Energy compliance support for Victorian home renovations, extensions and alterations

Planning a renovation, extension or alteration to an existing home in Victoria? Depending on the scope of work, your project may need to demonstrate that it meets the relevant energy efficiency requirements under the National Construction Code and Victorian building regulations.

Champion Energy Consulting provides NatHERS assessments for renovation and alteration projects across Victoria, helping homeowners, builders, building designers, architects and building surveyors understand what is required before plans are finalised or lodged.

From small additions through to larger home upgrades, we provide practical, accurate assessment support so your project can move through the compliance process with fewer delays.

NEED A NatHERS ASSESSMENT FOR A RENOVATION OR EXTENSION IN VICTORIA?

Get in touch and we’ll review your plans and let you know what’s required.

A NatHERS assessment measures the thermal performance of a home using accredited house energy rating software. It considers how well the building design manages heating and cooling demand based on factors such as orientation, insulation, glazing, shading, construction materials, ventilation and local Victorian climate conditions.

For renovations and alterations, the assessment may apply to the new work, the altered areas, or in some cases the home as a whole, depending on the project and the compliance pathway required by the relevant building surveyor.

In Victoria, significant renovations and new homes need to be assessed against minimum energy performance requirements set out in the building regulations. Since May 2024, Victoria has adopted NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency requirements, including the 7-star NatHERS pathway for new homes and relevant residential building work.

A NatHERS assessment may be required when your project involves residential building work such as:

• A home extension or addition
• Major internal alterations
• Changes to the building envelope
• New or altered windows and glazing
• Changes to insulation, walls, roof or floors
• Reconfigured living areas
• Upper-storey additions
• Significant renovations requiring a building permit
• Alterations where the building surveyor requests energy compliance documentation

Not every small renovation will require a full NatHERS assessment. The exact requirement depends on the scope of work, the age and condition of the existing building, the proposed design, and the pathway nominated by the building surveyor.

For alteration and addition projects, the level of NCC compliance can vary depending on the extent of the work and what is practical or feasible for the existing dwelling.

Depending on your project, our assessment may include:

• Review of architectural or drafting plans
• Review of construction details and specifications
• NatHERS thermal performance modelling
• Assessment against relevant Victorian requirements
• Advice on areas that may affect the rating
• Practical recommendations where changes are needed
• NatHERS certificate or energy rating documentation where applicable
• Clear reporting suitable for builders, designers and building surveyors

A NatHERS Certificate allows builders, certifiers and regulatory authorities to confirm that the building design has been assessed using NatHERS software and that the certificate reflects the assessed design.

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.

Renovation projects can be more complex than new builds because existing homes often come with fixed constraints. You may be working around older construction methods, limited insulation, awkward orientations, existing glazing or design features that cannot easily be changed.

Champion Energy Consulting understands how to assess renovation and alteration projects in a practical, compliance-focused way. We help you find the clearest path through the energy assessment process without overcomplicating the project.

You get:

• Victorian residential energy compliance knowledge
• Clear communication
• Practical advice
• Prompt turnaround
• Support for builders, designers and homeowners
• Reports prepared with building approval requirements in mind

Energy compliance is best addressed before final plans are locked in. Small design or specification changes can sometimes make a significant difference to the outcome.

If you’re preparing drawings for a Victorian renovation, extension or alteration, send them through for review and we’ll let you know what’s needed.

Request a NatHERS assessment for your renovation or alteration today.