Energy efficiency has shifted from a nice-to-have to a necessity for any commercial or public building. With rising energy costs, increasing demand and a global shift towards sustainable practices, understanding your building’s energy performance is now a cornerstone of smart building management.
Unlike the comprehensive NABERS Energy star rating, which offers a more robust and sophisticated comparison, this tool provides a simpler, quicker option for building sectors that aren't currently covered by a standalone NABERS Energy rating. It’s perfect for gyms, restaurants, pubs, libraries, aquatic centres, childcare centres, caravan parks, cinemas, bakeries and more.
While your building’s emissions might seem small on their own, collectively, they contribute to a significant portion of Australia’s energy use and emissions.
With the NABERS Energy Performance Indicator, you can take control of your building’s energy performance, track against yourself and others, and help to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Eligible building types
- entertainment, recreation and sports facilities including aquatic centres, cinemas and gymnasiums
- bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes
- public buildings including libraries, museums and community centres
- transport building including airports, train stations and ferry terminals
- manufacturing and storage facilities
- childcare centres
- caravan parks other lodgement accommodation not covered by the NABERS Hotel tool
- some retail stores not covered by the NABERS Retail Stores tool including specialised food retailers, bakeries, dry cleaners, laundromats, petrol stations and more.
Can’t see your building type above? Click here to see the full list of eligible buildings.
If you don’t see your sector listed, you can register your interest to be next in line for expansion.
A simple and effective understanding of your building
The NABERS Energy Performance Indicator is your gateway to optimising your building’s energy performance and reducing emissions. It works by analysing your energy usage and floor area and then calculating your building’s energy intensity and emissions output. The tool tracks your progress over time, guiding you towards better efficiency and lower emissions.
You’ll also get a Renewable Energy Indicator score so you can see exactly how much of your energy comes from renewable sources.
If enough data is available, the tool gives you a comparison against similar buildings in your sector, so you have a clear benchmark to work towards. This will be displayed on your rating certificate and report using a simple dial comparison, pictured below.
The NABERS Energy Performance Indicator opens a new door to thousands of buildings that wouldn’t have otherwise been able to participate in NABERS.
The tool provides a verified measure of the building’s energy and emissions intensity, empowering both owners and tenants track and improve their sustainability performance over time.
Magali Wardle – NABERS Acting Director
Benefits for you, benefits for our environment
Even if your building isn’t on the current roadmap for a full NABERS Energy star rating, you don’t have to be left out of the sustainability conversation. The NABERS Energy Performance Indicator gives you the tools to start making meaningful improvements today.
The NABERS Energy Performance Indicator helps you:
- spot the gaps: understand where your building stands today to help identify opportunities for better energy efficiency.
- showcase your commitment to sustainability: use your NABERS Energy Performance Indicator score to demonstrate your building’s environmental credentials to customers, tenants and employees.
- reduce costs: greater energy efficiency means lower energy bills.
- cut your carbon footprint: track and reduce your emissions over time, helping you meet and exceed your sustainability goals.
How was the Energy Performance Indicator created?
The NABERS Energy Performance Indicator was developed to bridge the gap for building sectors that are unlikely to be covered by a full NABERS Energy star rating soon. These sectors, while individually small, collectively represent a large portion of Australia’s energy use and emissions.
Funded by the Commonwealth Government, NABERS consulted with building owners, operators and managers from the targeted industries. Through these conversations, we gauged interest and captured crucial insights that shaped the tool’s design.
The interviews and workshops we ran revealed a clear demand for a tool to help building owners better understand and manage their energy efficiency and emissions. It also became clear that the tool needed to be quick to obtain and simple to use. These insights were instrumental in shaping the key elements of our new Energy Performance Indicator tool.
Nick Ioannides – NABERS Design Lead
Ready to start? Here’s what to do next
Getting started with the NABERS Energy Performance Indicator is simple:
- Check if your building qualifies by reviewing the NABERS Rules document. If eligible, you’ll pay an administrative lodgement fee to the NSW Government, currently set at an introductory price of $730. Find out more about NABERS fees here.
- A NABERS Accredited Assessor will carry out the rating and work with you to access your building’s data. Assessor fees apply.
- Receive your Energy Performance Indicator rating including your energy and emissions intensity score and your Renewable Energy Indicator score.
- Use the insights from your rating to make improvements, set targets and reduce energy costs. Re-rate annually to track your progress and showcase your sustainability credentials over time.
Every building has an impact on the environment. Take the first step today and watch how small changes can lead to big results.