New house energy rating software built by Lagado

Sustainability Victoria has released FirstRate5, the next generation of its house energy rating software.

FirstRate, which was first introduced in 1994, evaluates house designs for energy efficiency and produces a star rating which can be used for certification purposes. The Victorian Government has recently introduced house energy regulations, which require that all new houses and apartments meet an energy rating standard. Currently about 40,000 energy ratings are conducted per annum in Victoria.

The new version of program provides an enriched and more comprehensive user interface as well as significantly improved accuracy in its calculations through the use of simulation software licensed from the CSIRO.

In June 2005 Lagado was selected, by tender, to produce this major rewrite. This release begins the final stage towards adoption as the new standard tool for house energy rating.