Aenec

At AENEC we use AccuRate Sustainability, FirstRate5 and BERS Pro; giving you all available options for NatHERS assessments/certifications to match the special requirements of any project. In addition we utilize CAD technology to perform data inputs for the best possible accuracy. How to improve the energy efficiency of your home A well-designed home should be comfortable all year round and reduce your reliance on mechanical heating and cooling. Passive design, which works with the local climate rather than against it, is one of the most effective and cheapest ways to achieve this. Passive solar heating takes advantage of the sunlight during the day to warm your home in winter. North-facing windows allow the heat from the sun into the home, while materials with a high thermal mass absorb the heat and release it within your home at night. Good insulation and infiltration sealing will then prevent warm air from escaping. During the summer months, passive solar cooling will help save on energy costs. Effective shading— such as eaves, pergolas, external blinds or vegetation—can block up to 90 per cent of heat from direct sunlight entering the home. Locating windows on opposite sides of the home and on the sides that capture the common direction of breezes, helps with cross ventilation and cooling the home without the need for air-conditioners. While insulation and appropriate thermal mass for your climate are also essential for keeping your home cool. Did you know, if your roof or ceiling isn’t insulated you could lose up to 45 per cent of your heating and cooling energy via your roof, while good insulation can save up to 40 per cent in heating and cooling bills. Even the type of windows you have affect the energy efficiency of your home. They can be a major source of unwanted heat gain (up to 87 per cent) or heat loss (up to 40 per cent). When choosing windows, you should consider your climate (temperature, humidity, amount of sunshine), building layout and the orientation, size and shading of the windows, and the different types of glass and frames. For example, people living in hot climates may choose tinted glass or low-solar-transmittance/gain (low-e) glass to reduce solar heat gain and locate windows to the south to avoid the sun entering the home, while people in cool climates may choose windows with double or triple glazing, or high-solar-transmittance/gain (also called low-e) glass and face windows north, to allow more heat in. Even if you aren’t building or renovating, there are things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home: Lights accounts for around 10 per cent of household electricity bills – replace inefficient halogen lighting with LEDs or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) Replace old showerheads and taps with water efficient options Buy energy efficient appliances with the highest GEMS star rating you can afford Seal gaps around doors, windows and light fittings – leak proofing strips are available at your local hardware store In cooler climates, remove or prune plants blocking north-facing windows from sunlight Reduce lawn areas – plant trees and native vegetation to absorb heat, direct breezes into the home and restore biodiversity Consider installing ceiling fans for better airflow Consider installing a rainwater tank and rooftop solar Remember, small changes can have a big impact on your bills and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a better future. Why use AENEC? Quality Guaranteed Very Fast Turn Around Times Long Industry Experience Excellent Service ​ ​ AENEC (Australian Energy Efficiency Consulting) is an Australian owned company servicing the building sustainability industry and BCA compliance since 2009. Our very varied clients range from small architectural firms, small to large building companies to larger architectural firms and prime building developer companies all the way to one off owner builders. We pride ourselves in using state of the art technology and engineering techniques and our 100% success rate in terms of council submissions. We believe in the importance of providing high quality assessments and recommendations to ensure your projects are done the best way possible. We aim to make developments meet the minimum performance standards by using the most economical in terms of thermal performance materials/components based on the design parameters. When needed, we will recommend adjustments of materials/components in order to achieve the desirable results, for the respective project.