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Basix - NSW
September 2005
BASIX, the NSW Building Sustainability Index
What is BASIX?
The NSW Government’s Building Sustainability Index, BASIX, is now required for all new single residential dwellings in New South Wales. BASIX will apply to all new multi-unit developments from 1 October 2005 and to alterations and additions across the state from 1 July 2006.
The first of its kind worldwide, BASIX is a web-based planning tool that requires new residential developments to reduce water consumption by up to 40% and energy by 25%, (increasing to 40% in 2006) compared with the average home.
BASIX is flexible, allowing new home builders to determine how they will meet water- and energy-saving targets from a range of options across three key areas, water, energy and thermal comfort. Anyone building a new home, usually the project’s architect or builder, can complete the BASIX assessment. A paid assessor is not necessary. Assistance is also available during business hours through the free BASIX helpline on 1300-650-908 along with help notes and an easy-to-use tutorial on the BASIX website.
To obtain a BASIX assessment, the homebuilder (or its architect or builder) goes to the BASIX web site – http://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/-- registers with a username and password and follows the prompts to provide information about the proposed development. This includes site location, dwelling size, floor area, landscaped area and services. Once the data is entered, the BASIX tool will calculate a score and compare the project to the average home of comparable size and location. Each proposal is scored according to its potential to consume less mains water and energy than the average. Once a project has met the BASIX water and energy targets, a Certificate can be printed and submitted with other development application information required by Council. All of a project’s BASIX commitments must be clearly shown on the project plans when submitted and these will be checked by Council during site inspections.
What does BASIX encourage?
Homes with some or all of the following features score well with BASIX:
- Good solar orientation
- Cross ventilation
- Insulation
- External shading
- Performance glazing for large glazed areas and/or poorly oriented areas
- Rainwater tanks, plumbed to toilet, garden and/or laundry*
- Efficient (3A-5A) showerheads, toilets, tap fittings
- Indigenous garden species
- Grey water system where appropriate
- Solar, heat pump or high efficiency gas hot water systems
- Ceiling fans, evaporative coolers, fixed flue gas heating or high efficiency air conditioning
- Energy efficient lighting
- Efficient pool heating and pumps
- Alternative energy systems such as photovoltaics.
*BASIX for regional NSW recognises rainwater use for drinking or all household uses.
What does BASIX mean for homeowners?
For homeowners, BASIX not only means a better designed home but substantial savings as well, with expected water and electricity bill reductions of between $300 and $600 a year, or $5,000 over ten years.
By setting one environmental standard across all NSW Council areas, BASIX has simplified the development applications process. And, as a free, web-based design tool, BASIX allows builders and architects to use the tool during the design phase to assist in finding the most cost-effective and suitable approach to achieve water and energy target savings for each project.
BASIX has been in effect for all new homes in Sydney since 1 July 2004 with significant sustainability improvements already under way. Government monitoring of a range of BASIX-compliant homes showed that all included rainwater tanks, average size of 4,000 litres, all opted for efficient shower heads and tap fixtures, one in four opted for solar hot water systems and over 40% included performance glass and double glazing, reducing heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Why BASIX?
The implementation of BASIX is a direct result of the extreme environmental challenges facing Sydney and NSW, particularly severe drought. Over a ten-year period, BASIX is expected to save an estimated 287 billion litres of water, some 15 percent of the Warragamba Dam, and 9.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions or the equivalent of taking 2.6 million cars permanently off the road.
By choosing a flexible, rather than prescriptive, regulatory approach, BASIX allows home-builders to determine how they will best meet water and energy targets in the most cost-effective manner.
Why is BASIX web-based?
As a web-based tool, BASIX:
- Is free to use and accessible 24-hours a day
- Takes between one and two hours to complete
- Requires no disk or software installation
- Can perform sophisticated calculations quickly
- Provides on-line help such as term definitions and tutorials as well as a free helpline during business hours
- Offers an E-newsletter for regular updates
- Can be updated quickly and respond to regulation changes with minimal cost.
What next?
BASIX implementation dates are as follows:
Sydney 1 July 2004 New single dwellings and dual occupancies
Regional NSW 1 July 2005 New single dwellings and dual occupancies
All of NSW 1 Oct 2005 New multi-unit developments
All of NSW 1 July 2006 All alterations and additions
All of NSW 1 July 2006 BASIX energy target increases from 25% to 40%.
Where can I get BASIX information?
For more information, see the BASIX website at http://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/ or contact the toll-free BASIX helpline on 1300 650 908.
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