> 75% of the development's total street length (including lanes) is oriented (+/- 30^o) to the dominant prevailing summer breezes.

Wind rose (wind speed and direction) data is avaWind rose (wind speed and direction) data is available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

In the street pattern in Fig. UD1-1(b), most areas are stagnant zones and wind speeds are consistently very low. Comparatively, the wind speeds in the streets shown in the Fig. UD1-1(a) are higher because of the increase of urban permeability, and reduction in amount of stagnant area.

Plan(s) showing the length and orientation of each street relative to the dominant prevailing summer wind direction.

50m minimum width urban forest corridor to >75% of the development boundary that is perpendicular (+/- 30^o) to the dominant prevailing hot summer winds.

Urban forest corridor cross-section shall incorporate a minimum of three large shade trees (12m diameter canopy/tree at maturity).

Plan and cross-sections showing length, width and vegetation composition of urban forest corridor relative to the development boundary and direction of dominant prevailing hot summer wind.

> 75% of street canyons (excluding lanes) have an aspect ratio (H:W) less than 1.0.

Urban design should prioritise shallow street canyons (aspect ratio < 1.0) to allow for solar access to the public realm in winter, space for street tree planting, ventilation, and nocturnal cooling.

Sections through each street canyon showing aspect ratio (H:W)

Street layout plan showing the length of streets with aspect ratio less than 1.0 and total length of all streets.

Site perviousness:

• The development site has > 60% pervious surfaces
• > 50% of pervious surfaces are deep soil area.

And
Green and blue open space placement:

• Green and blue open spaces are located upwind of heat sensitive land uses such as schools, community centres, public transport hubs, hospitals, and child / aged-care facilities.

• Consider the prevailing summer wind direction and locations of heat sensitive land uses when positioning parks and water bodies.
• Irrigated green space provides the best cooling benefit (see also UD6, CP2)
• Downwind cooling effect of urban parks extends to about one park width (37).
• Distributed smaller water bodies orientated perpendicular to the dominant prevailing summer wind direction will provide greater urban cooling benefit than a single large linear water body oriented parallel to the prevailing summer wind direction.
• Downwind cooling benefits of green space and water bodies will be greatest if located upwind of street canyons designed for efficient ventilation (see also UD1 and UD3).

Landscape plan showing the total area of pervious surfaces and deep soil area relative to the gross development area.

Landscape plan showing the location and dimension of green and blue open spaces relative to heat sensitive land uses.

Retain existing trees:

Retain in-situ existing trees that are ecologically or culturally significant or have trunk diameter >300mm and are in good condition and are locally appropriate.

And

Tree Canopy Cover (measured as % of Gross Development Area):

At maturity, the development's overall tree canopy cover exceeds the existing tree canopy cover or exceeds *40% tree canopy cover, whichever is the greater.

* Replace with the local council's urban tree canopy target if > 40%.

• Tree species selection to suit in-situ soil conditions and resilience to high heat stress having regard to projected future extreme heat days due to climate change (refer to Adapt NSW's Regional Climate Change Snapshot Reports for a summary of projected changes to extreme heat days, temperatures and summer rainfall in your region).
• Guidance on the best tree species for a given geography based on various planting factors including future climate is available on the https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au website.
• A variety of suitable tree species is preferred to increase the urban canopy roughness through different tree heights and foliage types.
• Evergreen trees should be used for areas that will benefit from year-round shade.
• Deciduous trees should be used where sunlight is desirable in winter.
• Trees should be clustered with occasional breaks in canopy rather than evenly spaced.
• The placement of new trees should consider their ability to channel breezes and provide shade to hard surfaces and locations of highest communal use during the hottest times of the day, particularly pedestrian pathways and playgrounds.
• Provide active management of younger trees to support crown development.
• Ensure a secure water supply is available during extended dry periods to provide at least the minimum sustaining irrigation needs of each tree species (see also UD6, CS2, CP2, CH3, CB3).
• Inadequate irrigation will lead to reduced plant transpiration and cooling potential (31).
• Access to deep soils (a landscaped area connected horizontally to the soil system and local ground water system beyond and is unimpeded by any building or structure above or below ground) supports healthy trees. Recommended minimum deep soil areas (assuming 600mm and 1000mm accessible soil depth for clay and sandy loam soils respectively):
  • Small Trees (6 metre canopy diameter at maturity): 14m² in sandy loam soils; 23m² in clay soils.
  • Medium Trees (8m diameter canopy at maturity): 18m² in sandy loam soils; 30m² in clay soils.
  • Large Trees (12m diameter canopy at maturity): 26m² in sandy loam soils; 43m² in clay soils.

