Heating and cooling homes adds cost to energy bills and impacts the environment. The amount of energy needed to stay warm in winter and cool in summer can easily be reduced by the good design and construction of our homes.
Assessing a building's thermal performance at design stage can identify simple, economical ways to make it more comfortable and save energy.
NatHERS enables the design of a home to be assessed by skilled professionals using sophisticated computer modeling programmes to improve the quality of design and achieve building approvals.
NatHERS sets national standards for professionals offering assessment services as well as the software they use.
1 May 2013 - New interactive NatHERS Climate zones map now available
The new interactive NatHERS Climate zones map now makes it easier to see in which particular climate zone your street or building site is located in. Topographic details and a brief summary of key climate information are also included for the first time. View the interactive map
3 April 2013 - NatHERS logo registered as a Trade Mark
The NatHERS logo has been registered as a Trade Mark under the Trade Marks Act 1995. This registration will provide the NatHERS National Administrator with greater powers to address illegal use of the logo. Revised Guidelines for using the NatHERS logo (April 2013) have been issued.
4 December 2012 - release of scientific study on ground heat transfer in buildings
A report on the study of the effect of ground heat transfer on the thermal performance of buildings has been released. The findings will help improve the Chenath calculation engine, which underpins the three software tools accredited under the Scheme.
16 October 2012 - Information note No.1 . Certificate IV Frequently Asked Questions
This note provides information about the new Certificate IV in NatHERS Assessment. It aims to answer questions that may be raised by existing NatHERS assessors, people interested in becoming assessors, registered training organisations and other interested parties.
2 July 2012 - NatHERS assessors' qualification update
Nationwide consultations with industry, assessors, state and territory governments and accreditation bodies has been undertaken through the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC) in development of the new Certificate IV in NatHERS Assessment. The new qualifications will be presented for endorsement at the quarterly meeting of the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) on 5 September 2012.
26 June 2012 - New Software Accreditation Protocol
The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) - Software Accreditation Protocol, June 2012 (Protocol) was prepared by the NatHERS National Administrator with the assistance of the state and territory building energy efficiency policy agencies and the Australian Building Codes Board. It was approved by the NatHERS Steering Committee (Energy Efficiency Working Group, E2WG) of the Select Council on Climate Change and came into effect on 26 June 2012.
This single Protocol combines and replaces the Procedure for Accrediting Software under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (April 2007 and 2011) and the Australian Building Codes Board Protocol for House Energy Rating Software (Version 2005.1).
4 May 2012 - Withdrawal of sales and support for AccuRate v1.1.4.1
The distributor, Hearne Scientific Software Pty Ltd, withdrew sale and support for AccuRate V1.1.4.1 from 1 May 2012.
This will not impact the accreditation status of this software, or AccuRate Sustainability V.2.0.2.13.