Welcome to the energymenu

by Ashburner Francis Consulting Engineers

The energymenu is an easy to use and responsive service to make sense of legal obligations and available energy tools within the Australian construction industry and associated codes.

The energymenu offers a clear, understandable breakdown of the services on offer and gets to the point, helping to make sense of which tool is for you, breaking down the engineering barriers and demanding terminology.

Ashburner Francis are advocates of energy efficiency and since its corporation in 1976 has endorsed ESD principles through design. Whether you are an Architect designing a modern facility, developer wishing to attract high-end tenants, or an organisation concerned about increasing operational costs, the energymenu has an option for you.

Below is a list of the services we can offer, split into five sections;


The “energymenu” Summary Chart

BCA Energy Efficiency Compliance  
James Watt Option Section J Deemed to Satisfy Analysis
Anders Celsius Option JV1 Verification Method
Andre Ampere Option JV3 Verification Method
Michael Faraday Option Residential Building Thermal Performance Method
Lord Kelvin Option BASIX
NABERS  
James Joule Option Predicted Analysis
Thomas Edison Option Third Party Assessment
Robert Bosch Option BEEC Assessment
Energy Audits  
Daniel Fahrenheit Option Level 1 Energy Audit
George Simon Ohm Option Level 2 Energy Audit
Blaise Pascal Option Level 3 Energy Audit
Green Star  
Heinrich Hertz Option Mechanical and Electrical Components
Isaac Newton Option Energy Conditional and ENE-1 Report
Alessandro Volta Option Daylighting Analysis
Nikola Tesla Option Thermal Comfort Analysis (Predicted Mean Vote)
William Rankine Option Air Change Effectiveness Analysis
Albert Einstein Option Complete Green Star Submission
General ESD Iniatives  
Alexander Graham Bell Option Ecological Sustainability Design Report


BCA Energy Efficiency Compliance

The objective of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volume 1 Section J and Volume 2 Part 2.6 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by efficiently using energy.

Compliance with the BCA Volume 1 Section J is compulsory for buildings class 2 to 9. For buildings class 1 and 10, compliance with BCA Volume 2 Part 2.6 is required.

There are two ways to comply with the BCA Volume 1:


If the building is unable to meet all of the terms of the DTS provisions, an “alternative solution” can be considered.

To comply with BCA Part 2.6, the building must substantiate compliance by Verification method V2.6.2.1 or V2.6.2.2 or complying with Part 3.12 of the BCA. NSW requires additional measures, known as BASIX, for buildings class 2 and 4 parts

Confused? Check out the table below, which shows which report is applicable to which BCA building class.



*Please note “The Lord Kelvin” option is only applicable for projects located in NSW.
 

James Watt Option - Section J Deemed To Satisfy Analysis

The James Watt is an analysis of the building, including materials and services to verify compliance with the Deemed-To-Satisfy (DTS) provisions of the BCA Section J. The report goes through the provisions set out in the BCA Section J and advises whether or not the building complies. If it does not advice is offered to ensure it does


Anders Celsius - Option JV1 Verification Method

JV1 verification method applies to Class 2 buildings and Class 4 part of a building only.

If the building is unable to achieve the Deemed-To-Satisfy provisions of the BCA Section J, compliance can be sought by verification method JV1.


Andre Ampere Option - JV3 Verification Method

JV3 verification method applies to Class 5 – 9 buildings only.

If the building is unable to achieve the Deemed-To-Satisfy provisions of the BCA Section J, compliance can be sought by verification method JV3.


Michael Faraday Option - Residential Building Thermal Performance Method

The Michael Faraday is an analysis of the building, including materials using computer modelling program, Solar Logic’s BERSPro. The report includes the methodology and advises whether or not the building meets the required star values. If it does not advice is offered to ensure it does.


Lord Kelvin Option - BASIX

Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) was established by the NSW government to ensure homes are designed to be more energy and water efficient.

In NSW, Class 1 and 2 buildings and Class 4 parts are subject to a BASIX assessment. A BASIX certificate lists all the commitments the user has agreed to, and the Certifying Authority will check these at various stages of construction. The BASIX Certificate must be attached to the development application before it can be processed. There are several methods to achieve a BASIX certificate.

The Lord Kelvin is an analysis of the building, including materials using computer modelling program, Solar Logic’s BERSPro. The report includes the methodology and advises whether or not the building meets the required star values. If it does not, advice is offered to ensure it does. The results are for use in the Thermal Simulation section of BASIX,


NABERS

The NABERS scheme was developed by the Federal Government (Department of Environment and Climate Change) to help office building and/or tenants benchmark their greenhouse performance. It focuses on the total energy consumed annually and calculates the corresponding amount of greenhouse emissions.

NABERS is a performance-based rating system for existing buildings. NABERS rates a building on the basis of its measured operational impacts on the environment, and provides a simple indication of how well you are managing these environmental impacts compared with your peers and neighbors.

NABERS now incorporates the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR), which has been re-named NABERS Energy for offices.


James Joule Option - Predicted Analysis

The James Joule includes an analysis, report and advice on how the project may attain the NABERS star rating they wish to achieve. This analysis is completed during design stage to assist in achieving a certified assessment at a later and more appropriate stage. It is only a self-assessment and may not be used for the purposes of advertising. Choose from one, all or a combination of the following:

A predicted NABERS Energy analysis may be required for those projects which have entered into a formal NABERS commitment agreement. Refer to the NABERS website for further details on commitment agreements and whether they are suitable for your project.


