Australian climatic zones: climate data used in thermal performance assessment: diurnal temperature range humidity irradiance maximum and minimum temperature solar geometry wind speed and direction climatic zones and characteristics building alterations and additions: effects on building thermal performance performance standards regulations type and scale of alterations and additions building thermal performance: benefits of thermal performance assessment impact of building design and building materials on building thermal performance relationship between building thermal performance and thermal comfort thermal performance principles: glazing, shading and insulation for controlling temperature orientation for heating thermal mass for storing ventilation for cooling thermal performance standards: current performance standards documentation of assessments and ratings legal requirements uses ways of improving thermal performance of planned residential buildings: construction materials draught proofing floor coverings glazing insulation levels landscaping and planting orientation overshadowing passive heating and cooling shade structural changes thermal mass ventilation window coverings window size, location and type zoning and layout building materials: constraints on choice of building materials: cost practicality size space thermal performance properties of common building materials commonwealth, state and territory, and local government legislation and regulations impacting on thermal performance assessment relating to: building and construction building thermal performance consumer protection, fair trading and trade practices environment protection occupational licensing work health and safety energy and power: terminology: energy efficiency energy loads heating and cooling loads latent heat power primary energy source environmental impact of energy use in residential buildings units of measurement greenhouse gas emissions: potential ways of reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions through building design relationship between building design, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions NatHERS software tools: assumptions and limitations inherent in NatHERS software protocol and accredited software building and external elements included in NatHERS thermal performance assessments criteria for the selection of particular NatHERS software tools NatHERS and Australian Building Codes Board Protocol for House Energy Rating software operating procedures properties of materials, such as heat transfer coefficients and U-value, thermal resistance and R-value, reflectivity, absorptance, solar heat gain coefficient and emissivity scope and function of NatHERS software tools star rating types of NatHERS software tools passive energy design: benefits of passive design principles of passive design relationship between passive design and greenhouse gas emissions thermal comfort: definition of thermal comfort physical factors that influence thermal comfort requirement for thermal comfort role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments |