Assessment against requirements

Based on the information you provide about the design of the development; the BASIX Tool calculates:

• a water score and an energy score—higher is better, and
• for thermal comfort performance, a heating load and a cooling load—lower is better.

The water and energy scores represent the estimated water and energy consumption of the development compared to the consumption of a similar ‘benchmark’ dwelling prior to the introduction of the BASIX requirements in 2004. For example, if a proposed house has a water score of 40%, it means the BASIX Tool has estimated it will use 40% less water than a similar benchmark house.

For thermal performance, a high heating load indicates it will have relatively high heating costs in winter to keep the home warm. Similarly, a high cooling load indicates it will have relatively high cooling costs in summer to keep the home cool.

The BASIX standards

The BASIX standards are prescribed in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Sustainable Buildings) 2022 (Sustainable Buildings SEPP). Schedule 1 of the Sustainable Buildings SEPP prescribes the BASIX standards for new dwellings, which consist of:

• a water use standard, which depends on the location.
• an energy use standard, which depends on the location and the type of development (different standards apply to houses, and low, medium and high rise apartment buildings).
• a thermal performance standard, comprising a maximum heating load, a maximum cooling load cap, and a maximum heating plus cooling load, which depend on the location and the type of development (different standards apply to houses and apartment buildings).

To see the energy use and thermal performance standards that applies to your BASIX project, refer to the Energy standards and thermal loads calculator, and for the water use standards, refer to the Water use standards maps. 

The BASIX standards were informed by a cost-benefit analysis.

Meeting the BASIX standards

To meet the BASIX standards, a development must:

• have a water score that meets or exceeds the water use standard
• have an energy score that meets or exceeds the energy use standard, and
• meet the thermal performance standards.