• A baseline tree survey covering species (including ecological and/or cultural significance), size, condition, and canopy cover.
• Landscape plan showing retained trees, proposed tree planting and planned mature canopy cover as % of gross development area.

Passively irrigated landscapes make up > 50% of the project's gross landscape area (excluding sports courts and fields and undisturbed natural areas).

And

> 50% of the aggregate WSUD treatment area (excluding constructed wetlands) incorporate shade trees.

Projects in Climate Zone 4 only are excluded from having to satisfy the passive irrigated landscapes criterion.

• Passively irrigated landscapes (59)(75) maintain healthy vegetation and soil moisture accentuating urban cooling and Human Thermal Comfort (HTC) benefits.
• WSUD should be combined with increased tree canopy cover to maximise cooling via both evapotranspiration and shading.
• Provision of tree canopy cover within WSUD assets should prioritise areas of high solar exposure (e.g. hard surfaces in street reserves).
• Aim for many, smaller, distributed WSUD assets at regular intervals throughout the urban environment to retain stormwater in the urban landscape and promote widespread infiltration into soils to maintain soil moisture stores.
• Reference examples of WSUD solutions for commercial, industrial, and housing developments can be found in Sydney Water's Urban Typologies and Stormwater Management Solutions (41).

Engineering + landscape plans showing the area of passively irrigated landscapes as % of gross landscape area.

Landscape plans showing planned mature canopy cover of trees planted within WSUD assets as a % of aggregate WSUD treatment area (excluding wetlands).

Written agreement is provided with the future asset manager confirming a commitment to continuation of WSUD asset management after asset handover.

Tree canopy cover at maturity (measured as % of street reserve):

Note: Targets exclude intersections. For existing streets, the above targets only apply if greater than the existing (pre-refurbishment) tree canopy cover, otherwise no-net loss of tree canopy cover is the acceptable target.

And;

Shading of high use spaces:

• >80% shade cover (measured in plan) of footpath or shared use spaces within street reserves.
• On-grade carparks: one medium tree (8m diameter canopy at maturity) per four car parking spaces. The tree is to be in a planted within a deep soil zone of >13 m² - the equivalent of a car parking bay area.

• Selection and placement of shade solutions within streets should consider peak-use times to ensure shade maximises solar UV protection when it is needed most.
• Tree species selection to suit in-situ soil conditions and resilience to high heat stress having regard to projected future extreme heat days due to climate change (refer to Adapt NSW's Regional Climate Change Snapshot Reports for a summary of projected changes to extreme heat days, temperatures and summer rainfall in your region).
• A variety of suitable tree species is preferred to increase the urban canopy roughness through different tree heights and foliage types.
• Guidance on the best tree species for a given geography based on various planting factors including future climate is available on the https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au website.
• Use evergreen trees for areas that will benefit from year-round shade.
• Use deciduous trees where sunlight is desirable in winter.
• Consideration of safety is paramount with species selected to minimise risk to public safety.
• Access to deep soils supports healthy trees. Recommended minimum deep soil areas:
  • Small Trees (6 metre canopy diameter at maturity): 14m² in sandy loam soils; 23m² in clay soils.
  • Medium Trees (8m diameter canopy at maturity): 18m² in sandy loam soils; 30m² in clay soils.
  • Large Trees (≥12m diameter canopy at maturity): 26m² in sandy loam soils; 43m² in clay soils.
• Ensure a secure water supply is available during extended dry periods to provide the minimum sustaining irrigation needs of each tree species (see CS2).
• Provide active management of younger trees to support crown development.
• Develop and apply long term strategies to transition from built shade to an increased proportion of natural shade as canopy increases in size and density.
• If installing shade sails as part of built shade solutions, make sure to choose fabric that has a UV Effectiveness (UVE) rating of 80% or more.
• A test if shade is high quality or not on a clear day is the amount of blue sky you can see (sky view factor) while underneath it. The less blue sky you can see, the better protection from solar UV radiation.

Landscape plan showing canopy cover at maturity as % of street reserve area for all streets.

A secure water supply is provided for irrigating street reserve landscapes commensurate with seasonal water requirements determined from local site conditions.

And;

Passively irrigated landscapes make up > 50% of the street reserve gross landscape area.

For Climate Zone 4 only, the above Credit Criteria will be deemed satisfied if the Minimum Effort Criteria listed below is satisfied.

• An alternative water source such as passive irrigation (59) (75), harvested stormwater runoff and reticulated recycled water should be used wherever possible as the primary irrigation water source with potable (town) water as a backup.
• Irrigation rates guided by local best practice for species and soil profile determined by an appropriately qualified person such as arborist, terrestrial ecologist, landscape architect or irrigation consultant.
• Over-irrigation does not always mean more urban cooling, can be detrimental to tree/plant health, and can increase humidity in hot humid climates leading to reduced human thermal comfort.
• A smart irrigation system which relies on rain and/or soil moisture sensors and night scheduling provides the most efficient irrigation management and avoids over or under watering.
• Drip irrigation lines (above or sub-surface) are preferred.

Engineering and landscape plans detailing the source(s) of secure water for landscape irrigation and showing irrigation infrastructure, watering regime (scheduling and application rates) and the area of passively irrigated landscape as % of street reserve gross landscape area.

In cases where ownership of the street reserve asset will transfer from a developer to the local council, written agreement is provided from the local council confirming a commitment to continuation of the streetscape irrigation regime after asset handover.

Cool pavements with an initial Solar Reflectance (SR) > 50% applied to > 75% of street reserve hard surfaces.

There are a range of strategies for designing pavements that reduce urban heat impacts, including:

• Use of ‘cool materials’ - those that are more reflective and store less heat.
• Use of lighter pigments in mixing asphalts, concretes and pavers can increase solar reflectance by 30%.
• Incorporating a thin coating of a reflective layer to assist in the reflectance of the material. This must be considerate of driver safety and pedestrian comfort - its use can lead to glare and discomfort for drivers and some thermal discomfort for pedestrians at times of peak daytime sunlight.
• Choosing materials with a low emissivity rating, meaning they will be less prone to embodying heat.

Pavement design report + plans specifying cool pavements (type and solar reflectance) and showing coverage of cool pavements within each street reserve as % of total street reserve hard surfaces.

Asset Management Plan detailing activities and funding source for ongoing maintenance and future renewal of cool pavements.

In cases where ownership of the street reserve asset will transfer from a developer to the local council, written agreement is provided from the local council confirming a commitment to continuation of Asset Management Plan after asset handover.

Retain existing trees:

• Existing trees that are ecologically or culturally significant or have a trunk diameter >300mm and that are in good condition and are locally appropriate are retained in-situ.

And;

Tree canopy cover (at maturity):

• Parks < 5ha without sports courts and fields: >45% tree canopy cover.
• Parks < 5ha with sports courts and fields: >45% tree canopy cover applied to the park area excluding sports courts and fields.
• Parks > 5ha: No net-loss of tree canopy cover compared to existing (baseline).

And;

Shading of high use spaces (e.g. children's playgrounds and BBQ/eating areas):

• >70% shade cover (measured in plan).

• Urban parks cool more effectively if they contain scattered trees and receive irrigation.
• Prioritise provision of canopy shade for parks where daytime cooling is the priority (e.g., parks within city centres, commercial areas and low-rise residential developments).
• Prioritise more open green areas (shade trees planted to park edges) for parks where night-time cooling is the priority (e.g., parks in higher density residential areas).
• A heterogeneous tree canopy planted in groves is preferred to a homogeneous tree canopy planted in continuous rows.
• In the right positioning, well shaded and irrigated parks can provide down-wind cooling effects beyond the park boundaries (see also UD4 and UD6).
• Trees have the greatest urban cooling effect when they are positioned to shade hard surfaces during the hottest times of the day.
• Selection and placement of shade solutions within parks should consider peak-use times to ensure shade maximises solar UV protection when it is needed most.
• Tree species selection to suit in-situ soil conditions and resilience to high heat stress having regard to projected future extreme heat days due to climate change (refer to Adapt NSW's Regional Climate Change Snapshot Reports for a summary of projected changes to extreme heat days, temperatures and summer rainfall in your region).
• Access to deep soils (a landscaped area connected horizontally to the soil system and local ground water system beyond and is unimpeded by any building or structure above or below ground) supports healthy trees. Recommended minimum deep soil areas (assuming 600 to 1000mm accessible soil depth for clay and sandy loam soils respectively):
  • Small Trees (6 metre canopy diameter at maturity): 14m² in sandy loam soils; 23m² in clay soils.
  • Medium Trees (8m diameter canopy at maturity): 18m² in sandy loam soils; 30m² in clay soils.
  • Large Trees (≥12m diameter canopy at maturity): 26m² in sandy loam soils; 43m² in clay soils.
• A variety of suitable tree species is preferred to increase the urban canopy roughness through different tree heights and foliage types.
• Guidance on the best tree species for a given geography based on various planting factors including future climate is available on the https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au website.
• Use evergreen trees for areas that will benefit from year-round shade.
• Use deciduous trees where sunlight is desirable in winter.
• Consideration of safety is paramount with species selected to minimise risk to public safety.
• Ensure a secure water supply is available during extended dry periods to provide the minimum sustaining irrigation needs of each tree species.
• Provide active management of younger trees to support crown development.
• Develop and apply long term strategies to transition from built shade to an increased proportion of natural shade as canopy increases in size and density.
• If installing shade sails as part of built shade solutions, make sure to choose fabric that has a UV Effectiveness (UVE) rating of 80% or more.
• A test if shade is high quality or not on a clear day is the amount of blue sky you can see (sky view factor) while underneath it. The less blue sky you can see, the better protection from solar UV radiation.

