What is NABERS and how is it assessed?

NABERS is a nation wide rating system that is used to measure the environmental performance of buildings, developments, homes and tenancies. Effectively, the NABERS systems help measure the water usage, energy efficiency, waste management and indoor environment quality (IEQ) of a building, home, development or tenancy and its total impact on the surrounding environment contributing to Australia’s greater energy usage. For over ten years, NABERS has helped property owners, tenants and managers across Australia to improve the sustainability performance of their buildings, gaining large financial benefits in the long-term, whilst also building their reputation as environmentally conscious individuals. Managing NABERS on behalf of the Commonwealth, State and Territories is the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. NABERS creates a star rating which is based on its actual operational performance over a 12-month period. It is assessed by using verified real world performance information, such as utility and water bills, and converting them into an easy to understand star rating, rated from one (worst) to six (best) stars. For example, a 6 star rated building demonstrates industry leading performance, whereas a 1 star rating means that the building or tenancy has considerable room for improvement. This program compares the performance of the building to benchmarks of energy usage for buildings in similar areas.

Related NABERS Pages

When is NABERS required and what are the requirements?
How much does a NABERS certificate cost?