6-star energy equivalence rating requirement for houses and townhouses

A 6-star house or townhouse is not only more comfortable to live in, it can also provide you with ongoing savings on energy bills because it uses less energy for artificial cooling and heating.

Reduced energy use from air conditioning means you can also minimise your household’s carbon footprint.

From 1 May 2010, new houses and townhouses and major renovations to these buildings must achieve a minimum 6-star energy equivalence rating.

How to achieve the 6-star energy equivalence rating

The rating is out of 10 stars—more stars indicate a more energy efficient and comfortable house.

The energy equivalence rating of a house is determined by the design of the building’s envelope, or its shell—i.e. roof, walls, windows and floors.

An energy equivalence rating does not take into consideration the fixtures and appliances of a house or townhouse, such as hot water systems, air conditioners, lighting and fridges.

There are many ways to ensure your new house, townhouse or major renovation meets the new 6-star requirement, such as:

• northern orientation of living rooms
• natural ventilation through windows and doorways
• shading with wider eaves and awnings
• increased insulation in roof space and walls
• treated glazing
• light coloured roofs and walls
• ceiling fans in living areas and bedrooms
• covered outdoor living areas, such as a deck or verandah connected to the building in sub-tropical and tropical areas
• well-designed outdoor living areas.

Fact sheet ( 243 KB)

Costs for the homeowner

It is anticipated that the increase to 6-star will result in an increase in building costs of as little as 1.25 per cent on average. This will be dependent on the design, size and location of the building. Any costs are expected to be offset by ongoing savings on household energy bills by a reduction in the need for artificial heating and cooling.

Background to the 6-star energy equivalence rating

The introduction of the 6-star requirement follows a tropical design forum, held on 2 March 2010, to discuss implementation options for 6-star in Queensland’s unique climate. Key themes and outcomes of the forum can be viewed here ( 107 KB) .

Guideline

A guideline is available to assist with understanding how the sustainable housing requirements, including 5-star housing, outdoor living areas and energy efficient lighting, apply to new houses, townhouses and units. It also provides information on how these requirements apply to alterations or additions to existing dwellings, such as extensions, renovations or relocations. This guideline will be updated to reflect the new 6-star provisions in the near future.