• A baseline tree survey covering species (including ecological and/or cultural significance), size, condition, and canopy cover.
• Landscape plan(s) showing retained trees and proposed trees with planned mature canopy area provides as % of gross park area (excluding sports courts and fields).

A secure water supply is provided for irrigating street reserve landscapes commensurate with seasonal water requirements determined from local site conditions.

And;

Passively irrigated landscapes make up > 50% of the street reserve gross landscape area.

For Climate Zone 4 only, the above Credit Criteria will be deemed satisfied if the Minimum Effort Criteria listed below is satisfied.

• An alternative water source such as passive irrigation (59) (75), harvested stormwater runoff and reticulated recycled water should be used wherever possible as the primary irrigation water source with potable (town) water as a backup.
• Irrigation rates guided by local best practice for species and soil profile determined by an appropriately qualified person such as arborist, terrestrial ecologist, landscape architect or irrigation consultant.
• Over-irrigation does not always mean more urban cooling, can be detrimental to tree/plant health, and can increase humidity in hot humid climates leading to reduced human thermal comfort.
• A smart irrigation system which relies on rain and/or soil moisture sensors and night scheduling provides the most efficient irrigation management and avoids over or under watering.
• Drip irrigation lines (above or sub-surface) are preferred.

Engineering and landscape plans detailing the source(s) of secure water for landscape irrigation and showing irrigation infrastructure, watering regime (scheduling ad application rates) and the area of passively irrigated landscape as % of gross landscape area (excluding turf areas, sports fields, and undisturbed natural areas).

Written agreement is provided with the future asset manager confirming a commitment to continuation of the park irrigation regime after asset handover.

Cool pavements with an initial Solar Reflectance (SR) > 50% or porous pavements, or a combination of both applied to > 75% of total park hard surfaces.

There are a range of strategies for designing park hardscapes that reduce urban heat impacts, including:

• Use of ‘cool materials’ - those that are more reflective and store less heat.
• Use of lighter pigments in mixing asphalts, concretes and pavers can increase solar reflectance by 30%.
• Incorporating a thin coating of a reflective layer to assist in the reflectance of the material. This must be considerate human comfort - its use can lead to glare some and thermal discomfort for park users and pedestrians at times of peak daytime sunlight.
• Choosing materials with a low emissivity rating, meaning they will be less prone to embodying heat.

Permeable pavements should consider the following in their design:

• Permeable paving allows for the drainage, infiltration, and evaporation of water more effectively through urban surfaces, which can be achieved via the use of non-traditional pavements (made from plastic, metal, or concrete) filled or interspersed with permeable materials (vegetation, gravel) laid over a permeable base.
• Maximum impact occurs when permeable pavements are designed in conjunction with the principles of cool pavements described above, namely highly reflective materials and materials less prone to storing heat.
• Foam based concrete is more permeable than traditional concrete; permeable natural resins used in place of traditional masonry binders can be adopted for low impact areas.
• Porous pavements and surface coverings adjacent to garden beds and tree plantings will enhance surface water absorption and therefore water access for these plants.

Landscape plan specifying cool pavements (types and solar reflectance) and/or porous pavements (type, porosity, and hydraulic conductivity) and showing the coverage of cool and/or porous pavements as % of total park hard surfaces.

Asset Management Plan detailing activities and funding source for ongoing maintenance and future renewal of cool and porous pavements.

Written agreement is provided with the future asset manager confirming a commitment to continuation of Asset Management Plan after asset handover.

Site layout provides the following minimum deep soil area (% of site area)

• Detached dwellings:
  • Lot areas up to 300m²: 20% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas 300m² to 600m²: 25% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas greater than 600m²: 30% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
• Attached dwellings:
  • Lot areas up to 150m²: 15% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas 150m² to 300m²: 20% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas greater than 300m²: 25% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
• Multi-dwelling housing:
  • Lot areas up to 1000m²: 20% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas 1000m² to 3000m²: 25% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas greater than 3000m²: 30% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
• Apartments:
  • Lot areas up to 650m²: 10% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas 650m² to 1500m²: 15% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)
  • Lot areas greater than 1500m²: 20% deep soil area (minimum dimension 3m)

Site layout should, where practicable, provide for deep soil areas to support tree canopy shade to the eastern and western facades of the dwelling/building.

Site layout (across multiple lots) should seek to achieve larger contiguous private open space areas oriented to channel cooling summer winds.

