The number gets thrown around a lot when you're shopping for a tiny home — but it's worth knowing what it's actually measuring before you take it on faith.
It's not about your appliances
A star energy rating comes from the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), Australia's standard method for scoring a home's thermal performance — how well it holds a comfortable temperature on its own, independent of whatever heater or air conditioner is plugged in. It's scored out of 10 stars, based on things like insulation, glazing, sealing, and orientation.
In other words, it's a measure of the building itself, not the gadgets inside it. Two homes with the identical air conditioner can perform very differently depending on how well the shell is built.
Why 7 stars is the number to know
Australia's national minimum for new homes has been lifted to 7 stars under recent building code updates, up from the old 6-star minimum. A 7-star rating means a genuinely well-built, well-sealed home — not a bare minimum box-ticking exercise.
What it means day to day
- Less reliance on heating and cooling to stay comfortable, which means lower running costs over time.
- A more stable internal temperature through both a Victorian winter and an Australian summer.
- Less condensation and draughts, which matters a lot in a smaller living space.
How The Panarama gets there
Every Panarama is built with double glazed windows throughout, Colorbond cladding and roofing, and insulation and construction detailing considered from the first drawing — not bolted on afterward to scrape past a minimum. The 7-star rating is a reflection of how it's actually built, not just a sticker on the door.