It can be challenging to make your home environmentally sustainable, but with the help of some clever design ideas, it's certainly possible! The NatHERS assessment (National Home Rating Scheme) measures the energy efficiency of designs in new homes and significant renovations to generate a star rating.
The higher the NatHERS star rating, the minimal will be the energy required to heat and cool the home to keep it comfortable.
Consequently, a high NatHERS rating saves money the energy bills and reduces environmental impact. Given these advantages, the market value of the NatHERS rated residential structures increases substantially.
In fact, NatHERS has now become an integral part of the BASIX certificate. The thermal comfort section requires NaTHERS modelling and assessment.
There are some ways you can make your home more energy-efficient, and many of them can implement without sacrificing comfort or style. This article will look at eight sustainable design ideas for the NatHERS rating.
6 Sustainable Design Ideas For NatHERS Rating
Use natural, sustainable materials.
When designing for NatHERS compliance, it's essential to use natural and sustainable materials.
They are not just more environment-friendly, but they also help regulate the indoor climate and improve the overall comfort of your home.
Its favourite sustainable materials include timber, wool insulation and natural paints and finishes.
Use green building technologies and strategies.
Green building technologies and strategies can help reduce the environmental impact of your home design.
Some of the most popular procedures include installing solar panels, using energy-efficient materials, and water-efficient fixtures.
This doesn't just help with NatHERS but also improves the chances of a
BASIX certificate.
You can also choose furniture and finishes that are environmentally friendly and use plants to create natural ventilation and cooling.
Minimise energy consumption.
One of the easy things you can do is to minimise energy consumption. The easiest way is by introducing smart systems. It includes:
Automatically turning off/dimming the lights when the occupant is not in the room.
Using sensor-based monitoring strips to turn off electronics when not in use.
Smart switch controls enabling remote management of heavy-duty appliances such as water heating systems, air conditioners, chimneys, heaters, clothing iron, washing machine, driers, etc.
Installing these smart controls ensures reduced energy wastage and helps you get a better rating through the NatHERS assessment.
Other components of energy-efficient buildings include:
- Ensuring your HVAC system is properly insulated.
- Installing low-flow fixtures in your bathroom and kitchen to reduce water usage.
- And finally, make sure your building has appropriate shading to lessen the need for air conditioning in the summertime.
Maximise indoor air quality.
- Improving indoor air quality uses building materials that don't give off harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
- And you can also install an energy recovery ventilator, which exchanges indoor and outdoor air to help keep your home's air quality consistent.
- Additionally, make sure your home is well-sealed and insulated so that air doesn't escape.
- And lastly, provide plenty of fresh air by installing openable windows and vents when possible.
Apart from saving energy and improving thermal comfort, these design inclusions create a healthy living space for the occupants.
Therefore, you can enjoy better market value, brand reputation and increased demand for your residential project.
Use daylighting and natural lighting.
Utilise daylighting as much as possible by incorporating large windows and skylights into the design. It will help reduce energy costs and improve both BASIX and NatHERS compliance.
Ensure to use the correct glazing for your windows to prevent excessive heat gain during summers and heat loss during winters.
Use low VOC paints and finishes.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate quickly and can cause health problems, such as eye and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. In high concentrations, they can also be toxic.
Many paints and finishes contain VOCs, so choosing low- or no-VOC options is essential. For walls and ceilings, they recommended using natural colours and finishes. These products are made without harmful chemicals and deliver outstanding results.
Conclusion
When it comes to sustainable design, meeting NatHERS' requirements is an excellent place to start.
By following some simple tips and incorporating sustainable design ideas into your project, you can make your home or office more environmentally friendly, comfortable and energy-efficient.
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