Site landscape plan showing location and extent of deep soil areas as % of total site (allotment) area.

Passive shading of dwellings:

* Planting to achieve the minimum tree planting rates and tree canopy targets in the table following.

*The tree-planting rate: the number of trees that need to be planted within a deep soil area to achieve a set target.

Tree size categories:

• Small tree - minimum 6 m mature canopy diameter
• Medium tree - minimum 8 m mature diameter
• Large tree - minimum 12 m mature diameter.

^ For these development types, the canopy and deep soil target are the same. In these situations, tree canopy will not cover the entire deep soil area. Proponents should meet the deep soil target as a priority and are encouraged to plant more trees than prescribed in the tree-planting rate, where possible.

Shading, particularly windows and other forms of glazing, can have a significant impact on summer comfort and energy costs.

Appropriate shading designs and structures can help to block unwanted sun in summer while still allowing solar access in winter.

Shading can be fixed (for example, eaves, and evergreen trees) or adjustable (for example, external louvres, pergolas with adjustable shade cloth, blinds and deciduous trees).

On north-facing façades, the easiest shading solution is eaves that are wide enough to block high-angle sun in summer but admit low-angle sun in winter. Horizontal shade projections above glazing can also work well.

On east-and west-facing façades, vertical shade structures or deep pergolas work well, particularly if they are adjustable, allowing winter sun in when needed.

More shading is suitable for hot humid climates, and less shading may be suitable for cold temperate climates.

Trees and planted pergolas and trellises can provide good shading and can also improve cooling, air quality and visual appeal of a home.

Tree species selection to suit in-situ soil conditions and resilience to high heat stress having regard to projected future extreme heat days due to climate change (refer to Adapt NSW's Regional Climate Change Snapshot Reports for a summary of projected changes to extreme heat days, temperatures and summer rainfall in your region).

A variety of suitable tree species is preferred to increase the urban canopy roughness through different tree heights and foliage types.

Guidance on the best tree species for a given geography based on various planting factors including future climate is available on the https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au website.

Use evergreen trees for areas that will benefit from year-round shade.

Use deciduous trees where sunlight is desirable in winter.

Consideration of safety is paramount with species selected to minimise risk to public safety.

Access to deep soils supports healthy trees. Recommended minimum deep soil areas:

• Small Trees (6 metre canopy diameter at maturity): 14m² in sandy loam soils; 23m² in clay soils.
• Medium Trees (≥8m diameter canopy at maturity): 18m² in sandy loam soils; 30m² in clay soils.
• Large Trees (≥12m diameter canopy at maturity): 26m² in sandy loam soils; 43m² in clay soils.

The placement of trees should also consider their ability to channel breezes.

Care should be taken when locating trees close to residential buildings if located within bushfire and/or cyclone hazard areas. In these areas an alternative shade solution should be considered.

Plans and sections showing shade solutions and site tree canopy cover at maturity (as % of site area).

A secure water supply is provided for irrigating site landscapes commensurate with seasonal water requirements determined from local site conditions.  

• An alternative water source such as passive irrigation (59) (75), harvested roofwater or reticulated recycled water should be used wherever possible as the primary irrigation water source with potable (town) water as a backup.
• Irrigation rates guided by local best practice for species and soil profile determined by an appropriately qualified person such as arborist, terrestrial ecologist, landscape architect or irrigation consultant.
• A smart irrigation system which relies on rain and/or soil moisture sensors and night scheduling provides the most efficient irrigation management and avoids over or under watering.
• Drip irrigation lines (above or sub-surface) are preferred.

A site landscape water management plan which achieves water efficiencies and supports the continued achievement of objectives outlined in CH2.

Residential dwelling design incorporates:

• Cross-ventilation to all bedroom and communal living spaces (lounge/living areas)
• A “cool refuge” space being a bedroom or similar sized space located on the southern side of the dwelling and away from unshaded east or west facing facades and provided with wall and ceiling insulation to minimum NCC requirements, cross ventilation for venting heat at night and fitted with a ceiling fan.

If the local council or building authority has an alternative more stringent criterion for a cool refuge space use that criterion in lieu of the above.

• Homes that adopt passive design minimise their impact on their surrounding environment by reducing energy requirements in heating and cooling and by minimising their contribution to the external environment through excess heat loss/ heat production generated by mechanical cooling systems (the exhaust from an air-conditioner unit).
• Passive cooling principles require consideration of the floor plan and building form, local climate, house positioning, thermal mass considerations, appropriate materials and positioning for windows, shading, insulation, and buffer zones.
• It is important to design homes for the local environment, i.e., prevailing winds/ breezes, tree type and positioning, proximity to other dwellings and climate.
• To maximise heat loss during hot seasons, passive design considers air movement, breezes, evaporation, earth coupling and reflection of radiation. Solution should be considerate of local climatic conditions.
• Solutions may include breeze capture, access to cool night air, convective air movement, solar chimneys, evaporative cooling (i.e., from a water source), earth coupling.

