building Code of Australia or the South Australian Housing Code. This assessment includes checking for compliance with the 6-star energy efficiency requirements.

If the energy efficiency of the home has been rated using a computer-based energy rating program, a printed verification report, signed and dated must be submitted to the council or private certifier undertaking the development approval. All supporting documentation must also be submitted.

A house energy rating can be completed by any person with the necessary software and skills including:

an architect
building designer
builder
building surveyor.

A house energy rater may register with the Department of Planning and Local Government on the Register of House Energy Rating Assessors. Registrants agree to comply with a Code of practice for house energy rating assessors (PDF 102KB) and can undertake energy rating assessments as an independent technical expert. These assessments can be accepted by the council or private certifier.

List of house energy rating assessors.

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Designing and constructing an energy efficient house

Consider the location of the house

The 6-star energy efficiency requirements depend on the climate zone in which a house is located Climate zones are built on climatic data and generally, align with local government boundaries.

There are three climate zones in South Australia:

climate zone 4 (covering the far north of the state)
climate zone 5 (covering most of metropolitan Adelaide, the mid-north, the Riverland and the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas)
climate zone 6 (covering the South East, the Mt Lofty Ranges and the Flinders Ranges).

Generally, the more arid regions of the state are climate zone 4, the more temperate regions (Adelaide) are climate zone 5 and climate zone 6 is the coldest winter climate (Adelaide Hills and South-East).

Consider the orientation of the house on the block

Good orientation of a house has the potential to achieve substantial energy savings with appropriate design. Houses built with a north facing orientation for the main living areas readily receive the mandatory 6-star energy efficiency requirements and may achieve a higher rating.

Houses with large areas of glass facing west or east and with no eaves may still achieve the 6-star requirements but are likely to incur significant capital and ongoing cost.

Consider the envelope of the house

The design and construction of the house’s envelope – roof, external walls and floors – will have an effect on the thermal comfort of a house. For a house to achieve a 6-star level of energy efficiency, the following is required: