House of Stars FAQ

Energy efficiency requirements for residential buildings were introduced in 2003 under the Building Code of Australia (BCA) housing Provisions — now known as the National Construction Code (NCC).

From 2003 onwards, all new homes and certain renovations across Queensland have been required to meet minimum energy performance standards. These requirements have continued to evolve through updates to the NCC, and in Queensland, they are also supported by the Queensland Development Code (QDC) — specifically MP 4.1, which adds state-specific provisions.

If your home was built before 2003, it was not subject to mandatory energy efficiency regulations at the time of construction.

Unsure what applies to your home or renovation? Give Helen a call on 0421 166 516 — we’ll help you figure it out quickly and clearly.

To understand what applies to your specific project, it’s important to know how the three key frameworks work together:

• Building Act 1975 (QLD): Governs how building approvals are assessed and issued across the state.
• Queensland Development Code (QDC): Introduces Queensland-specific provisions — including energy efficiency requirements like MP 4.1.
• National Construction Code (NCC): Sets the minimum national standards for safety, health, amenity, and energy performance.

Together, these determine what’s legally required for your project to be certified, approved, and built to code in Queensland.

But here’s the catch: to accurately know what applies to your renovation or extension, you need to understand how all three interact — and how they’re interpreted by your building certifier.

At House of Stars, we specialise in this space. We intentionally work alongside building certifiers to assist with interpretation and help ensure the code is applied consistently and fairly across the sector — saving time, avoiding confusion, and keeping projects on track.

Yes — a Form 15 – Certificate of Compliance for Building Design or Specification will be issued with your energy report. This form confirms that the energy efficiency assessment has been completed by a qualified and accredited professional, and that the design complies with the relevant building codes and standards.

At House of Stars, we include the Form 15 along with your energy report and the referenced version of your plan files, so everything is ready to go for your building certifier— we’ll make sure you have exactly what’s required for approval.

The simplest way is to check with your building certifier — they’re responsible for deciding which version of the energy code applies to your project.

In Queensland, the applicable code can depend on:

• Whether you’re building a new home or doing an alteration or addition
• The design stage your project is currently in
• Whether your project qualifies under transitional arrangements
• How your certifier interprets the Building Act 1975

At House of Stars, we work directly with certifiers across Queensland to help confirm what applies to your project.

Need help figuring it out? Call Helen on 0421 166 516 — we’ll help you get it right before you lock in your plans.

These three frameworks work together to guide how homes are built, extended, or renovated in Queensland — and what’s required for building approval:

• Building Act 1975 (QLD):
  This is the state legislation that sets out how building approvals must be assessed and issued in Queensland.
• Queensland Development Code (QDC):
  These are state-specific provisions that sit alongside the NCC. The QDC includes additional rules that apply only in Queensland — like MP 4.1, which covers energy efficiency.
• National Construction Code (NCC):
  This is Australia’s national framework for minimum building standards — including safety, health, amenity, and energy performance.

Together, they determine what your home must comply with — and how your energy report is prepared.

At House of Stars, we specialise in understanding how these codes interact — and we work alongside building certifiers to ensure your project is compliant without unnecessary complexity.

Not sure how these apply to your build? Email House of Stars your plans — we’ll help you cut through the red tape and get on with your project.

Yes, in most cases you will.
When you convert a garage into a habitable room (like a bedroom or living room), it changes the classification from a non-habitable Class 10a to a habitable Class 1a space. This triggers the need for building approval — and with that, an energy efficiency assessment is usually required.
However, the energy code that applies depends on how your building certifier interprets the legislation. Garage conversions are often assessed under the earlier energy provisions, not the current energy compliance code — but this is at the certifier’s discretion.

Before we start your report, we’ll check which code your certifier is applying — so we can ensure your conversion meets compliance without unnecessary costs or overdesign.

Not necessarily. A 7-star rating is just one of several valid pathways to achieve energy compliance in Queensland.

The applicable compliance method — whether it’s NatHERS, Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS), or another allowable option — is determined by your building certifier, based on their professional judgment and interpretation of the Building Act 1975.