Fans should be positioned strategically to circulate cooler air and expel heated air.

Dwelling design plans and sections showing provision for cross-ventilation and “cool refuge” space.

100% of roofing materials installed have an initial Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) as follows:

• For roof pitched <45° an initial SRI > 80
• For roof pitched >45° an initial SRI > 40

Roofs that are ‘downslope’ from the publicly accessible places, such as in hilly areas, scenic areas or which are in view from taller adjacent buildings should avoid reflective white or very light-coloured finishes that could cause glare.

Incorporating high reflectance and high emittance materials in the roofing design generates lower temperatures compared to dark roofing material.

Dwelling design plans and sections showing roof material specification with compliant SRI.

Cool pavements with an initial Solar Reflectance (SR) > 50% or porous pavements, or a combination of both applied to >50% of site landscape hard surfaces.

There are a range of strategies for designing site landscape hard surfaces that reduce urban heat impacts, including:

• Use of ‘cool materials’ - those that are more reflective and store less heat.
• Use of lighter pigments in mixing asphalts, concretes and pavers can increase solar reflectance by 30%.
• Incorporating a thin coating of a reflective layer to assist in the reflectance of the material. This must be considerate human comfort - its use can lead to glare some and thermal discomfort for park users and pedestrians at times of peak daytime sunlight.
• Choosing materials with a low emissivity rating, meaning they will be less prone to embodying heat.

Permeable pavements should consider the following in their design:

• Permeable paving allows for the drainage, infiltration, and evaporation of water more effectively through urban surfaces, which can be achieved via the use of non-traditional pavements (made from plastic, metal or concrete) filled or interspersed with permeable materials (vegetation, gravel) laid over a permeable base.
• Maximum impact occurs when permeable pavements are designed in conjunction with the principles of cool pavements described above, namely highly reflective materials and materials less prone to storing heat.
• Foam based concrete is more permeable than traditional concrete; permeable natural resins used in place of traditional masonry binders can be adopted for low impact areas.
• Porous pavements and surface coverings adjacent to garden beds and tree plantings will enhance surface water absorption and therefore water access for these plants.

Site landscape plan specifying cool pavements (types and solar reflectance) and/or porous pavements (type, porosity and hydraulic conductivity) and showing the coverage of cool and/or porous pavements as % of total site landscape hard surfaces.

Dwelling has installed (or designed for install) a solar PV array, inverter, and battery system with the following minimum capacity:

• Homes up to 150m²: 5kW PV system
• Homes between 150m² - 250m²: 7.5kW PV system
• Homes between 250m² - 350m²: 10kW PV system

• The solar PV system shall be designed by a Clean Energy Council accredited designer and installed by an accredited installer.
• Solar panels to be installed to face between East, through North to West orientations.
• PV array panels to be installed at roof pitch or at latitude tilt angle (or on trackers as desired).
• Design documentation to be submitted that proves the PV system is not shaded by neighbouring buildings or trees across the year.

Dwelling design plans showing provision for compliant sized solar PV and battery storage system.

> 20% of site (allotment) area provided as deep soil area (3m minimum dimension)

Site layout should, where practicable, provide for deep soil areas to support tree canopy shade to the eastern and western facades of the /building and to ground surface hardstand areas.

Site landscape plan showing location and extent of deep soil areas as % of total site (allotment) area.

Fixed and/or adjustable external shading devices installed to all external windows and openings (other than south facing) to achieve > 80% restriction of average daily summer solar radiation on external glazing / openings.

And;

Site tree canopy cover (at maturity) > 25% of site (allotment) area.

And;

Shade cover (measured in plan) to > 50% of external on-grade hard stand areas.

