6-Star energy rating for new homes

josh12 · Feb 27, 2023 2:08 pm

Hello,

We are currently at contract stage with a volume builder to build a 54sq double storey house. We've got double glazing to all windows included as part of the build.

At tender we removed double glazing to the front doors and they did not mention anything else to meet the energy requirement. When signing final contracts we found a line item for 5k to double glaze the alfresco doors.

The response we are getting from the builder is the standard "This is required to meet the 6-star energy rating for a house of this size" and they wont get the building permit if they dont meet the requirement.

Even if we add the double glazing back to the front door they are insisting on double glazing the alfresco doors. I feel there is something not right about this.

Whats the exact requirement to achieve 6-star energy rating? When i asked them about it, I got another standard reply thats its a long list of requirements that they need to satisfy, not being told what exactly is on the list.

What else can I do in this scenario?

Appreciate any input. Thanks.

SJT76 · Feb 27, 2023 2:19 pm

Hi,

Not sure if wherever you are is the same, but for us (in VIC), they basically put the plans into a software package that generates a star rating based off a number of criteria. You can then "play" with it to see where it moves - ours came out to about 6.1 based on what we wanted. We then discussed whether putting an additional skylight would take us below 6, etc.

I expect that they may have done this with your original plans and it came under, and double-glazing the front door is not enough to get there. If so, you may be able to explore whether additional insulation or other changes can meet the requirement more cheaply.

josh12 · Feb 27, 2023 3:30 pm

Thank you for your reply.
We are building in Victoria. The builder has not given us the criteria thats taken in consideration nor what our current energy rating is without glazing the alfresco doors.

I'm planning on asking them again regarding other options to meet this requirement with double glazing the alfresco doors.

strannik · Feb 27, 2023 3:47 pm

Did their tender/advertisement materials by any chance specify that they will do what's required to achieve that rating?

Also have you seen the copy of the report? Probably won't be the case for you, but in our instance it looks like the report was done based on the standard house inclusions, and didn't account for extra glazing changes and insulation that we have packed into the tender (it has still met the minimum w/o any of that).

josh12 · Feb 27, 2023 4:04 pm

No we've not seen the report nor what they will do to achieve the rating.
What was included in the tender was the builders standard double glaze to all windows (part of the inclusions), we upgraded the glass splash back in the butlers pantry and initially the front door.

The only door that is not double glazed in the laundry door and alfresco doors.