NatHERS ASSESSMENTS FOR NEW HOMES, TOWNHOUSES AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN VICTORIA

Building a new home in Victoria? A NatHERS assessment helps demonstrate that your design meets the required energy efficiency standards under the National Construction Code.

Champion Energy Consulting provides NatHERS assessments for new dwellings, helping homeowners, builders, designers and developers understand how a proposed home is expected to perform before construction begins.

A NatHERS assessment looks at the thermal performance of the building design, including how well the home stays comfortable in hot and cold weather. For new homes and major renovations, NatHERS can also include a Whole of Home rating, which considers the energy performance of major fixed appliances, solar and batteries where applicable.

A NatHERS assessment is an energy rating for a home design.

NatHERS stands for the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. It provides a star rating out of 10 based on the expected thermal performance of the building. The higher the star rating, the less heating and cooling the home is expected to need to stay comfortable.

For new homes, the assessment is completed using approved NatHERS software. The assessor reviews the plans and models the dwelling based on factors such as:

• Orientation
• Floor plan and zoning
• Window size and glazing type
• Insulation levels
• Wall, roof and floor construction
• Shading
• Ventilation
• Local climate
• Building materials
• Thermal mass

Under NCC 2022, new residential energy efficiency provisions generally require the equivalent of a 7-star NatHERS thermal performance rating, along with Whole of Home energy requirements where applicable.

A NatHERS assessment is commonly required when applying for a building permit for a new residential dwelling.

You may need one for:

• New detached homes
• Townhouses
• Dual occupancies
• Unit developments
• New residential builds within larger projects
• Significant residential renovations or additions where a NatHERS pathway is being used

In Victoria, NCC 2022 energy efficiency requirements were adopted from 1 May 2024, which means new residential projects now need to be assessed against the updated energy efficiency provisions.

Your building surveyor, architect, draftsperson or builder will usually confirm whether a NatHERS assessment is required for your project.

A NatHERS assessment for a new dwelling generally includes a detailed review of the proposed building design and a formal energy rating certificate.

Depending on the project and compliance pathway, the assessment may include:

• A NatHERS star rating
• Thermal performance modelling
• Review of construction materials
• Review of insulation, glazing and shading
• Assessment of heating and cooling loads
• Whole of Home rating, where required
• Recommendations to help the design meet compliance
• A NatHERS certificate suitable for building permit documentation

The current NatHERS certificate format includes additional information to support NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency requirements.

For many new homes, both parts now matter. The NatHERS rating helps assess the building fabric. The Whole of Home component helps assess the expected energy performance of the home as a functioning household.

A NatHERS assessment is most useful before the design is locked in.

Small design decisions can make a large difference to the final rating. Window placement, insulation levels, glazing selection, shading and orientation can all affect whether the home meets the required standard.

Getting the assessment done early can help avoid:

• Last-minute design changes
• Building permit delays
• Unexpected upgrades
• Costly redesign work
• Confusion between the builder, designer and building surveyor

It also gives the project team a clearer path to compliance before construction documentation is finalised.

To complete a NatHERS assessment, we usually need:

• Architectural plans
• Floor plans
• Elevations
• Sections
• Site plan
• Window and glazing schedule
• Construction details
• Insulation specifications
• Orientation and site details
• Appliance and services information, if a Whole of Home assessment is included

If some details are missing, we can let you know what needs to be clarified before the assessment can be finalised.

Energy compliance can feel technical, especially when project documentation, NCC requirements and building permit timelines all meet at the same desk.

Champion Energy Consulting provides clear, compliance-focused NatHERS assessments for new dwellings. We review the design, identify issues early and provide practical guidance to help the project move forward.

Our role is to help you understand what the design needs, where improvements may be required and what documentation is needed for the next stage.

Need a NatHERS assessment for a new home, townhouse or residential project?

Champion Energy Consulting can review your plans, complete the required modelling and provide the documentation needed to support your building permit application.

Send through your plans and project details to get started.