NatHERS Research
Over recent years a number of research projects have been funded by the Australian Government which have contributed to the on-going improvement of NatHERS. The reports from these projects have been released to show the extent of this work and to contribute to the greater understanding about the Scheme. Reports from future research will be added to this site as they become available.
Disclaimer
These publications include the views or recommendations of third parties and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government, or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.
The material in these publications is provided for general information only, and on the understanding that the Australian Government is not providing professional advice.
Before any action or decision is taken on the basis of this material the reader should obtain appropriate independent professional advice. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing these publications, the Commonwealth provides no warranties and makes not representations that the information contained is correct, complete or reliable. The Commonwealth expressly disclaims liability for any loss, however caused and whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising directly or indirectly from the use or reliance on information contained in the publication by any person.
Study of the effect of ground heat transfer on the thermal performance of buildings
The University of Newcastle
Building heating and cooling energy use constitutes a significant part of total household energy consumption in Australia. NatHERS has played a critical role in the energy efficiency of the Australian residential building sector. This project was undertaken to assess the validity of the current ground heat transfer calculations within the Chenath calculation engine, which underpins the three software tools accredited under the Scheme. This work will help to improve understanding and confidence in the tools by analysing fundamental calculations within the software in order to establish the accuracy of the algorithms and/or to identify any areas for improvement.
Download PDF
Study of the Effect of Temperature Settings on AccuRate Cooling Energy Requirements and Comparison with Monitored Data
Sustainable Energy Centre, Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies, June 2008
In order to validate the heating and cooling energy requirements predicted by 2nd Generation NatHERS rating tools, a comparison was made with detailed monitoring of heating and cooling energy data for a small sample of suburban Adelaide houses over two years.
Download PDF
- Download the Study of the
Effect of Temperature Settings on AccuRate Cooling Energy Requirements and
Comparison with Monitored Data
(accurate-coolingsettings-0608.pdf - 608KB)
AccuRate Input Streamlining
Association of Building Sustainability Assessors, 2009
The purpose of the project was to develop ideas around ways to improve the speed of using AccuRate, without sacrificing any level of accuracy. The recommendations can be broadly separated into four categories: user input; processes; reporting; and calculation engine upgrades.
Download PDF
- Download the AccuRate
Input Streamlining
(AccuRate-Input-Streamlining-Project-Final-Report-August-2008.pdf - 143KB)
AccuRate Sustainability Tool: Green Loans Program Fast Input Mechanism: Research Report
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
The Green Loans Program requested a proposal for the development of a Fast Input Mechanism to upgrade the data entry process for the current AccuRate Sustainability tool. The module allows the tool's data entry facility to improve the accuracy of the sustainability assessment data after using Fast Input Mechanism's input process. The Fast Input Mechanism covers basic design and construction features. This report describes the research and development work that was conducted.
Download PDF
- Download the
AccuRate Sustainability Tool: Green Loans Program Fast Input Mechanism: Research
Report
(Green-Loans-Program-Fast-Input-Mechanism_AccuRate-Sustainability-Tool_Research-Report-May-2009.pdf - 3,523KB)
AccuRate Sustainability Tool: Green Loans Program Fast Input Mechanism: User Guide
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
This user guide describes the software requirements and instructions for the Fast Input Mechanism system. It includes a descriptive list of the installed Fast Input Mechanisms directories; provides step-by-step instructions for creating an assessment of a typical Australian house; presents a hypothetical case study and illustrates how Fast Input Mechanism can be used to manage the assessment process. It also explains troubleshooting techniques to common errors that may be encountered while creating information maps.
Download PDF
- Download the
AccuRate Sustainability Tool: Green Loans Program Fast Input Mechanism: User
Guide
(Green-Loans-Program-Fast-Input-Mechanism_AccuRate-Sustainability-Tool_User-Guide-May-2009.pdf - 3,479KB)
Provision of a Green Loans Feedback Mechanism: Sustainability Advisor
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
The Sustainability Advisor module in the AccuRate Sustainability tool is a rule based system capable of providing expert advice to assessors in their preparation of the list of actionable recommendations for either renovating an existing home or improving the design of a new home. The module performs a diagnosis on the household based on assessment results on thermal performance, energy and water consumption from the AccuRate sustainability tool and against predefined evaluation benchmarks from best practice.
Download PDF
- Download the
Provision of a Green Loans Feedback Mechanism: Sustainability Advisor
(Provision-of-a-Green-Loans-Feedback-Mechansim_Sustainability-Advisor_June-2009.pdf - 1,716KB)
AccuRate: Feedback Mechanism User Guide
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
The aim of the feedback mechanism is to provide AccuRate users with advice as to how they could improve the performance of their projects so they meet a predetermined target. This advice will take the form of recommendations, which are prioritised so the user will know which recommendations will have the largest impact on the performance rating. The guide will take the form of a tutorial format, starting from initialising the application through to generating the recommendations and then implementing the recommendations.
Download PDF
- Download the AccuRate: Feedback
Mechanism User Guide
(AccuRate-Feedback-Mechanism_UserGuide_Final_May-2009.pdf - 1,180KB)
Addition of a Hot-water Module to AccuRate
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
The addition of a hot water module to AccuRate will help calculate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the hot-water system used in a house based on use inputs. This will allow home owners to determine the most appropriate actions to improve the environmental performance of a property. Details of the heater type, storage tank size and location, and solid fuel booster are some of the inputs required.
