Energy efficient passive solar high performance 10-star challenge for keen designers and households

EERs are expressed in Stars, ranging from 0 stars for very poor performance, through

• 4 stars - the minimum BCA requirement from 2003,
• 5 stars - the minimum BCA requirement from 2006,
• 6 stars - the minimum NCC requirement from 2010, up to
• 10 stars for a home that needs no heating or cooling except for some de-humidification in torrid weather.

Clients seeking high performance will be guided by expert advice and parametric simulation of alternative designs and constructions to approach the "perfected" design outcome.

Indicative heating and cooling costs of high and low performing homes

These tables are based on electricity and natural gas prices current for Canberra from 1 July 2021 as published by ActewAGL.

For details of the other assumptions used to create these tables for the Canberra climate see MBA publication "5 Factors for Green Living" here.

The concept embodied in this table was first published in "Ethical Investment" Ross Knowles (Ed.), Choice Books, Sydney, 1997, "Investing in the Small Scale", chapter Investing in your own home by Trevor Lee, pages 97-105.

* Input your preferred house size (75 to 500 m²) for tables below

	Home Energy Rating Stars (EER)
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner Energy Rating Stars	Star 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 $3,999 $2,533 $1,792 $1,313 $995 $758 $552 $353 $163 2 $3,263 $2,254 $1,595 $1,169 $885 $675 $492 $315 $145 3 $2,873 $1,985 $1,404 $1,029 $779 $594 $433 $277 $128 4 $2,492 $1,721 $1,218 $893 $676 $515 $375 $240 $111 5 $2,119 $1,464 $1,035 $759 $575 $438 $319 $204 $94 6 $1,752 $1,210 $856 $628 $475 $362 $264 $169 $78
	Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home

	Ducts Foil R0.6 R1.0 R1.5 R3.0 High Energy House Cooling $588 $235 $151 $116 $50 Heating $2,588 $677 $437 $334 $141 Low Energy House Cooling $230 $92 $59 $45 $20 Heating $1,420 $372 $240 $183 $77
	Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling

	Home Energy Rating Stars (EER)
All Electric Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner Energy Rating Stars	Star 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 $4,648 $3,210 $2,271 $1,665 $1,261 $961 $700 $448 $207 2 $3,407 $2,353 $1,665 $1,221 $924 $704 $513 $328 $152 3 $2,694 $1,861 $1,316 $965 $731 $557 $406 $206 $120 4 $2,231 $1,541 $1,090 $799 $605 $461 $336 $215 $99 5 $1,907 $1,317 $932 $683 $517 $394 $287 $184 $85 6 $1,666 $1,151 $814 $597 $452 $344 $251 $161 $74
	Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home

	Ducts Foil R0.6 R1.0 R1.5 R3.0 High Energy House Cooling $365 $146 $94 $72 $31 Heating $2,851 $746 $481 $368 $155 Low Energy House Cooling $93 $37 $24 $18 $8 Heating $1,172 $307 $198 $151 $64
	Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling

High performance ductwork is uncommon but it is commercially available and worth the investment. Contact Energy Partners for options in your area.

High Energy House is selected as a 2 Star house with 2 Star heaters and coolers.

Low Energy House is selected as a 6 Star house with 6 Star heaters and coolers.