NatHERS Software Accuracy
ABSA: Be alert, not alarmed by media claims on NatHERS
Message from Alison Carmichael, CEO
Some of our members have been alarmed by a story and editorial in The Australian newspaper on Tuesday July 27 entitled Software glitch undermines green houses. You can see the story for yourself here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/software-glitch-undermines-green-houses/story-fn59niix-1225897215498
We wanted to draw your attention to it and make a couple of comments.
Firstly we must remember that we are in the midst of an election campaign. It is important to remember that this is largely a political debate, rather than a scientific one. The story itself we believe is inaccurate on a number of fronts, motivated by the interests of others and we would dispute its central claims.
The story is clearly an attack on the Governments climate programs generally and as such we havent felt it appropriate to wade in. We have however been alarmed about the impact it may have on the perception of our members assessments.
We are also observing a number of public attacks on the NatHERS system and associated software, in submissions to the NSEE Framework document, in industry forums and in policy forums. These attacks are largely about the accuracy of the tool and its usefulness in reducing energy use and therefore GHG.
Again - we strongly call into question the veracity of these claims but as always we believe that constant improvements and refinements must be part of any tool that our assessors use.
We believe that tools based on the AccuRate engine are good tools, and that there is scope to further develop these tools to cover the full spectrum of sustainability indicators, not just energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
ABSA has, and will continue to, publicly advocate for the benefits and usefulness of these tools but we urge you to not be too alarmed by a one off story in The Australian in the midst of an election where Government competence and responses to climate change are front and centre.
Sustainable House Day 2010 - Marketing Opportunity
ABSA has organised an exclusive opportunity for all our members to promote their services via Sustainable House Day Sunday 12th September.
Want to know more? Email us your Name, Contact number & email, Geographic availability, Type of assessor and number to shd@absa.net.au This is a limited offer so register your interest now!
ABSA's Continuing Professional Development Program
ABSA's Continuing Professional Development Program [CPD] aims to ensure that the competence assessors acquire in their initial foundation training remains current,
and that new information and skills are acquired and translated into practice.
View details of ABSA Continuing Professional Development Program
ABSA response to Green Start Announcement
The Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) has welcomed foreshadowed changes to
the Green Loans program and the linking of it to the future Green Start program.
View ABSA response to Senator Wong's announcement
Training in the Energy Efficiency Changes to BCA 2010 Section J
This training is designed to take participants through changes to the BCA 2010 Section J -
View details and application forms here
ABSA May Member Meetings Presentations
View the CEO's presentation and the slides from the CPD workshops delivered to Members at the May Member Meetings.
Download CEO Allison Carmichael's presentation
Download the slides for the Windows Energy Rating CPD Presentation
Download the slides for the Energy Efficient Lighting CPD Presentation
Request for Expression of Interest
ABSA is seeking expressions of interest from Assessors who would like to become involved in presenting training on behalf of ABSA.
Download Request for Expression of Interest
Submission to Green Loans Senate Inquiry
ABSA believes that the intentions behind, and the objectives of, the Green Loans Program were sound and it is important to recognise that it has, at some level, been a victim of its own success.
The public demand for a program of this nature is clearly evident by the huge public interest and demand in having an assessment conducted and of becoming an assessor.
ABSA believes that the apparent lack of project management has led to many of our members facing extreme and uncertain circumstances with profound and detrimental impacts on many individuals and small businesses.
Many of the issues that were evident at the commencement of the program (design and implementation) remain unresolved. A survey of ABSA members conducted in the first week of April 2010 indicates significant and unresolved issues.Please Click on the link Below to download a copy of the ABSA Submission to Green Loans Senate Inquiry.
Download ABSA Submission to Green Loans Senate Inquiry
ABSA Board Updates
Please Click on the link Below to download a copy of the latest ABSABoard Updates.
Download ABSA Board Update: February 2010
ABSA Newsletters
Please Click on the link below to download a copy of the latest ABSANewsletter.
Download ABSA Newsletter: September 2009
Download ABSA Newsletter: December 2008
Download ABSA Newsletter: November 2008
HERS Assessor Briefing
As part of the ABSA AGM on the 27th of November 2009 a HERS Briefing was in Sydney. Presentations were made by Alison Carmichael (ABSA CEO), Wayne Floyd (ABSA President), Tony Isaacs (ABSA Business Development Manager) and Paul Nagle (DEWHA) respectively. This briefing covered aspects of both recent developments and future changes that should be of interest for HERS Assessors.
Please Click on the links below to download a copy of the speaker PowerPoint Presentations and Full Sound Recordings:
*Alison Carmichael welcomed Assessors and Introduced Speakers.
Download Presentation by Alison Carmichael (150 KB)
Download Audio Recording (384 KB)
*Tony Isaacs presented recent developments and projects carried out by ABSA that will benefit the Assessor
Download Presentation by Tony Isaacs (702 KB)
Download Audio Recording (7415 KB)
* Wayne Floyd presented ABSA Business Developments and held an open assessor discussion
Download Audio Recording (5132 KB) [No PowerPoint used]
*Paul Nagle (DEWHA) presented information on NatHERS Scheme related developments and Mandatory Disclosure
Download Presentation by Paul Nagle (373 KB)
Download Audio Recording (4635 KB)
Download Audio Recording of Question and Answers (5562 KB)
ABSA Annual General Meeting 2009
Members are advised that the Annual General Meeting of the Association of
Building Sustainability Assessors Limited was held on Friday 27 November
2009 at Novotel Sydney, Brighton Beach. We would like to thank those members who attended.
For those of you that could not attend we will be posting information regarding the AGM proceedings shortly
Download ABSA New Constitution Nov 2009
Download ABSA Annual Report 2009
ABSA Response to BCA 2010 proposed Energy Efficiency Provisions
In response to the
proposed 2010 BCA Energy Efficiency provisions ABSA
made the following submission to the ABCB (August 2009).
Download ABSA Response to BCA
2010 Energy Provision ammendments
In response to the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for the
2010 BCA Energy Efficiency provisions ABSA
made a significant submission to the ABCB calling for suitable Accreditation
standards for all Assessors carrying out simulation ratings (October 2009).
Download ABSA Response to BCA 2010
Energy Provisions Regulatory Impact Statement
ABCB: Conference 2009
As part of the ABSA Efficiency workshops presentations were delivered on Wednesday the 23rd September 2009 by Wayne Floyd, Tony Isaacs and Michael Plunket respectively.
Please Click on the links below to download a copy of the speaker notes:
* Wayne Floyd delivered the following presentation. It provides a case study demonstrating how to achieve 5, 6 and 7 stars easily and affordably on any orientation for one house in Tullamarine,Victoria:
Download Presentation by Wayne Floyd
*Tony Isaacs presents new techniques for improving ratings in 2nd Generation NatHERS tools:
Download Presentation by Tony Isaacs.pdf
*Michael Plunkett presents the role of ABSA in the rapidly emerging field of Building Sustainability:
Download Presentation by Michael Plunkett.pdf