RP1017e: Validating and Improving the BASIX Energy Assessment Tool for Low-Carbon Dwellings - condensed final report

This report is a condensed version of a technical report completed as part of Validating and Improving the BASIX Assessment Tool for Low-Carbon Dwellings, a research project funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) Ltd and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), supported by the Cooperative Research Centres program, an Australian Government initiative.

Findings from this research show that the measured BASIX-compliant dwellings performed well in the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and were close to BASIX estimations, thereby validating the effectiveness of BASIX tool in promoting low carbon dwellings. However, the breakdown of energy consumption measured by this project highlighted discrepancies in energy consumption for space heating and cooling, lighting and plug loads. An analysis of the attributes contributing to these discrepancies between BASIX estimates and actual energy consumption is discussed and recommendations for future improvements are presented in line with:

• Updating and improving the benchmarks utilised by the NatHERS and BASIX assessment models;
• Improving construction and building envelope quality control; and
• Encouraging sustainability awareness and behaviours.