Consulting Services for Better Buildings
Our ESD – Environmentally Sustainable Design – Services helps make your building healthier, comfortable and more efficient.
We look at things like natural light, airflow, insulation, energy and water use, and how materials impact the building its systems performance.
Our goal is to help you make smart, cost effective choices that improve your comfort and well being, reduce running costs, and create a home that lasts without sacrificing good design.
SErvice 1
Property Efficiency & Sustainability Appraisals and
Environmentally Sustainable Design Advice
We come around and inspect your home – or if you prefer we will rely on the plans and photos you supply – and we will identify the key drivers for your building performance (e.g. insulation levels, quality of windows).
We will then prepare a series of suggestions for improvement ranked based on their expected effectiveness and cost and discuss these with you.
service 2
Energy Modelling & Certification
We use software tools to predict the performance of your building.
We test with the software scenarios and improvements and provide you with an accurate prediction about their effectiveness.
As Accredited NatHERS Assessors we can also provide you with an official NatHERS Certificate attesting the performance level for your project.
If we are working with you on a Passivhaus, as Certified Passivhaus Designers we can guide you through the certification process liaising with a Third Party Certifier as required by the standard.
What we can help you achieve
At NININ Studio we use science-backed tools to assess and improve the comfort and performance of your building
Passivhaus
Our gold standard for performance
Passivhaus is the world’s most rigorous energy-efficiency standard and our preferred tool to assess and improve the building performance.
At NININ Studio use the PHPP (Passivhaus Planning Package) to test, tweak, and verify that the buildings will be comfortable, efficient, and resilient.
NatHERS & BASIX
Thoughtful energy performance & compliance
NatHERS and BASIX are essential parts of residential approvals in Australia.
While many treat them as a checkbox, these tools are grounded in good building science.
At NININ Studio we see them as an opportunity to assess and improve buildings not only to meet standards.
Passivhaus
NatHERS & BASIX
Guarantees the performance designed is delivered
Relies only on the builder to deliver the targeted performance
key milestones of the design and construction process to ensure true integration between design and performance
improvements, not for compliance only
FAQ’s
Can you provide more information about Passivhaus?
Passivhaus is an international building standard focused on creating comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient buildings. It’s best known for drastically reducing the need for heating and cooling through smart design and construction.
The standard is built around five key principles: excellent insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows, balanced ventilation with heat recovery, and the avoidance of thermal bridges (areas where heat can easily escape). These measures work together to keep indoor temperatures stable and air quality high, while lowering energy use.
For more detailed information, please visit the Australian Passivhaus Association website or get in touch with us.
What are the benefits of living in a Passivhaus?
Passivhaus homes offer a high standard of comfort and indoor air quality.
They are built to be well insulated and free of thermal bridges, airtight but also well ventilated. This means they stay warm in winter and cool in summer with minimal temperature swings.
Thanks to the filtered ventilation system and careful construction, they are free from mould, condensation, and unwanted pests. The consistent airflow also helps reduce dust, allergens, and humidity, making them healthier to live in.
Many people find that once they’ve lived in a Passivhaus, they don’t want to go back: the comfort and quietness are hard to beat.
Can you provide more information about NatHERS & BASIX?
NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a government system that rates the thermal performance of homes. It estimates how much heating or cooling a home is likely to need, using a 0–10 star scale—higher stars mean better energy efficiency and comfort.
BASIX (Building Sustainability Index) is a NSW planning requirement. It ensures new homes and major renovations meet sustainability targets for energy and water use, and indoor thermal comfort. A BASIX certificate is required as part of the development application process in NSW.
Both tools are important for ensuring your home is more comfortable to live in and uses less energy over time.
Do you provide Life Cycle Assessments?
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method used to estimate the environmental impact of a building over its lifetime, including the carbon emissions from materials, construction, use, and eventual demolition.
At NININ Studio, we do consider upfront carbon – the emissions associated with materials and construction – in our design and consulting.
As there’s currently no standardised LCA tool for residential projects in Australia, we use simple, in-house methods (spreadsheet-based calculations) to keep the project’s carbon footprint in check.
If you’re looking for a more formal or detailed assessment, we’re happy to explore the best approach and connect you with the right tools or consultants.