>> Energy Rating Services >> Energy efficient passive solar high performance 10-star challenge
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 NCCrequirement from 2010,
- 7 stars - the minimum NCCrequirement from 2022, 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.
| Update for electricity price commencing 1 July 2025. |
| * Input your preferred house size (75 to 500 m²) for tables below |
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| Adelaide Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $3,679 | $2,608 | $1,790 | $1,235 | $899 | $687 | $523 | $376 | $221 | | 2 | $3,053 | $2,164 | $1,486 | $1,024 | $746 | $570 | $434 | $312 | $183 | | 3 | $2,577 | $1,826 | $1,254 | $865 | $630 | $481 | $366 | $263 | $155 | | 4 | $2,171 | $1,539 | $1,057 | $729 | $531 | $405 | $309 | $222 | $130 | | 5 | $1,805 | $1,280 | $878 | $606 | $441 | $337 | $257 | $185 | $108 | | 6 | $1,463 | $1,037 | $712 | $491 | $358 | $273 | $208 | $150 | $88 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $824 | $329 | $212 | $162 | $70 |
|---|
| Heating | $2,794 | $731 | $472 | $361 | $152 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $245 | $98 | $63 | $48 | $21 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,219 | $319 | $206 | $157 | $66 |
| |
| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Adelaide 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 | $4,363 | $3,093 | $2,123 | $1,464 | $1,067 | $814 | $621 | $446 | $262 | | 2 | $3,189 | $2,261 | $1,552 | $1,070 | $780 | $595 | $454 | $326 | $191 | | 3 | $2,515 | $1,783 | $1,224 | $844 | $615 | $469 | $358 | $257 | $151 | | 4 | $2,077 | $1,472 | $1,011 | $697 | $508 | $388 | $295 | $212 | $125 | | 5 | $1,770 | $1,255 | $861 | $594 | $433 | $330 | $252 | $181 | $106 | | 6 | $1,542 | $1,093 | $751 | $518 | $377 | $288 | $219 | $158 | $93 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $824 | $329 | $212 | $162 | $70 |
|---|
| Heating | $2,851 | $746 | $481 | $368 | $156 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $245 | $98 | $63 | $48 | $21 |
|---|
| Heating | $932 | $244 | $157 | $120 | $51 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Brisbane Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $1,484 | $1,145 | $835 | $607 | $455 | $366 | $304 | $242 | $186 | | 2 | $1,219 | $941 | $686 | $499 | $374 | $300 | $249 | $198 | $153 | | 3 | $1,026 | $792 | $577 | $420 | $315 | $253 | $210 | $167 | $129 | | 4 | $868 | $670 | $488 | $355 | $266 | $214 | $178 | $141 | $109 | | 5 | $728 | $562 | $410 | $298 | $224 | $180 | $149 | $119 | $91 | | 6 | $601 | $464 | $338 | $246 | $184 | $148 | $123 | $98 | $75 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $699 | $279 | $180 | $138 | $60 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,651 | $432 | $279 | $213 | $90 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $220 | $88 | $57 | $43 | $19 |
|---|
| Heating | $636 | $166 | $107 | $82 | $35 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Brisbane 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 | $1,586 | $1,224 | $892 | $649 | $487 | $391 | $325 | $258 | $199 | | 2 | $1,160 | $896 | $653 | $475 | $356 | $286 | $237 | $189 | $146 | | 3 | $916 | $707 | $516 | $375 | $281 | $226 | $187 | $149 | $115 | | 4 | $758 | $585 | $426 | $310 | $233 | $187 | $155 | $123 | $95 | | 5 | $646 | $499 | $364 | $265 | $198 | $159 | $132 | $105 | $81 | | 6 | $564 | $435 | $317 | $231 | $173 | $139 | $115 | $92 | $71 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $699 | $279 | $180 | $138 | $60 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,511 | $395 | $255 | $195 | $82 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $220 | $88 | $57 | $43 | $19 |
|---|
| Heating | $436 | $114 | $74 | $56 | $24 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Canberra Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $5,697 | $4,158 | $2,994 | $2,148 | $1,545 | $1,116 | $845 | $582 | $326 | | 2 | $4,899 | $3,576 | $2,574 | $1,847 | $1,329 | $959 | $727 | $501 | $280 | | 3 | $4,205 | $3,069 | $2,210 | $1,586 | $1,141 | $824 | $624 | $430 | $240 | | 4 | $3,561 | $2,600 | $1,872 | $1,343 | $966 | $698 | $529 | $364 | $204 | | 5 | $2,945 | $2,150 | $1,548 | $1,111 | $799 | $577 | $437 | $301 | $168 | | 6 | $2,345 | $1,712 | $1,233 | $885 | $636 | $459 | $348 | $240 | $134 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $467 | $186 | $120 | $92 | $40 |
|---|
