Resources
In this section you can explore the background for the Cool Suburbs Assessment plus detailed information on the science and calculation method the ratings and heat impact scores are based on.
The CST includes Mandatory Credits that must be satisfied to earn a Cool Suburbs Star Rating (see Section 3.5). The Mandatory Credits are listed in Table 4 and detailed in Appendix A.
A review of mandatory credits was undertaken in Phase 2, focusing on practicality and impact. Emphasising shade-related credits across all categories is crucial, along with considering different scales such as irrigation for parks and streets versus passive design for buildings. As a result, the number of mandatory credits has been reduced to provide a more balanced grading system across climate zones, while ensuring room for improvement across various development scales.
| Credit Category | Mandatory Credits | Default Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Design | UD5: Retention of existing tree canpoy | 7 |
| Cool Streets | CS1: Shade | 7 |
| Cool Streets | CP1: Shade | 6 |
| Cool Homes | CH2: Site Shade | 3 |
| Cool Buildings | CB2: Site Shade | 3 |