National Australian Built Environment Rating System
The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) is a performance-based rating system that measures the environmental impact of buildings in Australia. It assesses factors such as energy efficiency, water usage, indoor environment quality, and waste management to help building owners and tenants improve sustainability.
Ratings are based on actual operational data rather than theoretical models. Buildings receive a rating from 1 to 6 stars, with 6 stars indicating market-leading sustainability performance.
Categories Assessed:
- NABERS Energy: Measures energy efficiency and carbon emissions.
- NABERS Water: Assesses water consumption and efficiency.
- NABERS Indoor Environment: Evaluates air quality, lighting, temperature, and acoustics.
- NABERS Waste: Tracks and improves waste management and recycling.
NABERS Energy ratings are required for office buildings over 1,000 m² under Australia’s Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program.They help building owners and tenants reduce operating costs and environmental impact. High NABERS ratings can increase property value and attract sustainability-conscious tenants.
See also: NABERS UK.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- 8 Chifley.
- 2021 Soft Landings Conference.
- Better Buildings Partnership.
- BREEAM, LEED or WELL.
- BSRIA Conference 2021.
- BSRIA support study into Australian solution to performance gap.
- Building performance metrics.
- Building Research Establishment BRE.
- Energy certificates for buildings.
- Energy performance certificate.
- Green rating systems.
- NABERS UK.
- PAS 2038:2021 Retrofitting non-domestic buildings for improved energy efficiency.
- Soft landings.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.