| Heating | $4,237 | $1,109 | $716 | $547 | $231 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $118 | $47 | $31 | $23 | $10 |
|---|
| Heating | $2,325 | $608 | $393 | $300 | $127 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Canberra 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 | $6,116 | $4,464 | $3,214 | $2,306 | $1,659 | $1,198 | $908 | $625 | $350 | | 2 | $4,475 | $3,267 | $2,352 | $1,688 | $1,214 | $877 | $664 | $457 | $256 | | 3 | $3,533 | $2,579 | $1,857 | $1,332 | $958 | $692 | $524 | $361 | $202 | | 4 | $2,921 | $2,132 | $1,535 | $1,102 | $792 | $572 | $434 | $299 | $167 | | 5 | $2,492 | $1,819 | $1,310 | $940 | $676 | $488 | $370 | $255 | $142 | | 6 | $2,174 | $1,587 | $1,143 | $820 | $590 | $426 | $323 | $222 | $124 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $467 | $186 | $120 | $92 | $40 |
|---|
| Heating | $3,642 | $953 | $615 | $470 | $199 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $118 | $47 | $31 | $23 | $10 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,498 | $392 | $253 | $193 | $82 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Darwin 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 | $4,636 | $3,917 | $3,347 | $2,891 | $2,496 | $2,127 | $1,864 | $1,608 | $1,370 | | 2 | $3,396 | $2,869 | $2,452 | $2,118 | $1,829 | $1,558 | $1,366 | $1,178 | $1,004 | | 3 | $2,684 | $2,268 | $1,938 | $1,674 | $1,445 | $1,232 | $1,080 | $931 | $793 | | 4 | $2,222 | $1,877 | $1,604 | $1,385 | $1,196 | $1,020 | $894 | $771 | $657 | | 5 | $1,898 | $1,603 | $1,370 | $1,183 | $1,022 | $871 | $763 | $658 | $561 | | 6 | $1,658 | $1,400 | $1,197 | $1,034 | $893 | $761 | $667 | $575 | $490 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $2,471 | $986 | $636 | $487 | $211 |
|---|
| Heating | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $806 | $322 | $208 | $159 | $69 |
|---|
| Heating | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Hobart Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $4,828 | $3,232 | $2,273 | $1,690 | $1,314 | $1,019 | $784 | $543 | $315 | | 2 | $4,180 | $2,798 | $1,968 | $1,463 | $1,138 | $882 | $679 | $470 | $273 | | 3 | $3,599 | $2,410 | $1,695 | $1,260 | $980 | $760 | $585 | $405 | $235 | | 4 | $3,050 | $2,042 | $1,436 | $1,068 | $830 | $644 | $496 | $343 | $199 | | 5 | $2,518 | $1,686 | $1,186 | $881 | $686 | $532 | $409 | $283 | $164 | | 6 | $1,997 | $1,337 | $940 | $699 | $544 | $422 | $325 | $225 | $130 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $149 | $60 | $38 | $29 | $13 |
|---|
| Heating | $3,937 | $1,030 | $665 | $509 | $215 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $46 | $18 | $12 | $9 | $4 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,820 | $476 | $307 | $235 | $99 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Hobart 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 | $3,919 | $2,624 | $1,845 | $1,372 | $1,067 | $827 | $637 | $441 | $256 | | 2 | $2,875 | $1,925 | $1,354 | $1,006 | $783 | $607 | $467 | $323 | $188 | | 3 | $2,275 | $1,523 | $1,071 | $796 | $619 | $480 | $370 | $256 | $149 | | 4 | $1,886 | $1,262 | $888 | $660 | $513 | $398 | $306 | $212 | $123 | | 5 | $1,612 | $1,079 | $759 | $564 | $439 | $340 | $262 | $181 | $105 | | 6 | $1,410 | $944 | $664 | $494 | $384 | $298 | $229 | $159 | $92 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $149 | $60 | $38 | $29 | $13 |
|---|
| Heating | $2,423 | $634 | $409 | $313 | $132 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $46 | $18 | $12 | $9 | $4 |
|---|
| Heating | $839 | $220 | $142 | $108 | $46 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Melbourne Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $2,857 | $1,927 | $1,322 | $950 | $711 | $538 | $412 | $292 | $166 | | 2 | $2,427 | $1,637 | $1,123 | $807 | $604 | $457 | $350 | $248 | $141 | | 3 | $2,074 | $1,399 | $960 | $690 | $516 | $391 | $299 | $212 | $121 | | 4 | $1,757 | $1,185 | $813 | $584 | $437 | $331 | $253 | $180 | $102 | | 5 | $1,460 | $984 | $676 | $485 | $363 | $275 | $210 | $149 | $85 | | 6 | $1,175 | $792 | $544 | $391 | $292 | $221 | $169 | $120 | $68 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $172 | $69 | $44 | $34 | $15 |
|---|
