Rating Framework. Given that governments are currently developing a National Energy Productivity Plan, the Strategic Plan has not considered widening NatHERS beyond its current focus on the thermal performance of the building fabric. Actions Improving governance and program management Action Deliverable Timeframe Participants Governance Review NatHERS governance and process (Current governance structure is set out at Appendix A). A revised administrative and governance arrangements document published on NatHERS website Paper to EWG December 2015 NatHERS Administrator (NA) Buildings Committee (BC) Finalise MOU with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on the working relationship between NatHERS and ABCB in relation to NatHERS software and its referencing in the NCC. New MOU with ABCB December 2015 NA ABCB Have annual reviews of this Strategic Plan and update accordingly Annual report to BC on implementation of Strategic Plan First review report in July 2016 NA BC Engaging stakeholders Develop a stakeholder engagement and communications plan to promote the benefits of NatHERS and to make all stakeholders and end-users aware of NatHERS developments A communications plan Final plan by August 2015 NA BC Develop a six-monthly NatHERS e-newsletter for public distribution E-newsletter produced every November and May First issue November 2015 NA Manage and update the NatHERS website Up-to-date, accessible and comprehensive website Ongoing NA Identify opportunities to promote NatHERS in relevant publications and forums (details to be put in Comms Plan) Positive articles and references to NatHERS in the public domain Ongoing NA BC Hold annual stakeholder Stakeholder workshop May 2016 NA
workshop to review progress on the Strategic Plan (linked to review of Plan) BC Operating procedures Revise and implement the Standard Operating Procedures for NatHERS administration tasks undertaken by the NatHERS administrator. Standard Operating Procedures in place and used Feb 2016 NA Compliance Register the NatHERS name as a trademark alongside the existing trademark of the NatHERS logo to allow action to be taken against instances of misrepresentations of NatHERS ratings and endorsements Name registered with IP Australia August 2015 NA Prepare a targeted awareness program for building certifiers about the role of the NatHERS universal certificate in building compliance Communications plan and material December 2015 NA BC Technical Advisory Committee Revise the terms of reference (TOR) for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) New TOR for the TAC August 2015 NA BC Appoint new TAC members TAC meeting organised October 2015 NA Accreditation and updating of rating tools Action Deliverable Timeframe Participants Software Accreditation Protocol Review and update the NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol to provide certainty to software developers and users about the process for the updating and release of NatHERS accredited tools New Protocol published on the NatHERS website December 2015 NA BC Implement clear consultation times to introduce new versions or changes to the NatHERS tools. New Protocol includes agreed consultation timeframes. December 2015 NA BC
Research on the impacts to ratings from proposed expansion of the number of climate zones and update of climate files (and inform if a formal RIS is necessary) Preliminary Impact Analysis undertaken and presented to BC and EWG. Next steps agreed upon by EWG July/August 2015 onwards NA BC EWG CSIRO Look at design features and software settings for apartments as a growing sector of residential building, Incorporated in the work program of the TAC 2016 NA TAC Set priorities for technical improvements to software tools, incorporation of new products and associated research requirements List of prioritised software development projects Updated quarterly after TAC meetings TAC NA Collaboration Collaboration with other interested institutions to review the assumptions of the NatHERS benchmark software and the validity of its outputs. Incorporated in the work program of the TAC 2016/17 NA TAC CSIRO Liaise with the CRC for Low Carbon Living and leverage off relevant projects. Working relationship established and developed Ongoing NA TAC BC CRC LCL Improving assessor skills and capability Action Deliverable Timeframe Participants Certificate IV in NatHERS assessment Investigate impact and potential solutions if necessary to address of Certificate IV by assessors Paper presented to the BC March 2016 NA BC AAOs RTOs Evaluate the effectiveness of the Certificate IV in association with relevant qualification bodies and including active engagement from the assessor industry Reform of the Certificate IV where necessary to better match competency requirements with industry needs. To commence 2017 NA BC AAOs TAC RTOs Assessor skills Review the findings and develop strategies to Paper presented to the BC March 2016 NA South Australia
effectiveness and administration. Publish an annual report on the outcomes of NatHERS against the KPIs and including statistics from software providers and AAOs. Annual report published on website Annually from September 2016 NA BC Appendix A – Outline of current NatHERS Governance Structure Glossary AAO: Assessor Accrediting Organisation, which is an organisation that accredits Assessors in accordance with the Protocol for Assessor Accrediting Organisations. ABCB: the Australian Building Codes Board. AccuRate: The commercial software tool developed by CSIRO comprising a graphical user interface and the Chenath Engine. Assessment: a thermal performance simulation performed using NatHERS software of a residential building (NCC Class 1, 2, 4 and attached Class 10a buildings only) conducted by an Assessor for regulatory purposes. Assessment Certificate: an official certificate bearing the NatHERS logo produced by an Assessor from the NatHERS software detailing key data from the assessment and relevant specifications for the residential building. Assessor: a person accredited by an AAO to use NatHERS software to estimate the thermal performance of buildings for regulatory purposes. BC: The Buildings Committee of the EWG. Benchmark Assessment: an assessment done by an Assessor of one or more standardised plans where the rating result has already been calculated, to check the accuracy of the Assessor’s rating and competency in software operation. Benchmark Software: the most recently accredited combination of the Chenath Engine and AccuRate graphical user interface developed by CSIRO. CAD: computer-aided design software used by architects, engineers, drafters, artists, and others to create precision two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) drawings, technical illustrations and models. Chenath Engine: the CSIRO-developed thermal calculation engine that predicts hourly heating and cooling energy requirements for residential buildings. CSIRO maintains the Chenath Engine and licenses the engine to software tool providers.