Blog Posts

Why design matters more than devices When we talk about energy efficiency, it’s easy to picture solar panels, double glazing, or the latest smart home system. But these are just add-ons. Real efficiency starts long before a single appliance is installed. It starts with design. A well-designed home works with  the environment, not against it. It captures warmth in winter, stays naturally cool in summer, and balances light, ventilation, and insulation so every space feels calm

What the stars actually mean... When you see a NatHERS star rating on a home, it’s not just a badge of compliance. It’s a snapshot of how comfortable, efficient, and resilient that home will be across the seasons. A 1 Star  home struggles. It’s hot in summer, freezing in winter, and expensive to run. A 3–4 Star  home performs a little better but still leaks energy through poor insulation, orientation, or glazing. A 6 Star  home is almost there, but the home wont be comforta

When it comes to BASIX compliance in NSW, one of the most common misconceptions we hear is: “If I’ve got solar panels, I’ll be fine.” Unfortunately, that’s not quite true. Solar panels are a great investment for reducing ongoing energy costs — but under BASIX, they sit in a completely different category to your thermal performance. Let’s break it down. The three parts of BASIX BASIX (the Building Sustainability Index) assesses a home’s sustainability across three key areas: 1

Every business starts with a reason, a problem to solve, a moment of clarity, or a vision for something better.For me, it began with a love for design, a curiosity for how buildings perform, and a belief that sustainability should be practical, not complicated. From Design to Compliance Straight out of school, I stepped into the world of architecture and construction administration, working for an architect in Sydney before returning home to Maitland.Those early years taught

When you’re ready to finalise your BASIX or Whole of Home assessment, it can feel frustrating to hear that your assessor still needs a few more details on your plans. Ceiling fans, insulation types, window glazing, appliance selections — it can seem like overkill.But there’s a good reason for it. It’s not about being difficult, it’s about accreditation Accredited assessors operate under strict compliance frameworks. That means every certificate we issue, whether it’s BASIX, N

Getting your design approval ready can feel like a big milestone. The plans are polished, the design is set, and you’re ready to move forward. But before you hit submit, there’s one crucial question to ask: are you really DA-ready? At Studio Terra, we review hundreds of projects each year, and we see the same issues come up time and time again. Small oversights at the early design stage can cause unnecessary redesigns, missed BASIX targets, and approval delays that could have

When your project isn’t a standard home Not every project fits neatly into the “typical residential” category. SDA housing, boarding houses, residential flat buildings, or small office developments all fall into a different space when it comes to compliance. And that often raises the same question: Do we need a BASIX certificate, or a Section J report? It’s a common point of confusion — especially for projects that sit somewhere between residential and commercial. The answer

What a High Star Rating Really Means When a home achieves a strong NatHERS star rating, it’s doing more than ticking a compliance box. It’s proof that the building has been designed to stay naturally comfortable year-round, using less energy to heat and cool. Star ratings measure thermal performance. The higher the rating, the better the home’s ability to maintain stable indoor temperatures with minimal energy use. In other words, it’s a clear indicator of efficiency, comfort

When it comes to energy compliance, the focus has always been on the building itself. Insulation, glazing, orientation and ventilation...

When it comes to energy compliance, not all tools are created equal.Earlier this week, I had a chat with an architect that really...

A beginning I didn’t plan for Ten years ago, I was working in admin at a certification company in Maitland. I wasn’t aiming to start a...

Building a home or starting a development in New South Wales comes with its fair share of paperwork, but few documents are as important...

When it comes to BASIX and NatHERS assessments for new homes, most people assume the big spaces like open-plan living areas, bedrooms, or...

Running a business means your time is always in demand. Between clients, admin, compliance, and project delivery, it can feel like there...

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