Sustainable building design will only lead to a truly sustainable building if the project includes a sensible and well conceived construction management approach and an ongoing building management allowance, including:
- an early commitment to environmental targets
- an operation waste separation strategy
- regular tuning of building services
- sensible use of building services, such as heating and cooling devices
- preparation of a Building Users' Guide
In Management, BESS includes actions related to early consideration of ESD, such as a pre-application meeting with Council and early thermal performance modelling. BESS also includes actions related to ongoing monitoring, including metering and sub-metering strategies. And finallly, BESS includes an action that a Building Users' Guide be prepared to assist future building users to understand and operate their new building in the most efficient way.
1.1 - Pre-Application Meeting
Applies to
All development
Objective
To ensure appropriate sustainable design principles and strategies are considered from the preliminary design stage of each development by encouraging early involvement of a suitably qualified ESD professional.
Summary
Points are awarded where the project design team includes suitably qualified ESD professionals to provide sustainable design advice from preliminary design through to construction, AND the ESD professional has been involved in a pre-application meeting with Council. A ‘suitably qualified’ ESD professional may hold a degree in architecture, engineering or another suitable discipline, and have either additional ESD qualifications or demonstrated ESD experience with built environment projects.
Documentation & evidence required
- Name and qualification of ESD professional(s) engaged.
- Record of attendance at pre-application meeting. Provide date of the meeting and list of attendees.
Further Information
2.1 - Thermal Performance Modelling - Single Dwelling
Applies to
All residential (single dwelling) development
Objective
To encourage and recognise developments that use thermal modelling to inform passive design at the early design stage
Summary
Points are awarded where it is demonstrated that the dwelling meets or exceeds the minimum required BCA star rating utilising a NatHERS accredited thermal performance model. Use building documentation and initial building fabric assumptions to undertake a thermal performance model, demonstrating that the building meets or exceeds the 6 star minimum energy rating requirement.
Note this credit is awarded for undertaking this early modelling. Demonstrating improvement above the Building Code of Australia requirements is awarded points in the Energy category.
Documentation & evidence required
- Documentation that demonstrates that a minimum 6 star energy efficiency standard has been achieved or exceeded
- Documentation is to include a summary of the building fabric assumptions.
Further Information
2.2 - Thermal Performance Modelling - Multi-Dwelling Residential
Applies to
Multi-unit and multi-dwelling development
Objective
To encourage and recognise developments that use thermal modelling to inform passive design at the early design stage
Summary
Points are awarded where, utilising a NatHERS accredited thermal performance model, it is demonstrated that the development meets or exceeds the BCA 6 star average and that no unit falls below the 5 star minimum rating requirement. Use building documentation and initial building fabric assumptions to undertake a thermal performance model, demonstrating that the building meets or exceeds the 6 star average and 5 star minimum energy rating requirement.
Note this credit is awarded for undertaking this early modelling. Demonstrating improvement above the Building Code of Australia requirements is awarded points in the Energy category.
Documentation & evidence required
- Documentation that demonstrates that a minimum 6 star energy efficiency standard has been achieved or exceeded for a representative sample of dwellings including thermally similar dwellings. If dwellings have been input as thermally similar groups, a site plan or similar drawing should be provided showing which dwellings have been grouped together. Refer to the Overview section in Toolnotes for more information about dwelling grouping.
- Documentation is to include a summary of the building fabric assumptions.
Further Information
2.3 - Thermal Performance Modelling - Non-Residential
Applies to
All non-residential development
Objective
To encourage and recognise developments that use thermal modelling to inform passive design at the early design stage.
Summary
Points are awarded where it is demonstrated that early energy assessment has been undertaken, either:
- A Section J facade assessment (50% score)
- Energy modelling - JV3, NABERS or Green Star (100% score)
Note this credit is awarded for undertaking this early energy assessment. Modelling results that show an improvement on National Construction Code requirements are awarded points in the Energy category.
Note that if you are using the BESS DtS approach in Energy, a Section J facade assessment is required.
Documentation & evidence required
- Documentation, such as a JV3 report (including assumptions) and/or a preliminary Section J facade assessment that demonstrates that the minimum standards have been achieved or exceeded.
- Documentation is to include a summary of the building fabric assumptions.
3.1 - Metering - Residential
Applies to
Multi-unit residential development
Objective
To provide building users with information that allows monitoring of energy and water consumption
Summary
Points are awarded where it is demonstrated that utility meters (electricity, water & gas if applicable) will be provided for all individual dwellings.
Documentation & evidence required
- A commitment to individual dwelling metering of energy and water.
Other Considerations
Applicants are also encouraged to consider additional strategies such as the installation of in-home energy displays.
3.2 - Metering - Non-Residential
Applies to
Non-residential development.
Objective
To provide building users with information that allows monitoring of energy and water consumption
Summary
Points are awarded where it is demonstrated that utility meters (electricity, water & gas if applicable) will be provided for all individual commercial tenancies. Using the building plans, identify and list all anticipated tenancies. Use this information to develop an appropriate metering and sub-metering strategy.
Documentation & evidence required
- A commitment to individual metering of energy and water based on an analysis of individual tenancies.
3.3 - Metering - Common Areas
Applies to
All multi-residential and non-residential development.
Objective
To provide building users with information that allows monitoring of energy and water.
Summary
Points are awarded where it is demonstrated that utility sub-meters will be provided to all major common area services. Using the building plans, identify and list all anticipated major common area water and energy uses. Use this information to develop an appropriate sub-metering strategy. Ensure that meters are located in areas which are easy to access to facilitate regular monitoring. For example, plant rooms, main distribution room or control room etc.
Documentation & evidence required
- A commitment to metering energy and water based on an analysis of the anticipated major common area uses.
Other Considerations
Applicants are encouraged to consider additional strategies such as the inclusion of an building management system to give users detailed information about the energy and water use across the development.
4.1 - Building Users Guide
Applies to
All multi-residential and non-residential development.
Objective
To encourage and recognise initiatives that will help building users to use the building more efficiently.
Summary
Points are awarded where a Building Users’ Guide is developed for use by occupants and building maintenance. Review your building design and ESD commitments to identify the main sustainable design initiatives, systems and processes that building users will interact with. Collate and present information that covers the function and use of the building, using non-technical language targeted to building occupants, and where required, to Building Managers. The Building Users' Guide may be a simple booklet and/or a combination of interpretative signage throughout the building that helps facilitate more sustainable behaviour by building occupants.
Documentation & evidence required
- A commitment to producing and issuing a Building Users’ Guide. Note that a Building Users’ Guide does not need to be produced prior to permit, but checking that this commitment has been fulfilled will form part of any planning enforcement check.