Thomas Edison Option - Third Party Assessment

Once your building has been operational and occupied for a continuous 12 months you are able to consider NABERS certification.

For buildings which were not designed with NABERS in mind we advise you to consider The Michael Faraday Predicted analysis prior to an actual Third Party Assessment to ensure that the building is able to be certified.

The Andre Ampere includes analysis, report and NABERS certification submission. Choose from one, all, or a combination of the following:

The assessment is submitted to DECC for official accredited NABERS certification.


Robert Bosch Option – BEEC Assessment

COMING SOON – see our News section for further details.


Energy Audits to AS3598

Daniel Fahrenheit Option - Level 1 Energy Audit

A level 1 energy audit is a desktop audit and will not necessarily require a site visit. It principally involves an analysis of billing data and raw site details. It benchmarks the site and identifies the potential for energy cost reduction.


George Simon Ohm Option - Level 2 Energy Audit

A level 2 audit is a walk through audit. It requires a site visit by the auditor and includes an analysis of historical billing data. It involves some interviews with site personnel, a brief review of site utility bills and other operating data. It allows us as auditors to become familiar with the building operation and identifies obvious areas of energy waste or inefficiency and provides statement of costs and potential savings.


Blaise Pascal Option - Level 3 Energy Audit

A level 3 audit provides a detailed inspection and analysis of energy usage, including energy demand monitoring and possible logging. Again, we will conduct an analysis of historical billing data.

In depth interviews with facility operating personnel are conducted to provide a deeper understanding of major energy use, with utility bills collected over 1-3 years. This allows us to evaluate the facility’s energy habits and usage profile.

This type of audit will be able to identify all energy conversation measures appropriate to the site given its operating parameters.


Green Star

Green Star is an environmental rating system for buildings. It was established in 2003 by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to promote sustainable development within the building and properties sector of Australia, through green building programs, technologies, design practices and operations.

Green Star evaluates the building in terms of the overall impact on the environment and ways in which this is managed. This impact not only looks at the energy usage and emissions but also the materials used in the building’s construction and fit-out. This ensures that the processes involved in manufacturing the materials do not impact too strongly on the environment.

Please note that credit codes listed below apply to Green Star Office Design V3 rating tool and may differ between the various Green Star rating tools.


Heinrich Hertz Option - Mechanical & Electrical Components only

The Heinrich Hertz Option includes analysis, advice and the required reporting and documentation for the mechanical and electrical services only, as set out by the Green Star Technical Manual. The report details the Green Star credits addressed by the Mechanical and Electrical services and how they comply with the Green Star requirements.

This report applies to the mechanical and electrical services components only and is for the inclusion of a complete submission (by others). The Heinrich Hertz also includes The Isaac Newton and The Allesandro Volta. It excludes The Nikola Tesla and The William Rankine options.


Isaac Newton Option - Energy Conditional and ENE-1 Report

Based on the requirements as set out in the Green Star Technical manual, The Isaac Newton comprises of an analysis, calculation, advice and a report for inclusion in a Green Star submission for the Energy conditional and ENE-1 credits. It includes computer modelling simulation with ACADS-BSG Beaver software. The report will also highlight the number of points applicable to credit ENE-1.


Alessandro Volta Option - Daylighting Analysis

The Alessandro Votlta includes a computer modelled simulation of the daylight factor inside the building based on glazing and external reflectances. It comprises of a report for inclusion in a Green Star submission for the Daylight credit IEQ-4, which encourages and recognises designes that provide good levels of daylight for building users.


Nikola Tesla Option - Thermal Comfort Analysis (Predicted Mean Vote)

The Nikola Tesla comprises of a computer modelled simulation of the predicted mean vote (PMV) and report for inclusion in a Green Star submission for the Thermal Comfort credit IEQ-9.

The predicted mean vote is an index that predicts the mean value of the votes of a large group of people on a 7 point thermal scale.


William Rankine Option - Air Change Effectiveness Analysis

The William Rankine comprises of an analysis of the air change effectiveness of the building by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and report for inclusion in a Green Star submission for the Air Change Effictiveness (ACE) credit IEQ-2.


Albert Einstein Option - Complete Green Star Submission

The Albert Einstein comprises of analysis, advice, compilation and submission of the formal Green Star submission. It includes The Isaac Newton, Allesandro Volta and Heinrich Hertz options.

Submission requirements may require information and reports from suitably qualified consultants. Advice will be given to the design team on what they will be required to submit for the Green Star submission. Additional fees and consultants may be required if the client deems the credits in question are required. Excludes The Nikola Tesla and The William Rankine options.


General ESD Initiatives

Alexander Graham Bell Option – Ecologically Sustainable Design Report

For those who want a little bit of guidance in providing an ecologically sustainable building. The Alexander Graham Bell is a report which covers such ESD items as:

The report advises ESD options specific to your project for consideration during the design phase.



Ashburner Francis ESD Company Policy

“Aims and Objectives”

Ashburner Francis aims to foster a built environment that:

“Sustainable Design Objectives”

To achieve these aims the following objectives have been set in relation to sustainable Design.