While building codes provide a safeguard against poor performance and shoddy work, they are not designed to reward designers for going the extra yard for better performing buildings.
While it's acknowledged that higher performing buildings may cost a little more (in some cases they cost the same or less), long term analysis such as total cost of ownership (or NPV) provides a better picture of the real cost of a building.
Operational, maintenance, finance costs plus interest and inflation rates can all be modelled to demonstrate a financial benefit of investing in better building performance. Then there's intangibles such as how a well-designed and built home or office can improve mood and productivity.
Good thermal comfort and low energy appliances will certainly save you money off your energy bill; but other design features such as natural daylight, noise control and fresh air supply can also deliver further benefits to a building's feel and its efficiency.
At CSR, we encourage clients, owners and occupants to research these long-term tangible (and intangible) benefits in operational cost, general comfort, health and resale value of higher performance buildings, so more demand will be placed on designers and builders to go beyond the building code to deliver better performance.
Owners and tenants should not rely on building codes to deliver performance. The codes define minimum compliance benchmarks which are easily surpassed through smart choices made during the design and specification stage. Once a building is complete it's practically impossible and/or too expensive to retrofit to achieve the same results.
Regardless of any possible future proposal to improve building codes, CSR's research has identified some simple steps to exceed building code requirements and improve the performance of any building to make it healthier, more comfortable and efficient to operate. These steps include:
Design and Orientation
Solar aspect and natural shading should deliver year round performance. An architect or building designer can be engaged to maximise this and many standard home designs available today are also designed to provide flexibility in orientation and layout.
Use of the Building and Lifestyle
How a building is used and operated has a huge influence on the performance, the hours of operation and the intended function for the building will help determine what systems and materials should be used.
Thermal Comfort
Residential thermal comfort is predicted using the NatHERS Star ratings nndash; in most states 6 Star is the minimum standard (BASIX in NSW averages between 4.5 to 5 Star). Many consumers don't understand that up to a 10 Star rating is achievable and can dramatically reduce the energy required to maintain thermal comfort.
Likewise for a commercial building, Section J of the BCA defines the minimum specification for glazing and insulation. Increasing insulation, glazing, shading and ventilation performance will deliver huge benefits to owners and occupants.
