Author: Shahzuma Warakhwala

Development of a whole-house energy rating tool for new housing

Posted by Shahzuma Warakhwala | Mar 7, 2023 | Technical Paper, Technical Paper Feature

In 2019, Australian energy ministers agreed on the need for the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings (the Trajectory). One of the key aspects in the Trajectory for residential buildings is to expand the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) to offer nationally accredited whole-of-home (WoH) tools to enable compliance requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC).

Sound investment

Posted by Shahzuma Warakhwala | Mar 7, 2023 | Cover feature, Cover story, Features

Canberra Grammar School’s new Snow Concert Hall features a subterranean design boasting an...

Mind the gap

Posted by Shahzuma Warakhwala | Mar 1, 2023 | The Briefing

The federal government has taken concrete action to address gender equity with the Closing the...

Infill with skill

Posted by Shahzuma Warakhwala | Dec 22, 2022 | AIRAH, Industry eye

The new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) at Tufts University is a nifty response to a...

Streamlining electrification in support of decarbonisation

Posted by Shahzuma Warakhwala | Dec 22, 2022 | Technical Paper, Technical Paper Feature

Our industry has increasingly focused on the electrification of building utilities coupled with low-carbon electricity to support the global decarbonization effort. Examples include the University of California’s system-wide ban on the use of on-site fossil fuel combustion in new construction and major renovations, and the City of Seattle’s recently passed measure to prohibit the use of natural gas for space heating in new construction and major replacements of heating systems in commercial buildings, as well as for water heating in new hotels and
large apartment buildings. This column presents an approach to integrating the production of domestic hot water with an electric heat-recovery chiller plant as a streamlined solution.