Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Basix issues sorted...sorta

We decided to remove air-conditioning from our BASIX certificate even though we will eventually put a system in. The reason is because despite specifying a very economical system, BASIX works on the energy rating of the compressor itself and doesn't consider technologically advanced systems that run the compressor much less than normal systems.

We were at 38 BASIX points with the air-conditioning (40 points passes) and could have included air conditioning as long as we agreed to have the system wired in such a way that we could not run the air conditioning in the bedrooms during the day or in the living rooms at night. Sometimes we come home late from work and the last thing we'd want to come home to is a hot house we can't cool!

So, onwards and upwards and now we go to Council!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Major Basix Issues - Air Conditioning

We received our BASIX variation this week indicating supposedly all we had agreed to. Unfortunately, we did not agree to never install air-conditioning.

We don't want to install air-conditioning with the builder, but rather install air-conditioning after settlement. The problem is, do we put A/C on the BASIX certificate? It has to do with the timing of the final council inspection.

If we specify the A/C upfront and the council inspects just before settlement, does that mean we can't move into the house until it is installed?

If we don't specify the A/C upfront and the council does not inspect until after landscaping is completed, but we move in, install the A/C a week later but before the inspection, are we in breach of our BASIX obligations because the A/C is not on the certificate?

We're really getting tired of these regulations.