NT Part H6 Energy efficiency

This Objective of this Part is to reduce energy consumption and reduce gas emissions.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a building, including its domestic services, is to be capable of efficiently using energy.

A building must have, to the degree necessary, a level of thermal performance to facilitate the efficient use of energy for artificial heating and cooling appropriate to—

1. the function and use of the building; and
2. the internal environment; and
3. the geographic location of the building; and
4. the effects of nearby permanent features such as topography, structures and buildings; and
5. solar radiation being
   1. utilised for heating; and
   2. controlled to minimise energy for cooling; and
6. the sealing of the building envelope against air leakage; and
7. the utilisation of air movement to assist cooling.

Domestic services, including any associated distribution system and components must, to the degree necessary, have features that facilitate the efficient use of energy appropriate to—

1. the domestic service and its usage; and
2. the geographic location of the building; and
3. the location of the domestic services; and
4. the energy source.

The Verification Method in this Part only apply to—

1. a Class 1 building; and
2. an enclosed Class 10a building attached to a Class 1 building.

(1) Compliance with NT H6P1 is verified when a proposed building—

1. when compared with a reference building has—
   1. in climate zone 1, a cooling load equal to or less than that of the reference building; or
   2. in climate zones 3, a heating load and a cooling load equal to or less than that of the reference building.

(2) The heating load and cooling load for the proposed building and the reference building must be determined using the same—

1. thermal calculation method; and
2. location specific data, including that of climate and topography appropriate to the location where the proposed building is to be constructed if the data is available, or the nearest location with similar climatic conditions in the same climate zone for which the data is available; and
3. impact of adjoining structures and features; and
4. soil conditions; and
5. orientation; and
6. floor plan, including the location of glazing; and
7. number of storeys; and
8. solar absorptance of external surfaces; and
9. roof cladding; and
10. separating walls; and
11. external non-glazed doors; and
12. intermediate floors; and
13. floor coverings; and
14. internal zones; and
15. internal heat gains including people and appliances.

(3) The thermal calculation method used must be capable of assessing the heating load and cooling load by modelling—

1. the building fabric; and
2. glazing and shading; and
3. air infiltration and ventilation; and
4. the function and use of the building including zoning, hours of occupation, hours of heating and cooling availability and internal heat gains; and
5. space temperature settings in the range 20ºC to 21ºC for heating and 25ºC to 28ºC for cooling; and
6. relevant built-environment and topographical features; and
7. the sensible heat component of the cooling load and heating load.

(4) Climatic data employed in the thermal calculation method must be based on hourly recorded values and be representative of a typical year for the proposed location.

(5) The reference building must comply with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in the following parts of the ABCB Housing Provisions—

1. NT Part 13.2 for the building fabric; and
2. NT Part 13.3 for the external glazing and shading; and
3. NT Part 13.4 for building sealing; and
4. NT Part 13.5 for air movement.

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements NT H6P1 and NT H6P2 are satisfied by complying with NT H6D2.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

(1) Performance RequirementNT H6P1 for the thermal performance of the building is satisfied by—

1. a building must achieve an energy rating, using house energy rating software, of greater than or equal to 5 stars; or
2. complying with the following parts of the ABCB Housing Provisions—
   1. NT Part 13.2 for the building fabric; and
   2. NT Part 13.3 for the external glazing and shading; and
   3. NT Part 13.4 for building sealing; and
   4. NT Park 13.5 for air movement.

(2) Performance RequirementNT H6P2 for the energy usage of a building is satisfied by –

1. a building must achieve an energy rating, using house energy rating software, of greater than or equal to 5 stars; or
2. complying with NT Part 13.6 of the ABCB Housing Provisions for services.