Improving the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)

The climate data used for many non alpine areas north of the divide in Victoria is Ballarat weather data which is very misleading and provides distorted results. It means that the energy rating system is irrelevant as a design tool and is misleading to clients, designers and users of NATHERS that are not aware of this. The Castlemaine and Bendigo region receive many mote sunlight hours over winter than Ballarat and often have significantly higher daytime temperatures across summer and winter. In the Castlemaine and Bendigo region, Bendigo weather data would be much more relevant. A simple change that would make the use of NATHERS relevant again and a useful design tool.