Home Performance Pathway – unlocking green finance & building performance in three steps

With the support of industry engagement, the HPP was designed as a three-step progressive pathway with 12 indicators to guide builders from business-as-usual construction toward the full sustainability spectrum of the HPI certification with 35 indicators.

 

Figure 2 – HPP’s 3 steps and 12 indicators

The HPP certification has 12 indicators with mandatory indicators to be fulfilled depending on the achievement level chosen. For example, if a homebuilder registers for the achievement level Step 1, the mandatory indicators are: controlled ventilation, energy efficiency, water efficiency, plus an additional indicator of their choice.

Whereas, if a homebuilder decides on achievement level Step 3, the mandatory indicators include those in Step 1, plus biodiversity, summer comfort, and an additional five indicators of their choice.

Figure 3 – The number of mandatory indicators to achieve the Steps

Living in a certified sustainable HPP home means improved health, comfort and wellbeing for occupants, plus reduced utility bills and long-term operational costs. As the industry strives to meet the state’s ambitious 2030 targets, the HPP serves as a gateway to competitive financing, technical growth, and the delivery of superior-quality homes.

Costs

Registration and certification fees are calculated on the number of homes, follow this link  HPP & HPI fees to get an estimate. Upon payment of the registration fee, your team will gain full access to the HPP calculators and upload platform.

IGBC members get a discount on HPP certification fees. Registration fees are non-refundable once paid, regardless of project cancellation or early termination.

Prices exclude VAT for both Registration and certification fees.

Assessment Process

The process is as follows:
1. Registration stage
2. Optional design stage review
3. Optional project review
4. Mandatory final review
5. Certification stage

1. Registration Stage:

• Register project with the IGBC: Pay applicable fees and sign T&Cs. If a commencement notice is not submitted within 3 years of registration, the project registration will be cancelled in line with T&Cs.
• Link to the evidence upload platform issued to the point of contact for the project. This person is referred to as the Head Assessor. This role can be reassigned as necessary.
• The Head Assessor sets up the project on the platform, selecting the indicators that are being
  targeted and inviting the relevant team members to the project to upload evidence and setting access requirements.

Two review stages are offered to projects. The first is a design review stage, which is optional, and the second is a final review stage, which is mandatory for the issuing of a certificate.

2. Optional design stage review:

• Evidence is updated on the upload platform. The Head Assessor then submits the project for design review. 50% of certification fees must be paid prior to review.
• IGBC Auditor is assigned to the project. Project evidence is reviewed for alignment with evidence requirements. Compliance with the indicator criteria is not given at this stage review. No preliminary report is issued at this stage.
• The purpose of the design review is to provide feedback on if the right form of evidence is being collected and provided in the correct formatting. Due to the early stages of the design review, no feedback is provided on alignment with indicator criteria. To ensure impartiality and quality control, IGBC Auditors can provide no advice or coaching on how to improve the score of their project or how to achieve an indicator.

For the final review stage, dependent on their size, projects can be submitted in phases prior to the
submission of the entire project, if preliminary reports are required.

3. Optional project review:

• Upon BCAR sign-off of all homes within a phase, evidence is updated on the upload platform. The Head Assessor then submits the project for phase review. Remaining certification fees are to be paid at the submission of the first phase. Review of evidence will not begin prior to receipt of payment.
• IGBC Auditor is assigned to the project. Evidence is reviewed for alignment with indicator
  requirements, and feedback is provided. A preliminary report is issued if all requirements are met.

4. Mandatory final review:

• Upon BCAR sign-off of all homes within the project, evidence is updated on the upload platform. The Head Assessor then submits the project for final review. Remaining certification fees to be paid. Review of evidence will not begin prior to receipt of payment.
• IGBC Auditor is assigned to the project. Evidence is reviewed for ompleteness and audited for
  compliance and further information is sought where missing.*

5. Certification stage:

• On successful submission of evidence, a recommendation is made by the IGBC Auditor to the IGBC Certification Manager for award of certification and a Certificate is issued once approved.

Onsite Audit:

The IGBC holds the right to request an onsite audit prior to issuing any certification. IGBC’s
preference is to carry out onsite audits post practical completion to visually audit construction and installed items aligned with submitted evidence. Site visits require access to a sample of completed homes. This is not an onsite audit and does not relieve the developer of their responsibilities in submitting requested evidence in accordance with the Home Performance Pathway criteria or indicate compliance with building regulations.

Notice of practical completion for onsite audit purposes To avoid complications of access arising between the tight timelines of practical completion and handover, the Head Assessor is to keep the IGBC aware of the development timeline at least four weeks in advance of practical completion to ensure if an onsite audit is requested it can be facilitated.

Failure to provide this timeline or facilitate a site visit requested within a reasonable timeline may result in IGBC refusing certification of the project irrespective of payment of fees.

*In cases where additional information has been sought by the IGBC Auditor during the final review of the project. Project teams have 12 months from the date of the first feedback to resolve these issues and any subsequent issues identified by the IGBC Auditor. If the 12 months have elapsed and certification has not been issued, the project will be deemed cancelled and closed out. To reopen the project a new set of certification fees will need to be paid. The 12 months can be extended in cases where extenuating circumstances have arisen and approved by the IGBC.