BASIX recognises the following measures when assessing the energy of central systems and common areas in multi-dwelling developments:
- Building management systems
- Active power factor correction
- Common clothes drying lines
- Common clothes dryers
- Common clothes washers
Building Management Systems
Note: Applies to multi-dwelling developments only
A Building Management System (BMS) is a system designed to control, monitor and optimise various building services, including lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, swimming pool pumps and water use in cooling towers.
Optimising these services can result in energy savings. Most systems are computer-controlled and control services by either time (when is the service turned on / off) or other parameters such as temperature or light level.
Active Power Factor Correction
Active power factor correction means the correction of the power factor of an electrical system by equipment to reduce power losses in the supply of electricity to that system.
The power factor of an AC power system means the ratio of "real" power (measured in KW) to "apparent" power (measured in VA).
Power factor is always between 0 and 1. Inductive loads such as transformers and motors, or capacitative loads can reduce power factor. Low power factor systems (0.75 and less) incur greater losses.
Active power factor correction will minimise transmission line losses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With most electricity contracts, it will also reduce the monthly demand charge paid.
Active power factor correction is only relevant for mid and high-rise buildings with large inductive loads and therefore low power factor.
Common Clothes Drying Lines
Clothes drying lines can help reduce household energy use by decreasing reliance on clothes dryers. BASIX recognises different types of clothes drying lines in both houses and multi-dwelling developments, which can contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions. units.
The National Construction Code (NCC) requires residential flat buildings to have clothes lines or space for a clothes dryer (see NCC Volume 1: Part F4D2 - Facilities in residential buildings).
Indoor or sheltered clothes drying line
- An indoor clothes drying line must be a permanently fixed installation and not heated by a dedicated gas or electric heater. If waste heat from another appliance is used, an alternative assessment is required to claim any greenhouse gas emission savings.
- A sheltered clothes drying line is a fixed (permanent) outdoor clothes line that is protected from the rain, for example on a covered balcony or under a verandah.
Examples of indoor or sheltered clothes drying lines include screened lines on balconies or an extendable line over a bath.
Private outdoor unsheltered clothes drying line
A private outdoor unsheltered clothes drying line is an outdoor clothes line that receives at least two hours of sunlight during winter and is not shared with other dwellings.
Common clothes drying line (multi-dwelling developments only)
BASIX includes the option of installing a common area clothes drying line in multi-dwelling developments.
Common Clothes Washers and Clothes Dryers
Note: Applies to multi-dwelling developments only.
If you are installing a common area laundry with a shared clothes washing machine and/or a shared clothes dryer, nominate the energy rating (in stars) of all appliances.
For a clothes washer, you will also need to enter the water efficiency rating in the Water section. Higher water efficiency also improves your energy score through reduced hot water consumption.