Word on the Street!

BASIX® & NatHERS (UPDATE!) 

Its been 3 months since 7 Stars was implemented in NSW along with the new BASIX system and you all know I have wanted to scream more than 3 times! (maybe 3 times per project?) 

A massive THANK YOU to those clients that have stuck with me while I sort through updating certificates and generating new certificates. 

So what are the issues? It is no longer enough to just reach the BASIX cooling and heating loads, the overall loads must also reach 7 Stars.

NatHERS

General Design

It can take a while for projects to get off the ground and so its a bit in the middle of "finishing off" projects and starting projects at the moment and this is totally understandable, however the implementation of 7 Stars was not an unknown so please, do give your clients a heads up.

New projects need to be designed FOR THE SITE. Not from a template! (and trust me, I am a massive fan of templates!) but this is not going to "cut the mustard". Go back to basics:

Where is North? This is where the living / kitchen goes!
How big are my room sizes and what is the glass to floor ratio?
What voids do I have?  
What are my construction materials?  

New standards

ALL projects will be applied with the following (if not already specified):

COSG+R2.0+1.8 Slab edge (This performs better than waffle pod)
R4 between levels (or underfloor if a suspended slab)
R6 to Ceiling
R2.0 to internal walls, R2.5 to the internal garage wall
1200 ceiling fans to Living rooms and 900 ceiling fans to bedrooms and studies. 

Upgrading from here I can apply windows with a max of:

PVC-006-03 W uPVC B DG Argon Fill High Solar Gain low-E -Clear
PVC-005-03 W uPVC A DG Argon Fill High Solar Gain low-E -Clear

After this, I need to start applying design changes. So far I have been finding:

Changing roof colour (sometimes)
Cladding at ground floor to either Brick Veneer or XPS 
Changing floor coverings (to polished concrete, don't get excited for a saving on this one!) AND the last one which is very much my least favourite:
Changing your design... 

Frequently asked Questions

I am building up a sheet of FAQ's - please let me know if you want me to add any to have at your disposal! So far the most common are:

Can you take out the double glazing / thermally broken etc, I only want/can afford the single glazed.

I apply all other "upgrades" I can BEFORE windows. Windows are the last used to reach the required target as they are the most "expensive" of a build. Please qualify your clients budget BEFORE you start! If you walk into a supermarket with $3 and the fancy loaf of bread is $3.50 what do you do? ... this is no different! (if you know me well enough, you will also know this is how I feel about 4.6 variations and variations to DCPs!)

My window supplier doesn't have those windows

Yeah, nah...This is not a "me" problem, this is a "supplier" problem and there is no such thing. The windows used within the NatHERS system have been there / available since before I started doing assessments (more than 5 years ago! *gulp*). Your supplier needs to have values the same as or better, or you can find the exact windows you will be using in construction using the WERS website (and if these windows don't pass - you got it, we go back to changing the construction method...). The suppliers DO know this... this is literally their J.O.B! 

I do have a handy video and fact sheet that I can send you if you need, please ask!

BASIX

Updating old Certificates

In order to update a Certificate you need to have the PAN number handy. If the lodgement date was not within 3 months of the certificate, it will reject it which becomes a problem if you haven't lodged it! This didn't happen in the old system as it was not linked to a particular development / site. I have asked for it to be fixed, they do not see it as a problem or actual issue and cannot see the logic...  You will need to pay for the new certificate (and a lovely portal fee for the convenience too, oh and transaction fee! both of which they also didn't have...)

Generating new Certificates

If you have a contract signed pre 1 October, it can be assessed against the pre 7 Star target (and lordy, please let me know this at the start!).

Otherwise the new certificate is assessed against the new targets and has LOTS more details... It is taking an average of 3 times longer for me to do a certificate with the additional information required (and see above - 5 years and going people, my typing speed is faster than Lighting McQueen! Zoom, Zoom!). 

Most of the additional information is available from your plans or the NatHERS assessment, some is also still not clear which is where the additional questions will come from. Thanks for your patience... in advance!

