A house’s energy equivalence rating is determined by the design of its building envelope, or its ‘shell’—roof, walls, windows and floors.

The rating is out of 10 stars—more stars indicate a more energy efficient and comfortable house. An energy equivalence rating does not take into consideration the fixtures and appliances of a house or townhouse, such as hot water systems, air conditioners, lighting and fridges.

From 1 March 2009, new houses, townhouses and major renovations (e.g. additions, alterations or re-locations) must achieve a 5-star energy equivalence rating.

There are many ways to ensure your new house, townhouse or major renovation meets the new 5-star requirement, including:

• northern orientation of living rooms
• natural ventilation through windows and doorways
• shading with wider eaves and awnings
• increased insulation in roof space and walls
• treated glazing
• light coloured roofs and walls
• ceiling fans in living areas and bedrooms
• well-designed outdoor living areas.

These are just some of the smart design features that can contribute towards your home’s rating.

Before 1 March 2009, the minimum energy equivalence rating in Queensland was 3.5 or 4 stars (depending on the climate zone) under the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

It is estimated that 5-star housing will achieve a cumulative greenhouse gas savings of over 500,000 tonnes by 2020. This equates to taking over 119,000 cars off the road.

Benefits to the homeowner

A 5-star house or townhouse is not only more comfortable to live in, it can also provide you with ongoing savings on energy bills because it uses less energy for artificial cooling and heating.

Reduced energy use from air conditioning means you can also minimise your household’s carbon footprint.

Costs for the homeowner

Industry advises that meeting the 5-star requirement will typically cost less than one per cent of the total construction cost of a new house or townhouse—depending on its design, size and location. This cost will be offset by ongoing savings of around $200 per year in an average home. This is achieved by reducing the need for artificial cooling and heating, resulting in a payback period of around five years, with ongoing savings thereafter over the life of the house or townhouse.

5-star energy equivalence rating for units

From 1 March 2010, new units and major renovations (e.g. additions, alterations or re-locations) will also need to achieve at 5-star (out of 10) energy equivalence rating.

Guideline

A guideline is available to assist with understanding how the sustainable housing requirements, including 5-star housing, outdoor living areas and energy efficient lighting, apply to new houses, townhouses and units. It also provides information on how these requirements apply to alterations or additions to existing dwellings, such as extensions, renovations or relocations.

Fact sheet