Energy use is one of the greatest pressures on our environment and household finances. Biotext has worked on many national projects that aim to improve Australia’s energy performance.
Our expert team has extensive experience in energy efficiency content, providing expert analysis, content design, infographics, web content and technical editing for a variety of key products for the sector.
Our role:
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National framework for disclosure of residential energy efficiency information, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
The aim of energy efficiency disclosure for residential buildings is to provide consumers with consistent home energy performance information to encourage action that reduces household energy usage, bills and emissions. Developed in a collaborative project of the Australian, state and territory governments, Australia’s national framework sets out a national approach to energy efficiency disclosure and gives guidance on development of a supportive market environment. Biotext worked closely with the department, stakeholders and jurisdictions to structure, write, edit and design the framework to ensure it was clear and robust. We developed visual concepts and ensured that layout supported user understanding, and created engaging infographics for key concepts.
Your home, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Your home is Australia’s guide to designing, building or renovating homes to ensure they are energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and adaptable for the future. First published in 2013, in 2021 the guide was completely updated by independent experts to include new information, new materials and technologies, and improve the overall structure and readability of the guide. Biotext worked with the department and authors to ensure the new website and book were easy to navigate and understand, rewriting and editing new and existing content and improving the information architecture (IA) for a user-focused website and hard copy manual.
Working with Biotext was great. You have skills in editing we could never have achieved ourselves. Biotext did an outstanding job editing a huge publication to a more desirable format and made it easy to read.
Your Home client
Nationwide Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
NatHERS provides building energy performance ratings and information to help make Australian homes more comfortable and help residents make smarter design choices. In 2019, we partnered with the department in a significant project to create the NatHERS assessor handbook to ensure that registered assessors could easily navigate and understand the complex NatHERS assessment process and requirements. We analysed existing content, developed a new structure and flow to make navigation easier, and wrote and edited highly technical content to ensure that it was clear and action-oriented, focusing on style and consistency throughout.
In 2022, NatHERS was expanded to include a new Whole of Home rating that measures the energy use of the whole home including appliances, solar and batteries. To help assessors complete the new rating accurately, a Guidance Note was developed to provide step-by-step instructions and details. Biotext worked with the department to restructure and rewrite content to ensure it was clear and comprehensive and met assessor needs. A Calculation Method was also drafted to outline the method that underpins the Whole of Home rating calculation, so that software developers could include the new rating in assessment tools. Biotext experts edited this highly technical document to ensure the science and mathematics were clear.
We also helped to create accessible user manuals for 2 of the software packages – AccuRate and FirstRate5 – that are accredited to generate the NatHERS star ratings and used to assess compliance with the National Construction Code.
energy.gov.au, Department of the Environment
The national website, energy.gov.au, provides practical advice for households and businesses to reduce energy bills and improve comfort and sustainability. We first analysed existing and related content to ensure that the user perspective was considered and to identify gaps. We then worked with the department to structure and rewrite the website to provide clear, actionable content.
