Major update coming to NABERS Energy

NABERS has announced that from 2030, all energy sources will be compared equally when calculating NABERS Energy ratings.

Currently, to determine the star rating of a building, NABERS uses emissions factors associated with different fuel sources. But as the grid decarbonises, electricity emission factors are decreasing rapidly. This creates a situation where a building may not be energy efficient, but may still score well in the ratings system due to its low emissions.

NABERS notes that this could have a number of unwanted consequences, such as driving additional electricity demand, putting extra pressure on the grid, and making the NABERS star rating less relevant.

To address this emerging issue, from July 2030 NABERS Energy will compare all energy sources (such as electricity, gas, LPG, or diesel) equally, ensuring that the rating accurately reflects the energy intensity of a building. The change will apply to all building types and jurisdictions consistently.

The emissions intensity of the energy used will still be captured via the Renewable Energy Index (REI). This recognises buildings with low operational emissions through higher renewable energy percentages.

The changes come after technical analysis, industry engagement and public consultation.

NABERS has published an article with more information about the change at its website.

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