HVAC
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) in residential construction: how it features in NCC energy compliance and the Whole of Home budget.
Ask Chalkline about this →HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. In residential construction it typically refers to the installed systems that control the thermal environment of a building: split systems, ducted reverse-cycle, hydronic heating, mechanical exhaust ventilation, and heat-recovery ventilation. A sparky installs the electrical connections; a refrigeration mechanic handles the refrigerant circuit.
Under NCC 2022 Part H6, the choice of HVAC system directly affects the Whole of Home (WoH) energy budget score. Reverse-cycle heat-pump systems (ducted or split) are among the most efficient fixed appliances and generally score well. Resistive electric heating (bar heaters, fan heaters wired to a thermostat) scores poorly and can push a WoH calculation over budget without compensating measures like PV or efficient hot water.
Also known as: reverse cycle, ducted air conditioning, air con, climate control
Category: Mechanical services / energy compliance
Related
- NCC version transitions, energy compliance context and Whole of Home scoring
See also
- Whole of Home, the WoH energy budget that includes HVAC load
- Energy report (NatHERS), the thermal performance rating paired with WoH
- NatHERS, the star-rating scheme underlying the 7-star energy requirement
Last updated: 2026-05-08. Verified: 2026-05-08. Quarterly review for currency.