Nowra Government Office Building - Design Review

Date: 2001 - 2002
Client: Stevens Group

The proposed Government Office Building to be constructed at Nowra on the South Coast of New South Wales is a conventional, medium-sized building, with a requirement to perform at the 5 star level under the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating scheme.  In 2001, Exergy was engaged by project managers the Stevens Group to conduct an independent energy review of the proposed development.

The aim of Exergy’s review was to predict the performance of the building under the Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme and to identify opportunities for improving the energy services and efficiency of the building.  The review included an examination of mechanical, architectural and electrical services specifications, as well as a building simulation.  All of Exergy’s building simulations are developed using the DOE-2 software package, which is internationally recognised as a leading package for building simulation and is accredited with the BESTEST validation program.

Exergy’s review identified and prioritised a number of design improvements and performance risks.  Exergy found significant opportunities for improvement in air conditioning control, specification and control of the chiller and the boiler, and lighting uniformity and control.  Exergy’s recommendations will produce considerable energy and capital cost savings. 

The review also identified constraints imposed in the building brief that conflict with the requirement for energy efficiency, and will prevent the building from performing at the five star level.  Exergy played an advisory role in assisting the Stevens Group to negotiate a more realistic energy performance target for the building.