Region: Qld
Assessor Question:
It is a simple single story dwelling, I'm struggling to come to terms with why it is so difficult to achieve 6 stars with this dwelling. I get this a lot in Brisbane climate zone. It's also hard to justify to a client why so many upgrades are required for a simple budget dwelling.
TeckLink Response:
- Brisbane climate zone 10 has very low energy allowances.
- 6 stars requires 43MJ/m2 as compared to Melbourne 114MJ/m2.
- Heating max is 24MJ/m2 and cooling 31MJ/m2
- Interrogation of the diagnostic report is always the starting point or now the new functions available in the latest release of FR5.
- This identifies problem zones.
- The foyer is the stand out zone for both high heating and cooling.
- Quick fix with massive immediate impact is to put a door in permanent opening and make foyer unconditioned.
- That one change increases the result to 6 stars.
- Cross vent and ceiling fans assist with cooling.
- More than 1 fan in KDL will help.
- Reflective air gaps can be used to good effect for summer performance.
- Beyond that, Windows are usually the weakest link.
- U-values of 4.5 are not terrible but finding product below U3-U2.5 will easily raise the result above 6 Stars.
- Specification tweaks can deliver the required results but initial design and orientation are always the best starting point.
- Mix and match a few of those options and the result quickly rises from 5.4 Stars to 6.8
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