Airwaves Quarterly Newsletter Edition 6

project showcase

Photography: Grace Picot

MacMasters Beach Residence: A Sustainable Sanctuary

As the dream of beachside living continues to captivate the hearts and minds of Australian families, sustainable design principles become all-the-more important in these sensitive coastal areas, where population growth continues to impact.

MacMasters Beach Residence is a creative collaboration between NSW building designer, Suburban Projects, Unfolded (interior design) and builder, Hitec Constructions. Situated on the NSW Central Coast at MacMasters Beach, a coastal haven with coveted surf waves, pristine sands and the tranquil bushland of Bouddi National Park luring locals and visitors to its shores.

The project

Echoing the subtle tones and textures of nearby bushland, MacMasters Beach Residence is the quintessential coastal retreat, promising relaxed family living, both in and out of this light and airy beachside home. Refined aesthetics and uncompromised finishes aside, this coastal sanctuary also stakes a claim for sustainability.

Suburban Projects demonstrate their overarching commitment to sustainable design, maximising ventilation and energy efficiency throughout this sophisticated family home. Passive cooling principles are at play as the sweeping open plan design captures coastal breezes through expansive openings to the outdoors, and living spaces are bathed in abundant natural light. This energy-efficient approach delivers a low-maintenance lifestyle, champions sustainability and frames the stunning bushland setting as the highlight of this home.

Photography: Grace Picot

 

Project features

• • Showcases tranquil bushland surroundings
  • Warmth of timber and natural design aesthetic throughout
  • Indoor-outdoor integration underpinning sustainability
  • Embraces passive cooling principles
  • Open plan living maximizes airflow, use of natural light
  • Expansive windows and doors capture sea breezes
  • Minimal reliance on artificial lighting and climate control

Energy-efficient ceiling fans were selected by home designer, Suburban Projects, to support the passive cooling of the interiors. Enhancing natural airflow, the Eco Style DC Ceiling Fan (White 52″) is both energy efficient and suitably stylish for a sophisticated design palette.

And the Sanctuary DC Ceiling Fan (Black with Natural Blades 70”) uses a cool 5.4 watts (on low speed) and delivers a powerful performance suitable for ventilating larger living spaces with panache.

The last word

Whether you’re building or renovating in the city, or undertaking a construction project in one of Australia’s delightful regions, we can help you sort your energy efficiency challenges. Natural airflow and low energy ventilation options are all part of the puzzle.

 

Can we help?

Our capable ventilation consultants are here to provide the technical advice you need. Arrange a chat with one of our friendly team today.

Get in touch.

an eye on the future

Latest NatHERS Update. Energy-proofing Existing Homes

As households ride the wave of rising energy bills and cost of living pressures, Australians are focused on future-proofing their most important asset, the family home. Whether it’s your own home or a rental property, the future of housing is moving towards all Australian homes – both new and existing – being safer, more comfortable and more energy efficient.

After years of improving the livability of new homes, NatHERS (Australia’s Nationwide Housing Energy Rating Scheme) – which ensures new homes meet set energy efficiency standards to achieve a particular star rating – has turned its attention to the upgrade of existing residential properties.

Flagged for mid-2025, the updated NatHERS framework for existing homes is aimed at achieving:

• • better living conditions
  • lower energy bills, and
  • a nationwide improvement in existing housing stock.

As many existing homes were built long before energy efficiency standards were introduced, this new initiative offers a powerful way to reduce emissions, cut energy costs and provide greater comfort for families in more than 10.8 million existing Australian houses.

Existing homes

HERE’S A QUICK ROUND-UP OF NatHERS CHANGES TO DATE

2024 – 25

NatHERS for Existing Homes adopts a whole-of-home energy assessment approach, which moves beyond assessing homes’ thermal shell to include the performance of fixed appliances, solar systems and energy storage capabilities.

The NatHERS assessment software currently under development reflects this strategy.

Nov 2024 – Call Out for Trial Energy Assessors for Existing Homes

Expressions of interest were sought for potential energy assessors, both individuals with NatHERS (or related) experience, as well as new participants.

Mar 2025 – Confirmation of NatHERS Model for Existing Homes

National Energy Ministers agreed on the model for NatHERS assessment of existing homes, now awaiting final approval by NatHERS officials at time of newsletter publication.

