5 star energy - do i really need to pay for it?

claego · Apr 21, 2008 7:05 pm

Hi, need some advice here
While i am still waiting for the color/electrical appointment/selection, i want to know do i need to budget how much i need to pay for 5 star energy? i know that in VIC, all builders have to meet 5 stars, and after reading a few posts, i found that people sometime being asked to pay for additional cost?
when talking to the sale rep who mentioned that additional insulation may be required (or double glazing because i add a couple of sliding doors). i wonder do i need to pay to meet 5 stars?
Please kindly advise your experience

utopian_goddess · Apr 22, 2008 11:33 am

Hi Claego,

We are building with PD and we added a few windows etc to our plan. We were told that 'IF' these changes that we specifically requested altered the energy rating then we would have to pay for any modifications they would need to make to bring it back to 5 starts. However, if it were something in their plans, location of the block, way the hose has to face etc, it would be their costs as we didn't decide these things..

does that make sense?

Newbies · Apr 22, 2008 11:50 am

hey claego,

We're also building with PD and added like a window and extended our alfresco, but didnt have any extra cost for 5-star rating. Also, at the contract stage, we enquired about pink bat installation thingy, and our csr said to wait for the 5star rating before we added it in, and then last week, we got told that to be 5star rated the house needed the pink bats, but that PD was going to provide it at no extra cost.....duno what happened there.....

either thats the policy or we just got lucky? hehe

goodluck!!!

vanderlay · Apr 22, 2008 11:57 am

Newbies

, we got told that to be 5star rated the house needed the pink bats, but that PD was going to provide it at no extra cost.....duno what happened there.....

Same thing happened to us - I think they must have some funds included in the base price for that purpose knowing they will need to do something to make their homes meet the 5 star rating.

claego · Apr 22, 2008 12:30 pm

thank you
i have tired not to do any structual changes already, and just adding a few sliding door as displayed... so hopefully it does not affect the 5 star rating... i really don't want to be suprised later that additional cost is required... budget is tight...

utopian_goddess · Apr 22, 2008 12:57 pm

We added those extra windows and extended the length of our sliding door, but it didn't effect our energy rating. They should be able to tell you at your tender appointment if it has/hasn't (at least thats when we were told it wouldn't change our energy rating).

nzfiona · Apr 22, 2008 3:38 pm

Because we have gone for wooden flooring in the entry and family/informal/meals areas, rather than the tiles the builder provides as standard, we've not had to do anything extra to the house to ensure it is up to the 5-star standard. The only thing we had to do is have a particular sliding door when we decided to replace windows with a sliding door. We couldn't have the basic one; we had to have a more expensive one to bring the house in line with the standards. So in effect, we've had to "pay" to bring our home back up to the 5-star rating.

Not that we mind, as we eventually want to have a 6-star house, which we hope to hvae a year after moving in (through various changes).

Fiona

claego · Apr 22, 2008 6:40 pm

i am haivng timber floor in the similar areas too... other than that, just 2 sliding doors being added... well, i would assume that your is doule glazed door, not sure if it is very expensive, i do want to get 6 or even 7 star house, but have to watch out my pocket.. it will always good to live a place that save you money in the long term.. ha