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One of Australia’s leading residential developers is taking home energy efficiency to a new level with the release of its Stellar Collection.
All the homes in the range by AVJennings come with a minimum 8-star rating, exceeding the requirements under the new National Construction Code (NCC).
Under the changes to the NCC, expected to be implemented from 2024, all new houses and apartments in Australia must have a minimum energy efficient rating of 7 stars according to the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
ASX-listed AVJennings is building a number of architect-designed homes and townhomes for its Stellar Collection this year in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, all rated between 8 and 9.4 stars under NatHERS, which is close to a perfect energy efficiency rating where no heating or cooling is required.
Key to the energy efficiency of the collection is the adoption of the Pro9 walling system.
The company has been working with Pro9 since 2020 and in 2021 introduced the innovative technology into three homes at its Evergreen community in Sydney.
Pro9 walls are built with galvanised steel frames, R4 rated foam insulation and A1 rated fireproof boards to create an airtight home environment with strong thermal properties, delivering a stable temperature inside the house.
As well, AVJennings has added double-glazed windows and sliding doors to its Stellar Collection, helping to reduce heat conduction by a factor of four, compared to ordinary single glazing.
AVJennings chief executive Phil Kearns said the collection was a key milestone for the business as it moves towards more sustainable and energy efficient housing.
“Home buyers are always looking for ways to reduce their ongoing costs, and having a home that is designed to conserve energy through superior insulation is something that is often overlooked,” he said.
“And it’s not just the financial implications of sustainable building that are often forgotten—it’s the lifestyle benefits too.
“Sustainable, energy efficient homes are generally healthier and safer homes, because of the different materials and building methods used.”
Kearns said homes with better insulation had a more stable room temperature and therefore better air quality and no draughts.
Double-glazed windows and thick glass can reduce noise and is shatter-proof, so it’s safer and reduces the chance of break-ins, he said.
“I believe the future of Australia is energy efficient homes—not only because they make sense in our climate, but because, put simply, it is a much smarter way to build a property that will stand the test of time and provide all the benefits homeowners are looking for,” Kearns said.
“For too long, we’ve taken a retrospective approach to sustainability, with homeowners generally looking for after-market solutions like solar or added insulation to combat high energy bills.
“This can cost thousands of dollars and is unnecessary when we now have better building methods like our Stellar Collection’s Pro9 walling system with built-in insulation, which means we can deliver a stylish, sustainable home that is affordable and doesn’t require a long build timeframe.
“For smarter, greener homes we simply need to change our mindset, and start thinking of sustainable features as an imperative inclusion in all modern homes, instead of an optional afterthought.”
The company has entered a joint venture with Pro9 to establish a manufacturing facility in Australia capable of producing more than 1000 homes per year on the basis of a single shift.
Kearns said he has been investigating opportunities to combine innovation and sustainability in housing for some time.
“The fact that Pro9 can be implemented directly into AVJennings existing product range to elevate the offering is ground-breaking,” he said.
“Since introducing the technology into three homes in our Evergreen community, 67km south-west of the Sydney CBD, in 2021, we can see how much it contributes to a home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
For new home buyer Gail, buying a house with maximum energy efficiency wasn’t an afterthought, it was near the top of her wish list.
Gail sold her 8ha property on the Gold Coast and purchased a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in the AVJennings Riverton community at Jimboomba, about 50km south of the Brisbane CBD.
“When I heard about all the energy efficient features that come with Stellar Collection homes such as the double-glazed windows and Pro9 walls I knew it was right for me because it is important for all of us to do our bit to mitigate the impact of climate change,” she said.
“To me sustainable homes are about building smarter so we can cut down on the amount of power we consume.
“Reduced power bills are the icing on the cake for me with my new home.”
To learn more about the Stellar Collection by AVJennings, go here.
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