Research & Training

We believe Research is an integral part of keeping abreast of new knowledge.

We train to give back to the industry.

Research

Standards and Codes BCA (NCC)

BCA (NCC) Section-J

NCC (previously BCA) Section-J is the mandatory requirement for minimum energy efficiency provisions for all residential and non-residential building in Australia.  PC has been involved with the development, dissemination and review of the energy efficiency provisions.  Team Catalyst has also provided the Commonwealth Government with BCA based analysis tools for future policy development.  Team Catalyst have assisted a number of projects in compliance with the BCA provisions in an integrated manner.

In the period 2001-2006, PC Thomas and Peter Lyons served on numerous ABCB working groups in support of development of the minimum mandatory energy provisions of the BCA (now NCC) for commercial and residential buildings.

Team Catalyst was commissioned by the Commonwealth Government of Australia to develop a series of Benchmark Models for Section-J that can be used for policy development and testing stringency for future mandatory requirements.  Five building forms (A,B,D,E and H) that were originally described by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) were delivered to Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) in a format that allow 330 configurations to be generated and simulated at will that comply with three vintages of the BCA Section-J, February 2011.  In addition, an infinite number of configurations for user selectable internal loads are also possible. (RFT-0910-2504).  This “Benchmark” model analysis was developed to allow testing of the current BCA (now NCC) stringency settings in a whole building context, and thus provide future directions for the BCA Section-J.

India has developed the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which was championed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, 2007.  The ECBC has compliance methods similar to the DTS and JV3 methods of the BCA Section-J.  Since this is India’s first foray at an energy efficiency code for buildings, there was a need for a explanatory guide document.  Team Catalyst was part of a team of authors, working with USAID funding, that have developed a comprehensive user guide for the ECBC ISBN 978-81-909025-3-3.  Our contributions were substantially in the chapters relating to HVAC Systems and the Whole Building Performance Method. 

While working with Arup, PC Thomas and Steve Moller (formerly CSIRO) produced the publication “HVAC System Size – Getting it Right”, ISBN 978-0-9803503-8-8.  It is available online at http://www.construction-innovation.info/images/HVAC_system_size.pdf.  The report concluded that HVAC systems in large commercial buildings have the risk of being significantly oversized with resultant underutilised assets and financial capital.

Apartment Ratings

A proposal to rate apartment performance differently:

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Nabers

Team Catalyst has conducted reviews for state and federal government departments on projects impacting government policy directions, providing strategic advice based on technical and financial analysis in the areas of energy efficiency in buildings, building rating tools, whole building energy simulation and life cycle cost analysis.

In December 2007, Team Catalyst and E3 International reported on a “Peak Demand Performance Rating Methodology and Standard for Commercial Office Buildings” for the South Australian Government, DTEI, Energy Division.  Currently there are few, if any, such systems that seek to rate the maximum demand performance of a building.  The study directly addresses the energy generation supply and demand conundrum in the electricity market

Department of the Environment and Energy

Developed a HVAC calculating program for Department of  the environment and energy !
Developed Australia’s first HVAC on line rating tool ‘Calculating Cool’.http://www.calculatingcool.com.au/

Training

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The University of Sydney

The personnel at Team Catalyst have a passion for teaching, training and research in the area of energy efficiency. Over the last few years the company has conducted several energy simulation training workshops across several countries, and are currently delivering the Building Energy Analysis (DESC 9015) module for the Masters Course in High Performance Buildings at the University of Sydney. Several training sessions have been conducted by Team Catalyst in the use of building energy simulation for compliance with Section-J of the National Construction Code (formerly the BCA) for a number of years.Team Catalyst personnel lecture regularly on HVAC system configurations, controls and optimisation of energy efficiency in these systems. Both Directors deliver training in Energy Efficient HVAC Systems for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).Both Directors of Team Catalyst are also Trainers for the NABERS scheme and have conducted several NABERS Accredited Assessor courses on behalf of OEH.

We also regularly publish papers and present at technical forums and seminars.

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CBD/NABERS Accreditation Training

Team Catalyst assists the Department of Planning (NSW) in delivering NABERS accredited assessor face to face training for the Energy & Water and Data Centre module. In addition to the face to face training, the directors of Team Catalyst conduct Level 2 Audits and Supervisions for the various suite of NABERS rating tools as part of the service delivery.
Team Catalyst also assists the Department of the Energy & Environment in delivering the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) accreditation face to face training comprising of the Tenancy Lighting Assessment module.