Currently underway

• • Live trials of new NatHERS Existing Homes rating tools with CSIRO

• • Development of software accreditation protocol and calculation method for new tool design

• • Assembly of initial pool of trained and accredited assessors, and accreditation bodies (‘ASPs’ Assessment Support Providers)

 

WHY DOES NatHERS MATTER TO YOU?

Homeowners

In the longer term, your home’s NatHERS rating is likely to influence property valuations, rental returns and home loan approvals. As well as potential access to green loans for targeted home improvements.

Industry professionals

You will be able to offer targeted retrofit solutions based on data-backed assessments, and pre-sale home energy upgrades for existing homes.

And this new scheme extension is just around the corner – with the full roll out of NatHERS for existing homes flagged for mid-2025. So, watch this space!

Photography: Fanco website

HOW TO SCORE A HIGHER NatHERS RATING FOR YOUR EXISTING HOME

If you’d like to stay ahead of the pack, here are five areas of home improvement likely to boost the NatHERS rating for your property.

1) Add Fans

Ceiling fans move air around your home in both summer and winter. They’re extremely energy efficient and help reduce heating and cooling bills. They’re cheap to install and run, and easy to retrofit. Plus, fans enhance indoor air quality for a healthier home.

2) Close Gaps

Close those pesky gaps and seal your home. Effective insulation, double or triple glazing, and snug window coverings all help with thermal comfort and minimising energy use.

3) Go Solar

Install solar panels and energy storage systems to maximise your power supply from the sun, and reduce your need for gas and generated electricity.

4) Freshen Up

Think better air quality for healthful living. Install ducted exhaust fans to remove stale moist air, improve ventilation, and remove damaging condensation from your roof space. You could also add a decentralised HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system to your living areas. They’re super energy-efficient, easy to retrofit, and keep your home at a comfortable temperature year-round.

 

Keen to make your home NatHERS ready?

If you’d like to find out more about improving your existing home’s energy performance, our friendly team of ventilation experts are here to advise on a range of sustainable options.

Get in touch.

a world of design

Photography: Cristian Martinez

Sharing the airwaves love around, each edition, we shine the spotlight on a design project deserving your attention. Projects making big moves. Gaining respect globally. Leading the way in innovation and sustainability.

This month, our team’s pick is Villa Verde Housing, (Constitución, Chile)

Smart Homes. Designed to Grow.

Leaps ahead of its time, Villa Verde Housing is a social housing project with more than a decade of history. Designed and built in 2010 by award-winning Chilean architect, Alejandro Arvaena from architectural practice, Elemental, Villa Verde continues to inspire.

Built as a home ownership incentive for company employees, this cluster of dwellings was designed to grow and adapt to residents’ changing housing needs.

What we love about this project

This development is one of four similar projects from Elemental which delivers a compact building footprint and the potential for individual owners to reimagine their home as their household needs change.

With an initial floor plan of 57 square metres, each home is designed to expand to a maximum of 85 square metres as required.

Photography: Cristian Martinez

Embracing the concept of ‘half a good house’, a starter home is constructed with all the fundamentals, in a row of dwellings, each with 2 party walls adjoining its neighbours and a void between with support beams in place. Residents have the option to infill this space if required, by adding a floor slab and two outer walls – a cost-effective way to ‘grow’ their home (with open-source architectural plans for reference).

Where the project shines

• • Built with all the essential living spaces, quality finishes and fittings
  • Solar hot water, thermal and acoustic insulation
  • Aseismic structures (built to withstand Chile’s earthquakes)
  • Flexibility to expand floor space
  • Resident participation in design (fosters a sense of home ownership and community)

With housing shortages front of mind, Villa Verde Housing provides an inspiring – and, importantly, scalable – model for future housing across the globe. An empowering model which offers adaptability and involves the end user in the design process.

Winter’s here, often bringing quieter months for reflection and planning. If you’re dreaming up your next project and have a vision in mind, our team of ventilation experts are here to help you find the perfect cost-effective, energy-efficient outcomes for your property.

Hit us up!

airwaves is an exciting industry collaboration from Universal Fans X Fanco. A membership publication for Universal Fans industry partners, this unique resource is released quarterly, and showcases real-life projects demonstrating innovative approaches to air movement in residential and commercial spaces, cutting edge technology and inspirational design.

Our team are hard at work behind the scenes collating and curating the best of the best from within Australia and around the globe.

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