What matters most is that your extension meets the required energy standards under Queensland legislation — not that it achieves 7 stars specifically.

Need clarity before you get started?
Give Helen a call on 0421 166 516 or email helen@houseofstars.com.au — we’ll help you understand your options and avoid unnecessary costs.

It can, especially if it’s left too late.

Your energy report is a required part of your building application. If it’s not ready, or if it doesn’t meet the correct compliance pathway, it can hold up certification and delay your approval.
Delays can also happen if:

• The energy report doesn’t match the final plans
• The glazing or insulation specs don’t meet code
• Your project is assessed under the current energy code and needs redesign to comply

To keep things moving, the best approach is to get your energy report done during the design stage, and updated at final. That way, you (and your certifier) know exactly what’s required before it goes in for approval.

Want to avoid hold-ups? Call Helen on 0421 166 516 — we’ll help you stay ahead of the game and keep your project on track.

Yes, and here’s why.

Having your energy report completed before quoting gives your builder a clear understanding of what’s required to meet compliance, especially under the current energy code. This includes glazing, insulation, roof and wall construction, and appliance selections — all of which can have a significant impact on build costs.

It protects both you and your builder.
We’ve seen projects that include both alterations and additions, as well as new homes, where applying the current energy code (compared to the previous provisions) has increased build costs by $20,000 to $70,000.
Without the energy report:

• Your builder may underquote
• You may face cost blowouts
• You could be forced to refinance or seek additional approvals
• Or worse — your project could become financially unviable

Getting your energy report done early is the smartest way to stay on budget and avoid surprises. If your project qualifies under transitional or previous code arrangements, the risk is lower, and it may be fine to leave energy reporting until later in the process.

Not sure which code applies to your project? Give Helen a call on 0421 166 516 — we’ll help you get it sorted from the start.

They measure different things, and both are now required for new homes in Queensland under

NCC 2022 and QDC MP 4.1 (v1.1.5).(non star) rating Elemental Provisions
⭐ Star Rating (NatHERS)
This shows how well your home maintains comfort using natural heating and cooling, without relying on air conditioning.
It gives a score from 0 to 10 stars, and 7 stars is now the minimum for new homes.
Alternatively, for some designs, non-star-rated Elemental Provisions (Deemed-to-Satisfy) can be used as a valid compliance pathway instead of a 7-star rating.
🏡 Whole-of-Home Assessment (WoH)
This looks at how much energy your home will use, based on key systems like:

• Heating and cooling
• Hot water
• Lighting
• Cooking appliances
• Pool/spa equipment
• Solar panels or batteries (if included)

There are two assessment tools:

• NatHERS Whole-of-Home tool – provides a score out of 100
• NCC Whole-of-Home Calculator – confirms compliance, no score given

Purpose:
To give a complete view of your home’s energy use and ensure it meets NCC 2022 requirements. It helps balance appliance choices and solar to achieve compliance.
Whole-of-Home is now a mandatory part of energy compliance for new homes in Queensland.

Yes, they can give you a quote — but it may not reflect what’s actually required for energy compliance.

Without an energy report, the supplier won’t know the specific U-values and SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) targets your windows and doors need to meet under the current energy code. That means:

• The quoted products may not comply, or
• They may over-specify, increasing your costs unnecessarily

To avoid costly mistakes, it’s best to have your energy report completed first. That way, your glazing supplier can quote on the exact specs needed — saving time, money, and ensuring compliance from the start.

Need help getting your report sorted? Give Helen a call on 0421 166 516 — we’ll make sure you’re on the right track before you order anything.

If you make changes to your plans after the energy report is complete, especially to glazing, insulation, layout, or roof design, the report will need to be updated or reissued.

Because the plan files are embedded within the report, any update will also include the latest version of your plans along with a revised Form 15, which is required for building approval.

At House of Stars, we’ll review the changes and confirm the fee for the revision. We’ll also work directly with your certifier to make sure everything remains compliant and up to date.

Made a change? Call Helen on tel: — we’ll help you update your energy report smoothly and avoid unnecessary delays.