| Heating | $3,807 | $996 | $643 | $492 | $208 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $53 | $21 | $14 | $10 | $5 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,760 | $461 | $297 | $227 | $96 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Melbourne 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 | $2,691 | $1,815 | $1,245 | $895 | $670 | $507 | $388 | $275 | $156 | | 2 | $1,971 | $1,330 | $912 | $656 | $491 | $371 | $284 | $202 | $115 | | 3 | $1,558 | $1,051 | $721 | $518 | $388 | $293 | $225 | $159 | $91 | | 4 | $1,290 | $870 | $597 | $429 | $321 | $243 | $186 | $132 | $75 | | 5 | $1,101 | $743 | $510 | $366 | $274 | $207 | $159 | $113 | $64 | | 6 | $962 | $649 | $445 | $320 | $239 | $181 | $139 | $98 | $56 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $172 | $69 | $44 | $34 | $15 |
|---|
| Heating | $2,795 | $731 | $472 | $361 | $152 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $53 | $21 | $14 | $10 | $5 |
|---|
| Heating | $968 | $253 | $164 | $125 | $53 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Perth Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $2,675 | $1,974 | $1,325 | $877 | $630 | $513 | $396 | $279 | $169 | | 2 | $2,225 | $1,642 | $1,102 | $729 | $524 | $427 | $329 | $232 | $140 | | 3 | $1,885 | $1,391 | $933 | $618 | $444 | $361 | $279 | $197 | $119 | | 4 | $1,598 | $1,179 | $791 | $524 | $376 | $306 | $237 | $167 | $101 | | 5 | $1,339 | $988 | $663 | $439 | $315 | $257 | $198 | $140 | $85 | | 6 | $1,098 | $810 | $544 | $360 | $259 | $211 | $163 | $115 | $69 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $664 | $265 | $171 | $131 | $57 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,674 | $438 | $283 | $216 | $91 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $227 | $91 | $58 | $45 | $19 |
|---|
| Heating | $660 | $173 | $111 | $85 | $36 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Perth 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 | $2,770 | $2,044 | $1,371 | $908 | $652 | $531 | $410 | $289 | $175 | | 2 | $2,028 | $1,496 | $1,004 | $665 | $477 | $389 | $300 | $212 | $128 | | 3 | $1,602 | $1,182 | $793 | $525 | $377 | $307 | $237 | $167 | $101 | | 4 | $1,325 | $978 | $656 | $434 | $312 | $254 | $196 | $138 | $84 | | 5 | $1,131 | $835 | $560 | $371 | $266 | $217 | $168 | $118 | $71 | | 6 | $988 | $729 | $489 | $324 | $233 | $189 | $146 | $103 | $62 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $664 | $265 | $171 | $131 | $57 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,440 | $377 | $243 | $186 | $79 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $227 | $91 | $58 | $45 | $19 |
|---|
| Heating | $426 | $111 | $72 | $55 | $23 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Sydney Home Energy Rating Stars (EER) | |
Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner
Energy Rating Stars |
| Star | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| 1 | $1,966 | $1,065 | $658 | $486 | $392 | $305 | $235 | $172 | $110 | | 2 | $1,582 | $857 | $529 | $391 | $315 | $246 | $189 | $139 | $88 | | 3 | $1,317 | $714 | $441 | $325 | $262 | $205 | $157 | $115 | $73 | | 4 | $1,109 | $601 | $371 | $274 | $221 | $172 | $133 | $97 | $62 | | 5 | $932 | $505 | $312 | $230 | $186 | $145 | $111 | $82 | $52 | | 6 | $774 | $420 | $259 | $191 | $154 | $120 | $93 | $68 | $43 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $541 | $216 | $139 | $107 | $46 |
|---|
| Heating | $2,158 | $565 | $364 | $279 | $118 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $131 | $52 | $34 | $26 | $11 |
|---|
| Heating | $856 | $224 | $145 | $111 | $47 |
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| Indicative Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home with ducts in the ceiling | |
| Sydney 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 | $2,088 | $1,131 | $699 | $516 | $416 | $324 | $250 | $183 | $116 | | 2 | $1,527 | $827 | $511 | $377 | $304 | $237 | $182 | $134 | $85 | | 3 | $1,205 | $653 | $403 | $298 | $240 | $187 | $144 | $106 | $67 | | 4 | $996 | $539 | $333 | $246 | $198 | $155 | $119 | $87 | $56 | | 5 | $849 | $460 | $284 | $210 | $169 | $132 | $101 | $74 | $47 | | 6 | $740 | $401 | $248 | $183 | $147 | $115 | $88 | $65 | $41 |
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Annual Energy Costs for a 200 m² single storey home
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| Ducts | Foil | R0.6 | R1.0 | R1.5 | R3.0 |
|---|
High Energy
House | Cooling | $541 | $216 | $139 | $107 | $46 |
|---|
| Heating | $1,988 | $520 | $336 | $257 | $108 | Low Energy
House | Cooling | $131 | $52 | $34 | $26 | $11 |
|---|
| Heating | $591 | $155 | $100 | $76 | $32 |
| |
| 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.
