WINDOWS | ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GRAFTON
THE CHANGES TO
BASIX WILL DELIVER 83
GIGAWATT HOURS OF
ENERGY SAVINGS TO NEW
SOUTH WALES’ 16,000 GWH
2020 ENERGY SAVINGS
TARGET.
TAMWORTH
BROKEN HILL
DUBBO
SYDNEY
WAGGA WAGGA
CANBERRA
PUTTING OUR
ENERGY INTO
D
id you know that homes in New South
Wales use around 17 per cent of the
state’s energy? With an additional 1.8
million new homes across New South Wales
expected over the next 40 years, this is likely
to rise even further.
The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX)
sets specific targets for energy and water
reduction in new homes, based on how
many people will live in the home, where it is
located and its size.
From 1 July 2017, BASIX energy targets will
be increased to ensure they are:
• Consistent with national standards.
• Fair for all.
• Flexible to a changing climate.
Energy targets will typically increase by 10
per cent for houses and low-rise units, and
by 5 per cent for mid and high-rises units.
Thermal comfort heating and cooling caps
will also increase to the equivalent of around
six stars under the Nationwide House Energy
Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
Revised BASIX energy targets for new
homes will deliver more than $2.6 billion to
the New South Wales community (or around
$155 per household) every year for the next
30 years.
These changes will bring an additional 83
gigawatt hours of energy savings to the
state’s 16,000 GWh energy savings target by
2020.
The NSW Department of Planning &
Environment worked with a wide range of
stakeholders to develop the new targets and
will continue to engage on ways to improve
BASIX, particularly around water targets
which are not changing at this time.
A test webpage will be activated in mid-
May 2017 to provide an opportunity for
users to familiarise themselves with the new
assessment tool prior to its official launch in
July 2017.
KEY DATES
1 JULY 2017
MID-MAY 2017
Website trial of the new assessment tool. The new energy target and thermal
comfort caps ‘go-live’ for:
1 APRIL – 30 JUNE 2017 • Projects starting from 1 July 2017
onwards.
Certificates issued during this time
can be lodged with consent authorities
(Council or PCA) after 1 July, provided
the certificate is no older than three
months from date of issue.
24 Winter 2017
• Projects in progress with no existing
Certificate.
• Certificates issued before 1 April 2017
not already lodged with the consent
authority.
LEGEND
N/A
E4
E3
E2
E1B
E1A
AT A GLANCE
Changes to BASIX policy settings:
ENERGY
• Updated heating and cooling
defaults where no active systems
are selected.
• Updated small-scale technology
certificate (STC) methodology for
solar hot water and heat pump
systems.
THERMAL COMFORT
• Removal of the ‘Rapid’ assessment
method.
• New DIY assessment tool aligned
to new heating and cooling caps
and with improved window
selections.
• Improved window section with up
to 40 windows based on the 88
‘NatHERS default’ types.
• Provide clearer conditions on
limitations for use as a ‘deemed-to-
satisfy’ method aimed at common
forms of class 1 building.
• Improved pass/fail feedback.
WATER
• Water targets are not changing at
this time.
More information on accessing this trial version
is provided on the BASIX website at www.
planningportal.nsw.gov.au/planning-tools/basix