The Department are keeping us informed through our Accrediting Office, its slow going...

I am more than happy to chat through the above, Your business IS my business! 

(and then we can compare notes!)

Net Zero Energy Builder! 

The Learning Hub for Energy Efficient Construction has been established by the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining to support industry in the transition toward the construction of energy efficient, high performing and net zero energy-ready buildings. 

These online modules are for builders, trades, contractors and all allied professions involved in small-scale or volume-build residential construction, *wink wink* LOOKING AT YOU!

Each module is 2 hours in duration (with snack breaks! lol), and include a range of supporting resources and related materials for self-directed learning (or you know, directing wonderful clients to in a time of 'whats the technical reason behind that?!')

In addition to practical skills, these modules provide the principles of building energy efficiency that can deliver high thermal performance and achieve Net Zero Energy with suitable design, materials and technology.

There are six training webinars and case studies that make up the training of this course.

The webinars include:

Module 1: Net Zero Homes and Designing for High Performance
Module 2: Building to Achieve On-Ground Performance
Module 3: Managing Condensation, Indoor Air Quality & Risk
Module 4: Whole of Home - Integrating efficient technologies to reach Net Zero and
Module 5: Beyond Net Zero - Identifying & reducing embodied carbon AND
Five Key Energy Efficiency Strategies for Homes

And so, as some light CPD over the Christmas break, guess what I was up to? Yep. Module 1 - 5!

Module 1: Net Zero Homes and Designing for High Performance

Recommended for those starting out or designers wanting to refresh their basics (especially for 7 Stars!!). Topics of the webinar include Passive Solar Design & Star Ratings, Passive Solar Toolkit and NatHERS as a design tool. 

Module 2: Building to Achieve On-Ground Performance

This module was much suited to Builders and Certifiers focusing on installation and checking and to Thermal Engineers checking retrofits. A practical application to ensure that what is on your certificate is actually what you are building!  

Module 3: Managing Condensation, Indoor Air Quality & Risk

Similar to Module 3 this unit was suited towards Builders and Certifiers and Thermal Engineers. Risk applies to all in ensuring that what you say you are doing actually happens!  

Module 4: Whole of Home - Integrating efficient technologies to reach Net Zero

Whole of Home (WoH) is an implementation alongside the NCC and is similar to BASIX in NSW, however run through the NatHERS system/ application. It looks at similar inputs such as water and energy and includes the use of water tanks and solar panels and the like. This was a good refresher as a NatHERS assessor but not yet undertaking WoH assessments.  

Module 5: Beyond Net Zero - Identifying & reducing embodied carbon

The last module looked at the life cycle of building from raw materials through construction and then disposal employing the strategies of minimizing, quantifying and offsetting. The aim after all is not for a net zero home, but a TRUE net zero home. Even implementing some of the strategies will go a long way to reducing our carbon footprint - with a general rule of thumb of 1.27 TCO2/m2 that's A LOT we can reduce, one step at a time! 

Give it a go here:

https://netzeroenergybuilder.com.au/netzero/net-zero-homes-skills-training

(and then we can compare notes!)

New changes to low-rise & mid-rise housing

My first big concert was Big Day Out 2000. We bused on the morning of from Taranaki to Auckland (5+1/2 hours) for it. The line up included Atari Teenage Riot, Basement Jaxx,The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces released an announcement on 28 November for changes that will fast-track a greater diversity of homes like residential flat buildings of 3 to 6 storeys, terraces, townhouses, duplexes and smaller 1-storey to 2-storey apartment blocks in suburbs where they are not currently allowed.

Details of the proposed changes include allowing:

dual occupancies (2 separate homes on a single lot), such as duplexes, in all R2 low-density residential zones across all of NSW.
terraces, townhouses and 2-storey apartment blocks near transport hubs and town centres in R2 low-density residential zones across the Greater Sydney region, Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra (the Six Cities region).
mid-rise apartment blocks near transport hubs and town centres in R3 medium-density zones and appropriate employment zones. This will mean more housing just a short 10-minute walk (800m) from transport hubs, shops and amenities.

