Whole of Home Assessments

The Whole of Home energy rating is now required for new homes under NCC 2022 — alongside your 7-star NatHERS rating. We model your appliances, hot water, lighting and solar to get you compliant, fast.

One assessment. Both ratings. Certifier-ready.

Since the National Construction Code 2022, a 7-star energy rating alone is no longer enough. New homes also need a Whole of Home rating — a score out of 100 that measures the energy used by the equipment inside your home, not just the building shell.

Ace Energy delivers your NatHERS star rating and Whole of Home assessment together in a single report, using NatHERS accredited software. We model your heating, cooling, hot water, lighting, pool equipment and solar — and if your score falls short, we tell you exactly which appliance choices will fix it, before it costs you anything to change.

Whole of Home rating included with every NatHERS report
Practical appliance and solar advice to lift your score
Houses, apartments and multi-dwelling developments
Fast turnaround, Australia-wide
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60/100
Whole of Home
Minimum Score — New Houses

What is a Whole of Home rating?

Think of your home's energy performance in two parts. The NatHERS star rating (out of 10) measures how well the building itself — its orientation, insulation, windows and materials — keeps you comfortable without artificial heating and cooling. The Whole of Home rating (out of 100) measures the other half of the picture: how much energy the equipment inside your home actually uses.

A Whole of Home assessment models the energy use of:

  • Heating and cooling systems (such as reverse-cycle air conditioning)
  • Hot water systems (electric, gas, heat pump or solar hot water)
  • Lighting throughout the home
  • Swimming pool and spa pumps
  • Rooftop solar panels and home batteries, which earn credits against your energy use

A score of 100 represents a home that generates as much energy as its equipment uses. The higher the score, the lower your energy bills — which is why a strong Whole of Home rating is also a selling point, not just a compliance box.

What Whole of Home score do I need?

New Houses

7 stars + 60/100

A minimum 7-star NatHERS thermal rating plus a Whole of Home score of at least 60.

New Apartments

7 stars avg + 50/100

An average of 7 stars across all apartments (none below 6 stars) plus a Whole of Home score of at least 50.

These requirements apply under NCC 2022 energy efficiency provisions. Adoption dates and concessions vary between states and territories — we'll confirm exactly what applies to your project and location when you send us your plans.

How do I improve my Whole of Home score?

Most homes that miss the target can reach it through smarter appliance selections — usually without touching the building design. The changes that move the needle most:

  • Hot water: switching from electric storage or gas to a heat pump or solar hot water system is often the single biggest improvement
  • Heating and cooling: high-efficiency reverse-cycle air conditioning beats gas heating and low-efficiency units
  • Solar PV: rooftop solar earns substantial credits — even a modest system can lift a borderline score past the target
  • Lighting: LED lighting throughout
  • Pool equipment: a multi-speed or efficient pool pump scores far better than a single-speed unit

Because we assess at design stage, you get this advice before appliances are purchased — when changes cost nothing.

Whole of Home vs star rating — what's the difference?

The 7-star NatHERS rating is about the building fabric: how the design performs thermally. The Whole of Home score is about the equipment: how much energy your appliance selections will use, offset by any solar generation. Under NCC 2022 you need both. They're calculated together in NatHERS accredited software, which is why having one accredited assessor handle both — as we do — is the simplest and most cost-effective path to building approval.

Who needs a Whole of Home assessment?

Anyone building a new home, and many substantial renovations, in states that have adopted the NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency provisions. Builders, architects, building designers and owner-builders across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and most of Australia now need a Whole of Home rating as part of their energy compliance documentation — including Form 15 certification in Queensland and alongside BASIX in NSW.

Send us your floor plans, elevations and site plan, and we'll deliver a certifier-ready report covering both your star rating and Whole of Home score — with clear advice if anything needs to change.

Start your assessment