4 NABERS Facts That Makes The Rating System Popular and Reliable

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The NABERS, an acronym for National Australian Built Environment Rating System, is a performance-based commercial space rating system. This NABERS rating applies to various structures such as office buildings, office tenancies, data centers, apartment buildings, shopping complexes, etc. 

A NABERS rating evaluates the actual environmental impact of a commercial structure during its operation. A NABERS Accredited Assessor must perform the assessment (energy, water, indoor environment, etc.). The assessment should also comply with the Rules NABERS accreditation.

Fact 1: NABERS Rating measures actual environmental impact, not intent


The primary focus of the NABERS scheme was developing a rating system emphasizing “actual
energy consumption and greenhouse gas production of a structure (rather than understanding and considering the design intent). 

This was specifically vital because energy-efficient designs don’t perform at the claimed or stated level. 


The failure to comply with the claimed energy efficiency is due to two fundamental reasons: inefficient changes made during the construction phase to improve the aesthetic appeal and poor commissioning, etc. 


Such discrepancies aren’t just uncomfortable for the occupants but can dealers and builders can also attract hefty penalties. 


NABERS rating, therefore, deals with defining the actual environmental impact. 


Fact 2: NABERS is relevant to building operations


The NABERS rating scheme was conceptualized to enable fair comparisons between buildings and make the energy rating as meaningful and practical as possible for the rated building. 


To accomplish this goal, the rating scale is tailored and adjusted for the commercial structure being assessed. The rating considers variations in climatic conditions, occupancy, use, appliance power intensity, etc. 


Additionally, the ratings themselves are crafted to align with the responsibilities of energy management.

In Australia, multi-tenanted commercial buildings are relatively common. Therefore, office buildings typically feature separate energy metering to enable tenants to pay their energy consumption costs directly to energy retailers rather than landlords. 

Whether you want a NABERS assessment or require NatHERS certificate preparation, you should always hire professional building consultants. 


Fact 3: NABERS ratings are simple and easy to perform


NABERS rating always measures current performance. However, obtaining a NABERS rating is only the initial step to reducing environmental impacts. 


After obtaining a NABERS rating, building/project owners or occupants will need to invest time and resources to comprehend and strategize how to improve their building and undertake these enhancements. 


Therefore, energy ratings should be obtainable at an affordable cost to prevent encroaching on the resources available for incorporating improvements into the building.


The indirect rating costs should also be reduced. Conducting assessments and assigning ratings should involve a reasonable time frame with minimal resources. 


This is accomplished by using already existing data and leveraging current industry standards to avoid generating specific data for NABERS rating purposes.


NABERS rating calculations should also be freely available for self-assessments. Building owners and occupants are able to use the NABERS rating calculator to estimate their performance and see for themselves how the rating is calculated.

Fact 4: NABERS ratings are reliable


The reputation and credibility of the scheme dictate the reliability of the NABERS rating.NABERS ratings will only contribute to enhanced environmental outcomes if rated commercial structures are confident that their rating accurately describes their level of efficiency. 


The rating will not be valid if individual building ratings increase over time without any considerable change in the underlying building efficiency.


Wrapping Up


Built environment hugely contributes to global warming and climate change. Therefore developed nations have taken the initiative to reduce the energy consumption of residential and commercial buildings and make them more efficient. 


NABERS is a performance rating and supports the “net zero” energy goal of the Australian Government. Additionally, energy-efficient buildings have greater market value. Hire experienced building consultants to start developing a high-performing commercial or residential project. 


 
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