Ecologically Sustainable Development
Australia's National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development defines ecologically sustainable development as: 'using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased'.
An ESD report consists of multiple sustainability criteria and a variation of online and offline tools for certification processes.
Planning Schemes of certain local councils require a Waster Sensitive Urban Design to show that your development will achieve best practice water quality objectives for reduction in total suspended solids, total phosphorus and total nitrogen loads as set out in the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines (Stormwater Committee, 1999).
By using the Stormwater Treatment Objective –Relative Measure (STORM) Tool, we can determine the amount of WSUD treatment measures such as rainwater tanks, ponds, wetlands, rain gardens, infiltration systems, buffers and swales, required by your site to meet these water quality objectives.
A Sustainable Design Assessment is required with most permit applications as a requirement under local council planning schemes. If you are applying for a planning permit to construct a new building or to extend an existing building, your planning application will be assessed in relation to environmentally sustainable design as part of the permit application process (SDAPP).
The assessment will review how your development will respond to the following sustainable categories:
Thermal modelling using an accredited NatHERS software, BESS and STORM are all incorporated into a SDA, and utilises the information and standards set out from those assessments.
A sustainability management plan is a more detailed version of an SDA. It sets out the sustainable design features for larger scale, more complex developments and contains more information related to treatment measures and goals. Check with the applicable local council to determine whether your development requires a SDA or SMP.
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Energy Lab provides 6 star energy efficiency reports for new homes, Deemed to Satisfy reports for renovations and extensions and Section J Assessment for commercial projects. Also covered are STEPS and ESD reports.
These terms and conditions are binding on both parties. By uploading your plans, you have submitted a formal request for an energy assessment and therefore have entered into a contract with us and accept these terms and conditions.
Energy Lab's quotation is valid for 60 days from on the date plans are submitted, or a formal quotation is completed. Prices may change due to any amendment made on the plans and therefore requiring additional work that was not included in the original quotation. All quoted prices include GST.
1.1 You must provide us with all necessary information we require, including but not limited to floor construction, materials, window sizes and types, site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and specification. We will not be responsible for any deficiencies in information given to us by you, your builder or architect and you accept full responsibility for the accuracy of information provided. We will make every effort to contact you should these details not be provided.
2.2 You agree to indemnify us against any claims and all damages, liabilities, costs including legal fees directly or indirectly arising from any information supplied by you or from any act or thing done on your instructions or with your approval.
3.1 Pricing displayed in the drop down menu of the website is fully inclusive of preliminary reporting, consultation and recommendations to BCA required levels, final implementation and fully endorsed documents for permit applications. Additional consultation report fees are charged when a new report is required, should significant changes be made to the design.
3.2 Reports are available electronically online, however if you require printed sets, a fee of $14.95 will be charged to cover administration.
3.3 Section J Reports exclude J5, therefore if required this is to be completed by a mechanical engineer.
It is recommended that you make payment, via credit card, upon uploading your plans and therefore being entitled to a 5% discount on our fees. However, a 14 day invoice is also available at the quoted prices. Upon submission of your plans, you are required to select a type of report and subsequent price. Should your selection be in error, we will contact you to discuss price discrepancies prior to work commencement.
Payment methods accepted are: Credit Card, Direct Deposit or Cheque.
If you have paid in advance and cancel your order prior to work having commenced you will receive a refund in full. If you cancel your order once work has commenced, you will be invoiced for all works carried out prior to the time of cancellation.
FirstRate5 Energy Reports are normally completed within 24 hours of receipt. BCA Reports (Deemed to Satisfy, Section J) are completed normally within 3 days. If your project complies your report will be uploaded within a further 24 hours. Projects that require further consultation will be discussed and finalised with you directly from completion.
If we have previously rated a particular project and significant changes are made a new assessment may be required. If minor amendments are made an administration fee ranging from $25-$55 will be applied by Energy Lab.
8.1 Copyright
Energy Lab will respect the copyright of all designs submitted through the Energy Lab portal and will not release any design or report to any third party, unless authorised by the intended recipient.
8.2 Security of your payment details
Protecting your personal and order information is a priority at Energy Lab. We want you to be able to order from www.energylab.com.au with total confidence. Any personal information that you submit will be protected by our secure server. Energy Lab uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to protect your online order information. SSL encrypts all information including your credit card and all personal information passed from you to Energy Lab. This encryption provides you with security and peace of mind when your browser and local network supports the use of encrypted data transmissions.
8.3 Security of your personal details
This is a secure area that ensures your order & payment details are encrypted by a 128 bit encryption and remain secure over the internet. We accept Visa and MasterCard but do accept cash, cheque, and money order via invoice selection if available to you. When we receive your order we will send you a confirmation email with your order number and order details attached. If there are any problems with your order please email us at admin@energylab.com.au or contact us on 1300 033 343.
8.4 Security of your contact details
Energy Lab will not provide any personal details to any third party. You will only receive marketing information from Energy Lab if you are subscribed to our e-newsletter or are on our usual marketing list/s.
9.1 Energy Lab guarantees that your report will meet Building Permit requirements and thus will provide endorsed documents to this fact.
9.2 Any amendments made after the reports are issued by Energy Lab is not covered by this guarantee.
9.3 If the design has not been constructed in accordance with our recommendations the Energy Report becomes null and void.
All prices are expressed as inclusive of GST and included in all quotations, administration fees, consultation fees and report fees.
If any part of these terms and conditions become invalid, that part will be severed from these terms and conditions. This will not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these terms and conditions.
It is agreed that if a dispute arises every effort shall be made to resolve the dispute between both parties. If this is not possible, the matter can be referred to mediation or a Court of Law.
If you have any queries regarding our terms and conditions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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