Download PDF
- Download the Addition of a
Hot-water Module to AccuRate
(Addition-of-a-Hot-Water-Module-to-AccuRate_14-May-2009.pdf - 1,074KB)
Addition of a Water Module to AccuRate
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
A water page has been implemented in the AccuRate user interface including required fields such as house location, house style indoor/outdoor water related facilities etc. The calculations of water consumption are based on the House Water Expert software. A new water report page has also been added showing yearly-averaged daily water consumption estimation of town water. On-site treated water, grey water, rain water, storm-water runoff and the averaged daily total water consumption estimation.
Download PDF
- Download the Addition of a Water
Module to AccuRate
(Addition-of-a-Water-Module-to-AccuRate_22-May-2009.pdf - 630KB)
Addition of a Lighting Module to AccuRate
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
The addition of a lighting module to AccuRate will help calculate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the lighting system use, in a house based on use inputs. This will allow home owners to determine the most appropriate actions to improve the environmental performance of a property. Details of the room surface visible reflectances, number of luminaires, lamp type dimming control and switching control are some of the inputs required.
Download PDF
- Download the Addition of
a Lighting Module to AccuRate
(Addition-of-a-Lighting-Module-to-Accurate_Report_14-May-2009.pdf - 812KB)
ANZHERS: Space Cooling Rating Tool
Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies, 2009
This report constitutes one module of the ANZHER, developing the cooling module. The three cooling systems, refrigerative, evaporative and heat driven, are covered in this cooling module which will allow the majority of houses to be allocated a star rating for fixed cooling systems.
Download PDF
- Download the ANZHERS:
Space Cooling Rating Tool
(ANZHERS-Space-Cooling-Rating-Tool-FINAL-REPORT-September-2009.pdf - 696KB)
ANZHERS: Space Heating Rating Tool
BRANZ, 2008
This space heating tool is designed to fairly assess all space heating units independent of other government policy and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). This means that each heater will potentially be rated according to differences in heater fuel, efficiency and usage. The toll will produce an overall rating for the space heating derived from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per square metre (m2) of floor area.
Download PDF
- Download the ANZHERS:
Space Heating Rating Tool
(ANZHERS-Space-Heating-Rating-Tool-Report-EX1322-2-Nov-2011.pdf - 1,120KB)
Comparison of a Test Cell Thermal Performance & the Empirical Validation of AccuRate in a Cool Temperate Climate
Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood, University of Tasmania, 2009
The general objective of this project is to better understand and quantify the thermal performance of light-frame buildings, particularly forms of construction used in the Australian residential sector. Specifically this project seeks to compare the thermal performance of three common use construction types used in the Australian residential sector; to empirically validate the AccuRate software in cool temperate climates such as in Tasmania; and to build research capabilities and expertise.
Download PDF
- Download the
Comparison of a Test Cell Thermal Performance & the Empirical Validation of
AccuRate in a Cool Temperate Climate
(Comparison-of-Test-Cell-Thermal-Performance-and-the-Empirical-Validation-of-AccuRate-in-a-Cool-Temp-Climate-30-June-2009.pdf - 3,954KB)
Converting Second-generation NatHERS Tools to use NFRC-based Window System Data
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2009
The Australian glass and industry bodies introduced fenestration system product rating, and this required that to use the NatHERS-based window system data, the second generation NatHERS tools and its window data files (WDFs) needed to be updated. This study describes the implementation and testing of a performance matrix approach to accomplishing this.
Download PDF
- Download the Converting
Second-generation NatHERS Tools to use NFRC-based Window System Data
(Converting-2nd-Generation-NatHERS-Tools-using-NFRC-Window-System-Data.pdf - 541KB)
Development of AccuRate Xpress: Stage 1
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 2010
This project details the Stage 1 AccuRate Xpress development. This development is to provide a user friendly version of AccuRate being easier to use and less likely to result in input ambiguity and user errors. This Stage 1 assumes preliminary knowledge of the AccuRate software.
Download PDF
- Download the Development of AccuRate
Xpress: Stage 1
(Development-of-AccuRate-Xpress-Stage-1-Report.pdf - 1,126KB)
NatHERS - Peak Load Performance Module Research
Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies, 2009
The objective of the research is to develop a methodology for the ranking of residential buildings in both Australia and New Zealand according to their contribution to seasonal peak power demand. The proposed peak demand methodology will be incorporated into NatHERS to allow assessment of the contribution of individual residential buildings to seasonal peak power demand and their associated impacts on local energy generation/transmission network.
Download PDF
- Download the
NatHERS - Peak Load Performance Module Research
(NATHERS-Peak-Load-Performance-Module-Research-FINAL-REPORT_UniSA_September-2009.pdf - 416KB)
AccuRate Sustainability: Greenhouse Performance Module Research
BRANZ and Edge Environment Pty Ltd, 2010
The goal of the project was to combine the research modules for energy and GGE from water heating, space conditioning and lighting for ranking of residential buildings for their environmental impacts from energy consumption for fixed appliances in a consistent manner for Australia and for implementation into the software development project AccuRate Sustainability.
Download PDF
- Download the AccuRate
Sustainability: Greenhouse Performance Module Research
(AccuRate-Sustainability-Greenhouse-Performance-Research-Module.pdf - 2,870KB)
Documents are available for downloading as
PDF files. (PDF help).