The government will amend a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) to enact these changes while simultaneously encouraging councils to add these types of dwellings to their own planning rules.

We don't know yet which SEPP they will amend. This could be State Environmental Panning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development) 2008 where the Low Rise Housing Code currently sits or State Environmental Panning Policy (Housing) 2021 where Secondary Dwellings, Group Homes and more recently, the Apartment Design Guide (which used to be SEPP 65). 

We also dont know anything more than the media release:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-rules-to-fast-track-low-rise-and-mid-rise-housing

My guess? (literal guess!) The biggest effect will be for terraces (multi dwelling) in the R2 zones where previously only single dwellings or dual occupancies were permitted (IF it goes ahead and IF council don't put 3000 conditions on it)... this is very very much in the early stages and I will be keeping an eye on it, but as they say, don't put all of your eggs in this basket!  

The sun is shining and its time to P-A-R-T-Y! 

My first big concert was Big Day Out 2000. We bused on the morning of from Taranaki to Auckland (5+1/2 hours) for it. The line up included Atari Teenage Riot, Basement Jaxx, Betchadupa, Beth Orton, Foamy Ed, Foo Fighters, Fur Patrol, Goldie, Goodshirt, Grinspoon, Hardknox, Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros, Killing Heidi, MJ Cole, Nine Inch Nails, PJ Harvey, Peewee Ferris, Pitch Black, Powderfinger, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Salmonella Dub, Sean Quinn, Shihad, Spiderbait, Tadpole, The Chemical Brothers, The D4, The Hellacopters, Yothu Yindi, Zed and blink‐182.. and then after all of that EPICness we bused home and started our last year of high school. 

I have seen local and international acts and been to many many concerts and a handful of festivals. I also used to work part time for a company that provides the temporary bars at at some of the festivals in Sydney and the Hunter (what better way to spend a weekend with people who are now some of my best friends AND get up close and behind the scenes of some awesome and talented artists. 

I still love music and festivals and even take my family along (sometimes!). My daughter will happily tell you her first festival was Gumball at the back of a farm in NSW (she was 5 and it was school holidays and we had just finished racing our LE-Mon... a story for another time!)

Like everything, COVID poo-pooed live music and festivals for a while and not knowing anyone much in Wellington, I haven't been to as many as I would have liked in the last few years BUT as a present to myself last winter, I decided this summer would be the year I would say "You do You" (a phrase normally reserved for my husband and kids when they really want to do something I am not keen on! lol). 

This years summer list (so far) has included:

Hill Top Hoods - can I get a wave from my people in the nosebleeds!? These guys have not lost a beat!  

Toast Martinborough - a super slow paced bus crawl over in the Wairarapa through some of NZs best wineries (tastes only for me!), live music and FOOD! This is pretty much my heaven. 

Beers at The Basin,- We have a saying "Wellington on a good day" and this was NOT one of them, but if you don't ignore the weather in Wellington, you will a. get nothing done and b. have a very boring time. So we rugged up and sipped those craft beers, warmed up on some food truck and bopped to the front of the stage to King Kapisi, Tahini Bikini, Lost Tribe, Che Fu, The Black Seeds.

Rock the Bowl - was just before New Years in New Plymouth. Again the rain did not hold us back! It did however stop LadyHawke appearing who couldn't fly in...(better planning required on that one!). The farmers were in their element in their redband gumboots and swandris and the girls... bikini and a poncho... makes for some great people watching! lol. The Bowl is host a lot of concerts in New Plymouth (including the Christmas Carols) and is like its name... a bowl. The acoustics are something else and there is heaps of space. Its a great venue and the band speak (or play?) for themselves!

Juicy Fest - was literally a walk from my house and last year when the wind blew the right way we could hear it!. This year, I went and was not disappointed (even though the Game couldn't make it in the end... apparently he will be back sometime in 2024...). My favorite was Ashanti. That GIIIRRLLL has still got it! Vocals, moves and crowd engagement! an excellent performer!  

So what's next?