• Shading, particularly windows and other forms of glazing, can have a significant impact on summer comfort and energy costs.
• Appropriate shading designs and structures can help to block unwanted sun in summer while still allowing solar access in winter.
• Shading can be fixed (for example, eaves, and evergreen trees) or adjustable (for example, external louvres, pergolas with adjustable shade cloth, external blinds and deciduous trees).
• On north-facing façades, the easiest shading solution is horizontal overhangs/eaves over windows that are wide enough to block high-angle sun in summer but admit low-angle sun in winter. Horizontal shade projections above glazing can also work well.
• On east-and west-facing façades, vertical shade structures work well, particularly if they are adjustable, allowing winter sun in when needed.
• More shading is suitable for hot humid climates, and less shading may be suitable for cold temperate climates.
• If installing shade sails as part of built shade solutions, make sure to choose fabric that has a UV Effectiveness (UVE) rating of 80% or more.
• A test if shade is high quality or not on a clear day is the amount of blue sky you can see (sky view factor) while underneath it. The less blue sky you can see, the better protection from solar UV radiation.
• Trees and planted pergolas and trellises can provide good shading and can also improve indoor and outdoor cooling, air quality and visual appeal of the building.
• Tree species selection to suit in-situ soil conditions and resilience to high heat stress having regard to projected future extreme heat days due to climate change (refer to Adapt NSW's Regional Climate Change Snapshot Reports for a summary of projected changes to extreme heat days, temperatures and summer rainfall in your region).
• Guidance on the best tree species for a given geography based on various planting factors including future climate is available on the https://www.whichplantwhere.com.au website.
• The placement of trees should also consider their ability to channel breezes.
• A variety of suitable tree species is preferred to increase the urban canopy roughness through different tree heights and foliage types.
• Deciduous trees should be used where sunlight is desirable in winter; evergreen trees should be used where year-round shade is preferable.
• Access to deep soils supports healthy trees. Recommended minimum deep soil areas:
  • Small Trees (6 metre canopy diameter at maturity): 14m² in sandy loam soils; 23m² in clay soils.
  • Medium Trees (8m diameter canopy at maturity): 18m² in sandy loam soils; 30m² in clay soils.
  • Large Trees (12m diameter canopy at maturity): 26m² in sandy loam soils; 43m² in clay soils.
• Care should be taken when locating trees close to buildings if located within bushfire and/or cyclone hazard areas. In these areas an alternative shade solution should be considered.

Site plans and sections showing shade solutions and site tree canopy cover at maturity (as % of site area).

A secure water supply is provided for irrigating site landscapes commensurate with seasonal water requirements determined from local site conditions.

• An alternative water source such as passive irrigation (59) (75), harvested roofwater or reticulated recycled water should be used wherever possible as the primary irrigation water source with potable (town) water as a backup.
• Irrigation rates guided by local best practice for species and soil profile determined by an appropriately qualified person such as arborist, terrestrial ecologist, landscape architect or irrigation consultant.
• A smart irrigation system which relies on rain and/or soil moisture sensors and night scheduling provides the most efficient irrigation management and avoids over or under watering.
• Drip irrigation lines (above or sub-surface) are preferred.

A site landscape water management plan which achieves water efficiencies and supports the continued achievement of objectives outlined in CB2.

Building design incorporates:

• Cross-ventilation to all habitable workspaces
• A “cool refuge” space being a bedroom sized space located on the southern side of the building and away from unshaded east or west facing facades and provided with wall and ceiling insulation to minimum NCC requirements, cross ventilation for venting heat and fitted with a ceiling fan.

• Buildings that adopt passive design minimise their impact on their surrounding environment by reducing energy requirements in heating and cooling and by minimising their contribution to the external environment through excess heat loss/ heat production generated by mechanical cooling systems (the exhaust from an air-conditioner unit).
• Passive cooling principles require consideration of the floor plan and building form, local climate, building positioning and orientation, thermal mass considerations, appropriate materials and positioning for windows, shading, insulation, and buffer zones.
• It is important to design buildings for the local environment, i.e., prevailing winds/ breezes, tree type and positioning, proximity to other dwellings and climate.
• To maximise heat loss during hot seasons, passive design considers air movement, breezes, evaporation, earth coupling and reflection of radiation. Solution should be considerate of local climatic conditions.

Solutions may include breeze capture, access to cool night air, convective air movement, solar chimneys, evaporative cooling (i.e., from a water source), earth coupling.

Building design plans and sections showing provision for cross-ventilation and “cool refuge” space.

100% of roofing materials with an initial Solar Reflectance Index (SRI):

• For roof pitched <45°: initial SRI > 80
• For roof pitched >45°: initial SRI > 40

Roofs that are ‘downslope’ from the publicly accessible places, such as in hilly areas, scenic areas or which are in view from taller adjacent buildings should avoid reflective white or very light-coloured finishes that could cause glare.

Or:

An irrigated green roof to 100% of the available roof area with minimum 80% foliage cover of freely transpiring plants which does not include succulents.

And (in addition to one of the above);

A vertical garden / green wall with potted foliage covering at least 60% of the East and West facing exterior walls (unless the wall is shaded - see CB2)

Cool Roofs:

• Incorporating high reflectance and high emittance materials in the roofing design generates lower temperatures compared to dark roofing material.

  

• Solar glare causing discomfort is not as critical an issue for rooftops compared to high reflectance materials at ground surface which can impact people using a given area.

Green Roofs:

• Green roofs must have a drought resilient irrigation supply (rainwater, recycled water).
• Green roofs must be properly designed to ensure building integrity is not compromised by the additional weight.

