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- NABERS
- National Australian Built Environment Rating System
BUILT ON PERFORMANCE.
Welcome to NABERS.
NABERS is a national rating system that measures the environmental performance of Australian buildings, tenancies and homes. Put simply, NABERS measures the energy efficiency, water usage, waste management and indoor environment quality of a building or tenancy and its impact on the environment.
It does this by using measured and verified performance information, such as utility bills, and converting them into an easy to understand star rating scale from one to six stars. For example, a 6 star rating demonstrates market-leading performance, while a 1 star rating means the building or tenancy has considerable scope for improvement.
For over ten years, NABERS has helped property owners, managers and tenants across Australia to improve their sustainability performance, reaping financial benefits and building their reputation.
If you’re new to sustainability, this website will help you to understand NABERS, what it measures, what it delivers and how to get started. You’ll also be able to read how others have used NABERS to advance their sustainability goals.
NABERS is managed nationally by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, on behalf of Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
FACT SHEET 1
About the NABERS program
The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) is a Government initiative to measure and compare the environmental performance of a building against its market.
NABERS rates against a set of benchmarks developed using national building performance data. NABERS provides an accurate, comparable measure of your building’s performance to improve industry and public understanding of the impact of the building or tenancy.
NABERS can be used to measure a building’s operational energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and waste recovery.
The NABERS suite of rating tools measures performance on a 6 star scale, with 2.5 to 3 stars representing average performance. A 6 star rating demonstrates market leading performance, while a 1 star rating means the building is performing well below average market practice and has considerable scope for improvement.
NABERS is a Government Initiative with strong industry support
The goal of NABERS is to encourage innovation and market best practice to achieve positive environmental outcomes that improve sustainability in the built environment, such as: lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water consumption, less waste and healthier working environments.
NABERS was developed with industry, for industry, and is managed nationally by the Office of Environment and Heritage NSW (OEH) on behalf of federal, state and territory governments.
You can rate a range of building types and environmental impacts.
| Energy/ Greenhouse | water | waste | indoor Environment |
offices | V | V | V | V |
hotels | V | V | |
Shopping Centres | V | V |
homes | V | V |
data Centres | in development | |
NABERS ratings for offices can be used to rate tenancies, the base building or the whole building:
tenancy The tenanted space Tenant occupying a leased or privately
owned office space within a commercial office building
Base Building Central services and common areas Building owner or property manager
whole Building A combination of the above Building owner or property manager
NABERS is a national initiative managed by the
New South Wales Government
Published August 2011 OEH 2012/0031
About the NABERS program continued
SELF ASSESS FOR A QUICK AND FREE ESTIMATE OF PERFORMANCE
Self assessments are an easy way to quickly gain an idea of how well your building is performing. The self rating process is free and uses the NABERS Rating calculators available online at www.nabers.gov.au
To perform a self assessment, simply collect the information required for the type of rating you are performing and enter it into the rating calculator. For further information on the data required to self assess your building refer to our fact sheets on preparing for NABERS ratings.
Remember that the results of self assessments are indicative only and cannot be published or promoted.
OBTAIN A NABERS ACCREDITED RATING TO REPORT AND PROMOTE PERFORMANCE
If you want to promote the star rating of your office building, tenancy or hotel, you must obtain an ‘Accredited NABERS Rating’ that has been performed by a NABERS Accredited Assessor and approved by OEH.
A NABERS rating is valid for one year. An annual review ensures the rating is up-to-date and accurate for the building’s current operational performance.
To rate your building:
- Engage the services of an Accredited Assessor. The NABERS website (www.nabers.gov.au) provides contact details for all Accredited Assessors. The cost of a rating application can vary, depending on the type of ratings you are performing and the size of the property. As with any professional service, we encourage you to obtain more than one quote to ensure you receive a competitive price for your rating application.
- Collate and provide data required for the rating to your Assessor - see our fact sheets on ‘Preparing for a NABERS Rating’ for further information on the data required for a rating.
- Provide access to the premises so that the Assessor can perform the site visit to verify information.
- The Assessor will assess your rating application in accordance with the NABERS Rules for collecting and using data, and then lodge it with OEH for certification.
- OEH will check that the rating application complies with the rules, before certifying the rating application and creating a rating certificate. Once your rating application has been approved and certified, you will receive an electronic report and certificate. Framed certificates can be provided on request.
- OEH aims to process completed rating applications within two working weeks of their receipt. Be aware that it may take longer if a rating application does not comply and follow-up with the Accredited Assessor is required.
In order to become accredited, a trainee assessor must attend training on the NABERS processes and procedures and pass an examination that tests their ability to perform rating applications. Finally, the trainee assessor must perform two supervised ratings before becoming an Accredited Assessor.
Assessors abide by a Code of Conduct and perform rating applications in strict accordance with the NABERS Validation Protocols.
PROMOTING YOUR RATINGS
With your agreement, your rating result will be promoted on the NABERS website. You can also promote the rating and use the NABERS rating logo in association with the building as part of your marketing collateral and reports whilst the rating is valid. NABERS Energy Ratings are also required for compliance with the Commercial Building Disclosure scheme.
For more information on Commercial Building Disclosure visit www.cbd.gov.au
For more information on NABERS visit the website www.nabers.gov.auor phone (02) 9995 5000 (ask for the NABERS team).