Australian climatic zones: climate data used in thermal performance assessment: diurnal temperature range humidity irradiance minimum and maximum 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 materials: constraints on choice of building materials: cost practicality size space thermal performance properties of common building materials: capacitance material thickness resistance thermal bridging 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 assessment and ratings legal requirements uses ways of improving thermal performance of existing residential buildings: draught proofing floor coverings glazing insulation levels landscaping and planting overshadowing passive heating and cooling shade structural changes ventilation window coverings window size, location and type zoning and layout commonwealth, state or 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 work health and safety energy and power: terminology: energy energy efficiency power primary energy source units of measurement uses, cost and environmental impact of energy in residential buildings greenhouse gas emissions: relationship between building design, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through building design NatHERS software tools: assumptions inherent in NatHERS software protocol criteria for selection of particular NatHERS software tools NatHERS and Australian Building Codes Board Protocol for House Energy Rating software properties of materials, such as heat transfer coefficients and U-value, thermal resistance and R-value, reflectivity, absorptance, solar heat gain coefficient and emissivity 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 site inspection procedures 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 |