Home Energy Ratings
The NSW Home Energy Saver loan now includes NatHERS assessments for existing homes among its eligible energy-saving upgrades, creating a clearer connection between understanding a home and deciding what to improve.
In Brief
Eligible NSW property owners may apply for a zero-interest Home Energy Saver loan of up to $15,000 for approved energy-saving upgrades. A NatHERS assessment and certificate for an existing home is included among the eligible activities. The assessment is optional, and access remains subject to the program’s eligibility, lending and approved-supplier requirements.
The NSW Home Energy Saver program is intended to help eligible households manage the upfront cost of improvements such as insulation, glazing, heating and cooling, solar generation and residential batteries.
The current loan guidelines also include a NatHERS assessment for an existing home. Within the program documentation, it sits under the category of energy performance assessment services.
This recognises that understanding residential performance can be part of the improvement process itself. Before selecting an individual product or technology, some homeowners may benefit from clearer information about the building fabric, fixed appliances and existing energy systems.
The assessment can provide a more structured starting point for deciding which improvements deserve closer investigation.
NatHERS is the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. For an existing home, the assessment provides related information about the thermal performance of the dwelling and its broader household energy performance.
The thermal Star Rating estimates the energy demand associated with heating and cooling. It considers factors such as local climate, orientation, construction materials, insulation, glazing and the overall behaviour of the building envelope.
The broader Home Energy Rating combines thermal performance with major fixed appliances, on-site solar generation and battery storage. This provides a more complete view of how the home is expected to use energy.
Under the Home Energy Saver requirements, the assessment must be completed by an accredited NatHERS assessor for existing homes. The assessor must also provide a tailored guide to potential upgrades relevant to the assessed property.
The value of assessment is not simply in producing a rating. It is in helping the homeowner understand what the home may need before money is committed to an upgrade.
Existing homes vary widely in age, construction, orientation, condition and renovation history. The upgrade that provides the greatest benefit for one dwelling may not be the right starting point for another.
A home with limited ceiling insulation may have a different priority from a property affected mainly by air leakage, poorly performing glazing or inefficient heating and cooling. Solar panels may reduce purchased electricity, but they do not by themselves address a weak building envelope or uncomfortable indoor conditions.
An assessment can help separate these issues and show how the building fabric, fixed appliances and existing systems relate to one another. This gives later discussions with installers, designers or renovation teams a clearer evidence base.
The rating does not replace detailed retrofit design, quotations, construction advice or financial analysis. It provides a more informed basis from which those decisions can begin.
No. The current NSW guidelines state that a NatHERS home assessment and certificate are optional as part of the Home Energy Saver loan application process.
A household does not necessarily need an assessment before applying for another eligible activity. A homeowner who already understands the condition of the dwelling may choose to proceed directly with an identified upgrade.
For households considering several possible improvements, the assessment may instead help clarify which measures should be investigated first and how different upgrades could work together.
The Home Energy Saver loan is available to eligible owners of properties located in NSW, including owner-occupiers and landlords.
Published criteria include Australian citizenship or permanent residency, property ownership and a combined taxable household income of up to $210,000. The proposed product or service must also satisfy the applicable eligible-activity requirements.
Access to the program is managed through participating finance providers and suppliers approved within their delivery networks. The finance provider assesses eligibility and the applicant’s ability to repay, while the approved supplier is responsible for providing the eligible product or service.
Homeowners interested in including a NatHERS assessment should therefore confirm that the assessment service and chosen assessor are available through the relevant approved-supplier pathway before proceeding.
The NSW Government has also announced Home Energy Saver discounts of up to $4,000. These discounts are separate from the zero-interest loan and are not yet open.
Current program information indicates that the discounts will be directed to households with an income of up to $80,000 or where someone in the household holds an eligible concession card.
Households intending to combine a discount with a loan should review the latest NSW Government guidance before entering an agreement. The current guidelines recommend applying for the discount first once that part of the program becomes available.
The inclusion of NatHERS assessments within Home Energy Saver reflects a wider shift toward making the performance of existing homes easier to understand before upgrade decisions are made.
As earlier existing-home rating trials have also shown, the long-term value of a rating depends on whether it can lead to a practical and understandable next step for the homeowner.
Current Program Information
Program requirements, participating providers and approved-supplier arrangements may change. Applicants should confirm the current rules directly with the NSW Government and their selected finance provider.
Information current as at June 2026.
View the NSW Home Energy Saver program information
Existing Home Assessment
A Home Energy Rating can help clarify the thermal performance of an existing dwelling, its broader energy use and the improvements that may deserve closer investigation.
Send us the available property information and our team can help clarify what may be required for an assessment.
Home Energy Saver loan eligibility and access through an approved supplier must be confirmed separately through the relevant participating finance provider.
DISCUSS YOUR HOMEThis article provides general information only. It does not constitute financial advice, confirmation of loan eligibility or confirmation that a particular assessment provider is available through the Home Energy Saver program. Program requirements should be verified before proceeding.