27th January Foo Fighter will rock the Stadium in Wellington. 

10 February I will take my daughter to Outfield in Napier for a camping music festival.

24 February I will have waited over 20 Years to see the Chemical Brothers again at Electric Avenue in Christchurch

16 March will be a weekend in New Plymouth for WOMAD. I have decided NOT to take the camping option for this one and posh it up in a hotel with the family since its also my husbands birthday :)  

Macklemore to come later in the year!

Not sure I can fit any more in! I can always TRY right?   

PFT™ Presentation at Workbridge

As an employer with Workbridge, I was asked to speak and present about being an employer for a motivation workshop. Since I have been a Workbridge employer for two years it was a nice opportunity to speak there.

Workbridge has a long herstory with working with those with disabilities. Having started in 1931 as the Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment League as a non-profit to reintegrate ex-service men with rehabilitation & employment from the South African & First World Wars.

Workbridge has come a long way since that time with changes from a league to the current formation to the Workbridge Foundation with the services side to a limited liability company. Their logo reflects the connection of two groups and as a solution by empowering those with disabilities. The bridge arches as a partnership between employee, employer and Workbridge. The arched koru design reflects their commitment as a bicultural organization and adherence to the Te Tiriti o Waitangi’s (Treaty of Waitangi) principles: partnership, protection and participation.

Workbridge CEO Johnathan Mosen: “Never Say Never!”

After opening Karakia (prayer) by regional service manager Karen Forsyth we then heard from the current CEO Johnathan Mosen spoke about his early struggles and overcoming the stigma of being blind and his steadfast determination to work in radio. His story was very inspiring where refused to give in with a steeled determination to prove wrong “Blind people can’t work in radio!” which has led to him being the successful person he is today. He also stressed “Never say never!” Relating to the story of JK Rowling was turned down by every publisher she went to, until one gave it a go with the rest being history.

I was up next, where I talked about my family, my partially deaf step-brother and the mantra of ‘Don’t dis my ability.’ 

I also spoke about the challenges of being a working parent and the challenges of stigma and perceptions of working parents. While not a disability, the discrimination of not being able to perform a task or role is still challenged based on availability and external commitments. My brain is ‘still me’! and I am motivated harder than anyone else because I only have limited time to complete all of those tasks that everyone else has a whole day for!

I adore my workbridge employees and they help me as much as I help them gain confidence and skills to leave for greener pastures (full time work!). 

We finished with a Karakia before leaving us with a epithet from actor Denziel Washington. “You will fail at some point in your life, accept it! If you don’t fail, you are not even trying and failure will help figure what path you are on.

Wise words indeed!

#WorkbridgeNZ

https://workbridge.co.nz

BASIX® & NatHERS: Legislation Changes

1 October 2023 - wasnt that a RUSH! 

So. Not only did 7 Stars happen (we in the industry had our bets) but the BASIX system has now moved to the Planning Portal AND is upgraded to include a material part. 

The new BASIX materials index will calculate and report on the embodied emissions of a home. The tool will do this by estimating the volume of different materials used in construction and applying the emissions factors for the materials.

The emissions factors represent embodied emissions from the production of each building material. Default factors for embodied emissions of materials are based on the EPiC database. Although the initial materials index does not account for the full lifecycle impact of building materials, we will consider other factors such as durability and transport of building materials in future revisions.

The embodied emissions calculations have been tested by many BASIX users, including builders adopting the higher standards ahead of 1 October 2023. This experience revealed a complex relationship between the thermal performance standard and embodied emissions. As a result, there will be no limit on embodied emissions of building materials when the policy commences on 1 October 2023. We will consider setting a limit (or standard) in future after we have collected comprehensive data on the embodied emissions of development built to the new standards.

What does this mean for you? 

Plans will need to be ship shape for submission:

• Site plan

• Dimensioned floor plan

• Elevations

• Sections

• Window schedule containing size and opening type

• Materials schedule

AND with all of the work going into this, its only fair that my prices will also go up. I am proposing the following:

Your fee will cover the initial assessment of your plans as they are presented to me and application of any “standard” upgrades that have typically applied to your projects e.g.

