The Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) hosted its annual conference in Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on 19-20 May, where members gathered to hear the state of the building sustainability industry from noted professionals, academics and government officials.
During a session showcasing the HSA tools trialed in the preliminary stage of ABSA’s Habitat Partners program, Energy Makeovers presented its new online assessment tool, SEED. An abbreviation of ‘Sustainability and Efficiency Evaluation of Dwellings’, the tool is accessed via an internet browser, without need for downloading or installing any software.
Aimed at HSA assessors previously engaged in the federal government’s GreenLoans program, the tool was designed from scratch as a simple, fast, qualitative assessment tool, while avoiding the problems that plagued the GreenLoans tool. A typical assessment takes 30 – 60 minutes, depending on the size of the house and the conversations with the home owner. The SEED report (containing general advice, tailored recommendations and benchmarking of the household’s energy and water use) can be produced immediately following data input into the tool, and can be showed to the home owner while on-site, emailed or printed. To offer ‘one-stop-shop’ convenience to the home owner, the recommendations in the report link to a website detailing various options for implementation of the recommendation, including DIY tips, links to industry associations and finding a quote.
Training for use of the SEED is currently offered free of charge, and professional use only incurs a per-assessment charge of $40, without any upfront license or registration fee.
For more information, email seed@energymakeovers.com.au or call 1300 901 416.