NatHERS Star Ratings for your design
Tochi provides Thermal Performance Modelling and NatHERS certificates for designers or homeowners who are drawing up plans for a new home or major renovation/extension.
We don’t just provide you with a Star Rating; this is an optimisation service that will enable you to identify the best value and most effective ways to improve thermal performance in your design. We are not afraid to get creative with our suggestions and are always happy to answer your questions.
We begin by assessing the design of your home according to the drawings and specifications you provide, using sophisticated thermal modelling software. We then optimise the energy-efficiency of the design by exploring different options for windows, materials, insulation levels, shading and construction methods. We present clear, tailored advice underpinned by real world experience in the local construction industry.
We provide to you:
A report showing a room-by room analysis of expected heating and cooling loads both before and after making recommended improvements. If your project involves an alteration/addition to an existing house the rating is provided for the current home as well.
A list of potential improvements and options shown step-by-step along with the corresponding impact on thermal comfort
A summary of recommendations for your specific project
General energy-efficiency advice for homes in Victoria’s climate
A NatHERS Star Rating certificate and stamped plans for building approval
We have three pricing categories for the above service, including the certificate fee:
Small and simple: simple single storey new homes or renovations up to 180m2: $500+GST
Larger or complex: 2 storey homes, homes over 180m2, complex roof forms, alterations/extensions where a before + after rating are needed: $770+GST
3 storey homes or highly complex designs: $890+GST
Most projects also require a Whole of Home (WoH) certificate in addition to the Star Rating. Tochi models the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment, hot water heater, cooktop, lighting and if applicable your pool pump, solar and batteries. You will get a certificate for the Whole of Home rating out of 100, which gives you an indication of how much energy you are expected to consume per year, and how much energy you will generate from solar panels.
Our price for a Whole of Home certificate is $220+GST.
Download our Drawing Checklist here
This service is available throughout Victoria and does not include any visits to the project site. Do you want a Star Rating done on your existing home? See below for information about our In-Home Energy Assessment service, where we come to measure up your home and draw up your floor plan, ready for modelling in our thermal performance software.
In-Home Energy Assessments
Are you planning to make energy-efficiency upgrades to your existing home, but aren’t making any changes to the current layout?
Our In-Home Energy Assessment gives you the confidence to make upgrades in order of greatest impact for the least cost. We use the same sophisticated thermal performance modelling software used for NatHERS Star Ratings, so you can understand your home’s current performance vs. potential performance and compare it to other homes’ Star Ratings.
The service includes a visit to your home, where we discuss your goals and preferences in detail. We take measurements and record all details relevant to thermal performance. We use a high-resolution infra-red camera to “see through” the walls and ceilings and identify whether there is insulation present and if there are problematic gaps and interruptions to the insulation. Following the site visit we draw up architectural floor plans for each level of the house. We then use our assessment software to rate the performance of the current house as is.
The fun begins when we explore and model multiple options and combinations in the software to find the best value and most practical ways to improve the thermal performance of your home. We present these options to you, showing expected improvements in energy-efficiency compared to the current rating.
You will be given a report containing your floor plans, thermal images of your walls and ceilings, your current room-by-room energy rating, the energy rating after making improvements, and tailored advice for your home. Our advice is based on industry experience designing, optimising and building energy-efficient houses.
This service is available to Melbourne residents only.
Please get in contact with us for a quote.