Roof R6.0

Between floors (Timber) R4.0

COSG – R2.0

Windows Max Double glazed Low-E (please note, it is very very unlikely that your plans will pass with Single Glazing, however this is where I will start).

Where the initial assessment does NOT meet the 7 Star requirement with standard upgrades (noted above). You will be notified an additional fee will be charged to provide advice on design changes required.

I have a video of how the NatHERS works in general to send as an explanation for anyone who wants and am more than happy to Zoom /TEAMS to explain this. 

Your business IS my business! 

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/BASIX-standards#new-materials-index

https://www.nathers.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/22726_Nathers_Newsletter.pdf

Slam Rock! (the FUN stuff!)

Roller derby is a roller skating contact sport played on an oval track by two teams of five skaters. It is played by approximately 1,250 amateur leagues worldwide, mostly in the United States BUT also in New Zealand and Australia! and started in the 1930s becoming popular in the 1940s as a women's sport. 

A 60-minute roller derby game, or bout, is a series of two-minute timed jams. Each team, typically with a roster of 15, fields five skaters during each jam: one jammer, designated with a star on their helmet, and four blockers (Me! I'm a dedicated blocker!). The jammer scores a point for each opposing blocker they lap (they are effectively the "Ball" in pretty much any other sport). The blockers simultaneously defend by hindering the opposing jammer (getting in the way of), while also playing offense by maneuvering to aid their own jammer. Which ever team has the most points at the end of the game wins. 

Slam Rock is Roller Derby 1980's style, where theatrical elements play alongside athleticism hosted by Rotorua every year (next year being 10 years of Slam Rock) as thier main fundraiser for the year. 
This year Remutaka Rebels (My team) were invited to glam up and battle it out! It was extreme & mean! We got hit, knocked down (as the song does go) we got back up again, and we rolled around some more. 327 (them) to 109 (us) (sadness!) we were done! 

Amongst all the chaos & fury our team captains voted me MVP for our team topping off an amazing weekend and pretty much the pinnacle of my derby career so far. 

Most games around NZ are streamed so if you want to relive this game or watch any future games check out the action check it out on twitch

Delivery Co-Ordinator – Some New learnings

In May I was fortunate to be asked to join local building company for a short time as their Delivery Co-ordinator. The role involved implementing their project management software Buildertrend into everyday practices and updating their Work Health and Safety policy and practices using Hazard Co. 

Buildertrend is a construction project management software for home builders, remodelers and contractors. Buildertrend boasts:
Bring in more leads and turn them into customers
Simplify project planning from start to finish
Manage finances simply and precisely
Run every job site efficiently

Having used Companion for SO long, Buildertrend I feel is more a kin to other PM software like Monday.com, ASANA and the like (but doesnt celebrate you when you finish a task!). 

It can be used on an iPad and phone and includes the expected functionality of being able to turn on and off messages to suppliers and users. It has a Client portal area which is useful for communicating to clients (But I feel needs more work in its display). 
Overall, user friendly but (as always) requires an effort to set up - and the saying stands - what you put in, you get out.

HazardCo is a web based software focusing on Work, Health and Safety (WH&S in NZ and OOSH in Australia). The software has 3 focus areas:

Pre-site
Create a site specific safety plan in minutes using the handy generator
Send a compliant pre-qualification questionnaire to your contractors in one click
Let the automated system remind your contractors to submit their insurance

On-Site 
Workers scan in the first time they visit site to induct themselves and upload their credentials
Workers quickly scan in and out each day so you have a record of who is on site
Workers create and submit H&S reports using the guided App

Oversight
Get real time visibility of who is on-site
Monitor H&S activity and inductions at a project or company level
Create a record of good health and safety practices over time. All your reports are saved in one place and easy to find 

Its fairly easy to use, but still requires a process in place to use it effectively (and PAID for all of its functionality - the free version works - dont get me wrong but I err on the side of caution when it comes to WH&S and wouldnt hesitate in the full version...) 
Alas the time spent with the builder has now ended, but the skills I have learnt using BuilderTrend and HazardCo will remain in my pocket of "thing I know" (and you know that pocket is pretty deep with mostly useful information!)...and as always if you need a hand with either program (or anything else) you know where to find me.