Green Walls:

• Green walls lower the ambient air temperature by
  • a) enabling evapotranspiration and
  • b) cooling the air that passes between the support system and the building wall.
• Green walls or vertical gardens are distinct from a green façade as they feature multiple plantings across a wall, whereas a green façade will generally feature a small number of vines/creeper root systems spreading a thin covering over a wall. Green facades are not eligible for this credit.
• Green walls must be carefully designed in consideration of sunlight, (drought resilient) irrigation, plant type(s) and fertilisation.
• Green walls can provide a visually pleasing aspect to a building and improve the human experience in an urban setting.

Building design plans and sections showing design specifications for cool roof materials or green roof and green wall.

Cool pavements with an initial Solar Reflectance (SR) > 50% or porous pavements, or a combination of both applied to >50% of site landscape hard surfaces.

There are a range of strategies for designing site landscape hard surfaces that reduce urban heat impacts, including:

• Use of ‘cool materials’ - those that are more reflective and store less heat.
• Use of lighter pigments in mixing asphalts, concretes and pavers can increase solar reflectance by 30%.
• Incorporating a thin coating of a reflective layer to assist in the reflectance of the material. This must be considerate human comfort - its use can lead to glare some and thermal discomfort for park users and pedestrians at times of peak daytime sunlight.
• Choosing materials with a low emissivity rating, meaning they will be less prone to embodying heat.

Permeable pavements should consider the following in their design:

• Permeable paving allows for the drainage, infiltration, and evaporation of water more effectively through urban surfaces, which can be achieved via the use of non-traditional pavements (made from plastic, metal or concrete) filled or interspersed with permeable materials (vegetation, gravel) laid over a permeable base.
• Maximum impact occurs when permeable pavements are designed in conjunction with the principles of cool pavements described above, namely highly reflective materials and materials less prone to storing heat.
• Foam based concrete is more permeable than traditional concrete; permeable natural resins used in place of traditional masonry binders can be adopted for low impact areas.
• Porous pavements and surface coverings adjacent to garden beds and tree plantings will enhance surface water absorption and therefore water access for these plants.

Site landscape plan specifying cool pavements (types and solar reflectance) and/or porous pavements (type, porosity and hydraulic conductivity) and showing the coverage of cool and/or porous pavements as % of total site landscape hard surfaces.

The building has installed (or designed for install) a solar PV array, inverter and battery system of sufficiently capacity to provide enough renewable energy to balance its predicted energy use over a year.

If the building cannot support a sufficiently large system, a supply contract is in place to facilitate the purchase of off-site renewables-sourced electricity, in addition to an onsite backup solution.

This credit cannot be obtained if 100% of electricity is being supplied from an external source - there must be demonstrated capacity to store electricity onsite with an appropriately sized battery system or a back-up generator system, to avoid loss of power (and capacity to cool the building) during an outage or grid failure.

• This credit is designed to reduce GHG emissions in cities and to establish buildings which are energy-secure during power outages.
• The PV system shall be designed by a Clean Energy Council accredited designer and installed by an accredited installer.
• Solar panels to be installed to face between East, through North to West orientations.
• PV array panels to be installed at roof pitch or at latitude tilt angle (or on trackers as desired).

Building design plans showing provision for compliant sized solar PV and battery storage system.

Documentation that proves the PV system is not shaded by neighbouring buildings or trees across the year.

Evidence of supply contract for any purchased off-site renewables-sourced electricity.

Partnership with a university or research institution to test within the development an innovative new urban cooling technology as"proof of concept”.

This Credit rewards development that commits to advancing development of new technologies for urban cooling by partnering with universities in the development and testing of such new technologies and providing real world applications as demonstrations to facilitate evidence gathering for proof of concept and industry knowledge exchange.

Documentation proving the partnership with a university or research institution to develop and test innovative new urban cooling technologies at "proof of concept" stage.

The development has installed a network of temperature sensors and data loggers providing continuous near surface (i.e., 2m) air temperature data.

And;

The data collected is made available to community members and other key stakeholders.

This Credit rewards development that commits to precinct scale data collection and analysis to build the evidence base for urban cooling outcomes realised from portfolios of urban cooling interventions employed at different scales within the development.

An example of a sensor network would consist of continuous air temperature sensors/loggers deployed and maintained:

• Along all streets at a minimum of 1/100m of street verge length (evenly spaced) and on both sides of the street
• Within allotment rear yards at min 1/100m of street block long axis (evenly spaced)
• Within open space (parks) at minimum 5/ha and positioned to cover the range of use areas
• Within carparks at minimum 2/ha and positioned to cover shaded and unshaded areas

Technical report(s) demonstrating compliance with the Credit Criteria.