Whole of Home

Whole of Home is an incorporation of a NatHERS rating and will measure the energy use of the whole home including appliances, solar and batteries. 

Adding to the current NatHERS star rating assessment out of ten, the Whole of Home Performance Rating will be a separate rating out of 100.
The new assessment builds on the thermal performance assessment by providing information about the energy use of the following appliances:

Heating and cooling
Hot water systems
Lighting
Pool/spa pumps
Cooking and plug-in appliances
On-site energy generation and storage.

New NatHERS certificates have been developed to include Whole of Home ratings and to support the NCC 2022 energy efficiency provisions.
If you are thinking "but we already have this as BASIX" you are correct. 

While the NatHERS software packages have been updated for whole-of-home energy, they cannot be used for energy rating in NSW and we must continue to use BASIX for assessment.

So I if you hear about "Whole of Home" and find the NatHERS Certificates look a little different or assessors are asking for more than usual details - You have the "heads up"!

Plan for tomorrow™ is at Lower Hutt Event Centre.

BRANZ held a conference on Medium Density Housing at the refurbished and reconstructed Lower Hutt Events Centre (formerly The Lower Hutt Town Hall) which isn’t too far from where I live.

I was quite fascinated with a display for recycled technology for under-flooring made from recycled car tires. Recycling at its best considering it can take an estimated 2000 years for car tyres to decompose!

It was nice to see some familiar faces and catch up with colleagues in the building profession and of course listen to the presenters!

Medium Density in NZ is NOT the same as it is in NSW. Medium density is considered the “missing middle” between single houses and apartment blocks and
 arises from the need to supply affordable housing for First Home Buyers (sound familiar). Medium density housing in NZ looks more like this:

BASIX® & NatHERS.

BASIX® & NatHERS If I can harp on about one thing I guess - this is it. The NCC will see big changes to BASIX® and NatHERS with the release of the 7-star rating system, which will kick in in October. (As a rough guide the moment we output an average of about a 5 star or so maybe 5.5 to 5.2) As a result of these code changes, we are likely to see a downturn in clients going from the initial project to the build stage: due to the increased costs of construction that will come from the requirement for better designed homes (orientation) more insulation and double-glazed windows!!Check out this PDF which has a good summary:

https://www.nathers.gov.au/.../22726_Nathers_Newsletter.pdf

Keith Abrahams

I attended Keith Abraham's talk as an online session as part of CDP run through Design Matters National. Keith's masterclass was focused on “How to position yourself to Win business and Profit Masterclass.”

Keith practices what he preaches and this became apparent throughout the webinar e.g. stand up when you present (even on line) and he was standing!

Just little things but things to take note of Keith lead the webinar alongside a workbook where we looked at our professional (role, leader, career), personal (family, fun, adventure), physical (health, strength, fitness) and profitable goals (financial, savings, purchases).

I am still working on these goals (slowly!). My biggest goals are personal (spend time with the family – I’ll have a high schooler next year!) and physical – I have made some headway by losing 15kgs with a change in diet, but the fitness needs to follow….

More Roller Derby you say? Sure!!!!

Plan for tomorrow is at Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

SCHOOL CAMP!
A week without a phone or internet! Yes team, it can be done! I went as a parent help for with my son’s class (11 & 12 year old boys and girls) held at Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre which is about 2 hours north of windy Wellington by bus at the foot of the remote Tararua Mountain Range.

First day in we went on a short walk to a (permanent) campsite where the kid’s made huts and fires (in the rain!) and stayed in the permanent tents overnight. The second day was back to base camp via an (over waist deep) river crossing! high ropes course and flying fox in the afternoon which very much wore everyone out. A night in the cabin was much appreciated.
 
Many insect bites later, couple of vomiting kids and the normal camp tired we arrived safely back home. Good times!